I see and hear a lot of people complaining about people putting tangs in too small of a tank, and realize they need room, but I was hopeful I could get some more specifics. Why is so much room needed? Is it water valume they need, or room to move, or something more scientific? Reason I ask is because stating something needs (blank) size tank doesnt make a lot of sense to me as that could still not be ideal for that fish if for example your running a whole lot of LR and the fish really has very little place to more around. Also in contrast, you could have a slightly under rated tank size for the fish, and a minimalistic aquascape that would allow for a lot more room.
help educate me on Tangs
- Thread starter Ssteve
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Branden_Pearson
New member
There can be different reasons depending on why species you are talking about. Some just get to large size wise, some are very active and need lots of room to swim. They are a very active fish and can be stressed in a undersized tank which can quickly lead to problems because they tend to be on the more delicate side. It's kind of like making shaq live in a hobbit house. It might be possible but it sure would not be enjoyable. Hope that helps
if you could provide a certain species it would also help get you a more in depth answer.
if you could provide a certain species it would also help get you a more in depth answer.
pktech
Thread Ender
To put it in perspective, for me, it would be like having to live in my bathroom. Doable for a little while but eventually, I'd go nutty & then I get a room mate or 2 & it's going to be tight & a very hostile environment.
When you think of it that way, I'd hope you'd want the biggest space available for your fish. Which fish(es) are you thinking about & what size tank do you / would you have?
When you think of it that way, I'd hope you'd want the biggest space available for your fish. Which fish(es) are you thinking about & what size tank do you / would you have?
What led me to the question was mostly looking into blue hippo tangs, and the recommended 180g size requirements. Love the fish, but won't have the room for a 180+g tank for a few years. So I was wondering if a minimalist setup would be ok for a few years in a 100-120g setup. Then I started looking into why they need the room and couldn't find a solid answer.
I currently have just a small nano, but am in the process of starting to set something larger up. Something in the 100 gallon range, and would love a blue tang. I guess I could always start with a juvenile and if he gets too big before I move and setup a new tank(planning to purchase a house in the next couple yrs) then I can always rehouse him and get another juvenile. To be completely honest I would rather not have a extremely large hippo anyways, but from what I can gather, it would take about 3 years to get that size anyways.
pktech
Thread Ender
they grow fast - I bought (3) @ 1/2" & in 3-4 months, they were 3.5"+.
be prepared to rehome them if you're still going to go for it.
reeferstace
I'm a little people
The Reef Central fish experts suggest a minimum 8' 240g tank for hippo tangs.
See here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079
It is always best to buy livestock for the tank you have rather than the tank you might upgrade to down the road. If you really want a hippo then get a proper sized tank now. OR, wait to get the fish until after you get a proper sized tank later on. It is best for the fish.
I think with Tangs it is about swimming room .... and applying some common sense. For example, keeping a Tang appropriate for a 180, but then stuffing the latter with live rock so that swimming room is limited rather defeats the purpose.
Also, the suggestions on RC are 'guidelines', not hard and fast rules. I have a 7ft tank for example, but it is very open, so my Hippo get lots of opportunities to swim and glide.
Then, some Tangs just get too large. I would not attempt a Sohal or a Salifin, for example, even in my 265.
Also, the suggestions on RC are 'guidelines', not hard and fast rules. I have a 7ft tank for example, but it is very open, so my Hippo get lots of opportunities to swim and glide.
Then, some Tangs just get too large. I would not attempt a Sohal or a Salifin, for example, even in my 265.
Proper tank sizes for tangs are often given in feet instead of gallons. For example, "A Hippo Tang needs an 8 foot tank." this is because they are open water fish and used to having large spaces to swim through. They need the feet to be able to "stretch their legs." However, gallons are often used instead of feet because tanks are typically sold by their volume, not length.
anbosu
New member
They get very big very fast - I have a friend that has one in a 6' 125 gallon tank and it looks completely ridiculous, and I don't think the fish is particularly happy.
You can keep them in smaller tanks when they are smaller.
Why you hear people say they need swimming room cause it makes them happy is not necessarily so.
The actual reason for this is something that is seen in Koi, freshwater fish. These fish start out small and can be kept in small tanks. They will grow large in small tanks as well, as long as food is provided. They can even grow to the point where they can barely turn in these tanks as long as sufficient food is provided. The issue that arises is that the fish are growing and happy but they are very fat and very unhealthy. Like bigger people in society who don't exercise regularly are happy but not necessarily healthy.
We also see that Koi will live shorter lives if they don't have sufficient room to constantly swim around in or flowing water movement to make them swim continuously to make keep them healthy.
Are they happy, more then likely they are. Who wouldn't want to be fed for doing nothing. In the wild they swim alot cause they graze for food like cows. Constantly on the move for better pastures. So these fish are always on the move. They have evolved to be efficient to constantly swim in search of food. However, when you remove the need to constantly swim to find food, that energy that was being used for the purpose of finding the next pasture is no longer needed and that energy is stored as fat you could say. The fish become unhealthy, literally fat, and tend to live shorter lives.
Most will follow this trend but their are always exceptions just like not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer and etc:
Bigger tanks = Healthier Tangs = Longer living tangs
Smaller tanks = Less Healthier Tangs = Shorter living tangs
Why you hear people say they need swimming room cause it makes them happy is not necessarily so.
The actual reason for this is something that is seen in Koi, freshwater fish. These fish start out small and can be kept in small tanks. They will grow large in small tanks as well, as long as food is provided. They can even grow to the point where they can barely turn in these tanks as long as sufficient food is provided. The issue that arises is that the fish are growing and happy but they are very fat and very unhealthy. Like bigger people in society who don't exercise regularly are happy but not necessarily healthy.
We also see that Koi will live shorter lives if they don't have sufficient room to constantly swim around in or flowing water movement to make them swim continuously to make keep them healthy.
Are they happy, more then likely they are. Who wouldn't want to be fed for doing nothing. In the wild they swim alot cause they graze for food like cows. Constantly on the move for better pastures. So these fish are always on the move. They have evolved to be efficient to constantly swim in search of food. However, when you remove the need to constantly swim to find food, that energy that was being used for the purpose of finding the next pasture is no longer needed and that energy is stored as fat you could say. The fish become unhealthy, literally fat, and tend to live shorter lives.
Most will follow this trend but their are always exceptions just like not everyone who smokes will get lung cancer and etc:
Bigger tanks = Healthier Tangs = Longer living tangs
Smaller tanks = Less Healthier Tangs = Shorter living tangs
Ultimately I plan on a large and long in wall tank. I guess I'll get a small one and if he grows too quickly in a 120g then Ill just rehome him and start again. It's not an expensive fish, and I would rather keep a smaller one anyways. My lfs is pretty good about helping out with that type of stuff.
ilikefish34
New member
And you may be able to keep it longer than some suggest. Mine was about 3" when bought and 6" when it died during an ich outbreak 3 years later in a 180 with a fair amount of rock. By no means was this fish underfed and was housed with a Yellow, Kole and Powder Blue Tangs, Flame, Flameback, 4" Majestic and 6" Emperor Angels and several other smaller fishes... but in the end, it will thrive with more room and good flow.
Good Luck
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