How to care for Sohal Tangs?
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I asked this same question about a week and a half ago, Need a minimum of 8' wide tank Very good flow and is very aggressive should be the last fish added. Not recommended for unexperienced fish keepers although this fish is very hardy.
I love the appearance of this fish but i ruled out getting one since i only have a 6' wide 180g. do whats best for the fish not the reef keeper.
I love the appearance of this fish but i ruled out getting one since i only have a 6' wide 180g. do whats best for the fish not the reef keeper.
do whats best for the fish not the reef keeper.
If that was so, they'd all be in the ocean.
It's a compromise.
Well, that is not exactly true. Good husbandry can produce a life span for appropriate fish that exceeds that found in the ocean. :dance:
Whilst you have a point Steve,
Good husbandry can also keep an person alive within four walls as long as they would in the free world. Maybe longer (as there is no chance of motor vehicle death, violent crime, drug abuse etc etc).
Nowhere near what's best for us though.
Much like fish are saved from predation in aquariums (hopefully )
Lifespan is not an accurate indication of what's best.
And less than 0.0000000000000000001% of fish caught for this hobby live longer than they would in the wild.
This is based on my experience, as I have caught hundreds of thousands of fish for this hobby for more than 10 years now.
It's a delicate subject, and one that I confront on a regular basis in response to my livelihood.
Additionally, attributing human emotions (eg what's best) to fish is a very subjective matter.
Good husbandry can also keep an person alive within four walls as long as they would in the free world. Maybe longer (as there is no chance of motor vehicle death, violent crime, drug abuse etc etc).
Nowhere near what's best for us though.
Much like fish are saved from predation in aquariums (hopefully
)Lifespan is not an accurate indication of what's best.
And less than 0.0000000000000000001% of fish caught for this hobby live longer than they would in the wild.
This is based on my experience, as I have caught hundreds of thousands of fish for this hobby for more than 10 years now.
It's a delicate subject, and one that I confront on a regular basis in response to my livelihood.
Additionally, attributing human emotions (eg what's best) to fish is a very subjective matter.
Sardaukar
Premium Member
Whilst you have a point Steve,
Good husbandry can also keep an person alive within four walls as long as they would in the free world. Maybe longer (as there is no chance of motor vehicle death, violent crime, drug abuse etc etc).
Nowhere near what's best for us though.
Much like fish are saved from predation in aquariums (hopefully
Lifespan is not an accurate indication of what's best.
And less than 0.0000000000000000001% of fish caught for this hobby live longer than they would in the wild.
This is based on my experience, as I have caught hundreds of thousands of fish for this hobby for more than 10 years now.
It's a delicate subject, and one that I confront on a regular basis in response to my livelihood.
Additionally, attributing human emotions (eg what's best) to fish is a very subjective matter.
Not to get too off topic, but I have to disagree with you. I assume you were using hyperbole when you said that "less than 0.00000000000001% of fish caught for this hobby live longer than they would in the wild", but that is definitely untrue. If you think every dime sized hippo tang or green chromis would live longer in the ocean than in a reef aquarium, you are sorely mistaken. The number of juvenile fish (at an age that they would be caught for the aquarium trade) that die for every fish that reaches full mature size (and then survives at that age for years) is surprisingly high. 10 year old clownfish swimming around in the ocean are the exception, not the rule.
Back on the subject of Sohal care, an 8'+ long tang (with 10' being even better) that is as deep as possible (basically you want a big footprint) is gonna be needed to keep a Sohal happy in the long term. Good flow, high O2 water that reflects their natural habit. There seem to be 2 schools in terms of reducing their aggression: Introduce them in a tank in which they are either the clear and obvious master (only large tang/fish) or equally clearly subordinate to a bigger/stronger fish. Either way, most people seem to have more success introducing them last.
Yes it was a hyperbole.
I was talking about ALL fish, not dime size hippos and chromis.
Mandarins, angels, butterflies, damsels, tangs etc etc
You been diving with guys in indo and phillipines using cyanide and explosives?
I have, I've seen the mass casualties. For every one they bring up alive, 10 are left dead.
Seen the fish markets on the streets of Bangkok, Hong Kong, Jakarta?? 12" adult angels in 10" bags on the side of the road?
Forget about that then (by the way which is the epicentre of fish collection and diversity), lets talk about getting them to first world countries.,
Transport deaths, crappy LFS deaths, poor packing, poor quarantine, poor importing, poor advise, poor choice of birthday present, impatience, ignorance etc etc the list goes on.
And even if the fish makes it through all of this, the average lifespan for a fish in captivity is under 12 weeks.
So lets not talk about the few hundred hobby enthusiasts here on RC who care. Lets talk about the other millions of people who handle these animals WORLDWIDE.
Anyway, apologies for the threadjack.
I am happy to continue on PM with anyone, or start a new thread.
Sardaukar
Premium Member
Sorry when you said "fish caught for this hobby" I thought you meant comparing fish swimming around in an LFS vs fish in the ocean. When you factor in collection worldwide, then yeah I'm sure you are right. I disagree though that the average fish that finds its way into someones tank is certain to live a shorter lifespan than in the ocean or even a 'worse' one.
ShrimpChipGal
New member
Okay so Back to the topic. I have a sohal tang. It's a good grazing fish and eats everything. When I mean good grazing, I mean it starts eating algae off the coral before i even set it down. However, it is very very aggressive towards other fish even wrasses. But on the plus side, it is very tame toward human and doesn't mind hands in the tank. I would suggest to place this fish in as last fish. Exceptions I have seen are from one of my friend's tank, his sohal is significantly bigger than all the rest of his fish and doesn't mind new additions.
I would agree with some extra swimming room.
I would agree with some extra swimming room.
Sardaukar
Premium Member
People seem to have the most success when the Sohal is one of two things in its tank: undisputed master or clearly put into place by a much bigger fish. It seems the most aggression comes when the sohal is unclear where it stands.
ShrimpChipGal
New member
We placed another tang of the same size with it before. Sliced it on both side. Ouchie!!
thats also not exactly true. By segregating it away from it's potential mates in the ocean, you've eventually brought the pet fish's genes to a dead end, as they cannot contribute to the gene pool, being pretty much a death sentence.
Unless you plan on raising a line of the offspring.... then good luck.
Don't natural predators do that too? Don't people naturally eat and crave fish since as long as we can remember?
I believe sohal tangs also need very heavy flow since they like to swim in the heavy currents.
Beaun
It's pronounced Bone
I think JustJoe from Atlantis Marine World would be a good one to help with a primer. There are at least three of them in the 20k gallon tank at Atlantis. I agree that for most people it should be the last fish added in a 8'+ long tank and deeper is better.
Can you find them?
Can you find them?
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