How to get tang to act normal?

[medic29]

Last weekend I purchased a small Pacific Blue Tang. When I brought the tang home, after acclimating it, I placed it in my display. There is Sailfin tang in the display already, which is bigger than the Pacific Blue, almost immediately the Sailfin came over and started chasing the smaller tang, then trying to attack it with its scaple, it would also seem to pin the smaller tang to the rock. This went on for several minutes.

Fearing the smaller tang would get severly injured or killed I quickly netted it and moved it to another tank that is connected to the same system which was empty. It immediately went to the bottom of the tank and went to the corner and stayed there. It was breathing very fast and wouldn't move and it even laid flat on the bottom. I couldn't see any injury so I figured it was just very stressed. I placed a couple pieces of PVC in the tank, to give the tang somewhere to hide.

The following day I fed it and it would eat the food when it floated just past his mouth. I figured to give it a few days. I had fed it over the past couple of days.

This morning I went out to feed all the fish. I found this tang still hiding, under a large piece of live rock I had put in the tank. I put some food in the tank, after a few minutes the tang still hadn't moved. Finally, I removed the piece of live rock and it swam over the the side of the tank. As the food floated around the tank and came by its mouth it would eat the food, but again it just stays in one place. I left it alone for a while, when I left the room I checked on the tang and it was lying in one of the pvc pieces.

I'm not sure what to do with the tang.

Any ideas??

 

[badazztealcobra]

Is the tank that you have either of the tangs in the ones listed in your signature ??? If so, you shouldnt have any tangs to begin with.

The tang got pummeled by another tang immediately after already being stressed from being moved. That sailfin is only going to get more and more aggressive being in that small of a tank. I think youre done putting any new fish in there that he wont harrass immediately.

Get the tangs to larger homes. If you still want a tang, look for the smaller ctenochaetus ones.

As for the new tang, I think he's a goner. I wouldnt give up on him until he's dead, but it sounds like he's done.

 

[indydog1]

how did you acclimate the new tang? what are your parameters?

i do agree with batc in that agression will continue to be an issue in that size tank.

 

[Jeff]

Is the tank that you have either of the tangs in the ones listed in your signature ??? If so, you shouldnt have any tangs to begin with.

Bingo. We have a winner. If those tangs are in a 40 breeder or a 20 long, one will most likely be dead soon and the other very soon after. That kind of stress kills quickly. I am not a member of the tang police but I do believe that free swimming/schooling fish need larger tanks.
If they are in a different tank then what's in the sig, then forget what I just wrote .

 

[SlowCobra]

<~~~ Member of the tang police and I am ok with it. Posts like these are commonly found in the reef fish forum. I will reserve passing judgement until the OP verifies that he did in fact attempt to stick tangs that get pretty large in a tank meant for anthias, clowns, and dwarf angels.

 

[DgenR8]

:wavehand:

 

[badazztealcobra]

:wavehand:

:wavehand:

Unfortunately the tang that is acting "normal" is the Sailfin who is going to hurt or harass any other tang or fish that tries to enter his territory.

 

[medic29]

Okay, let me first say, if you are interested in giving advice or constructive criticism I welcome it; if all you're interested in is voicing your opinion and be critical, due us both a favor and keep it to yourself...because it will be ignored Alsso, don't be surprised if you are stating something and I ask for a reference. I am an educated professional and for the most part don't just take someone's word as the law, especially in this hobby. I've heard folks claim things are black and white on here and later learned, partly from experience and the other from research, that it isn't usually the case, there is a lot of grey area.

Now I've heard tangs and other sturgeon fish need to be in large tanks? I'm curious what the definition of a large tank is for this particular instance? Are we talking water volume? Or talking length of tank?

Then there is the other part of it, which is proportional to the size of the fish. A juvenile fish which is 20% of its adult size shouldn't need a tank the size you would use for it when it is full (100%) grown...either in length or water volume.

 

[medic29]

that get pretty large

These are the key words. My belief is....large fish should be kept in a large tank. Small fish can be kept in a small tank. Keeping things proportional.

Why do you put an infant in a crib or a toddler in a toddler bed versus an adult sized bed?

 

[Jeff]

I have over 22 years in the hobby and have kept tangs, plenty of them. The types of tangs you have need a bigger tank. At least 75 gallons+ and at least 5' long with plenty of room to swim. The problem you are having is because you are keeping the tangs in a tank that is too small. They will exhibit this behavior until one is dead and most likely both. I am speaking from experience.
You wish to make your tangs act normal, as you put it in the title of this thread. In my opinion, you should think about hosting them in a suitable tank to make that happen.

 

[Jeff]

The above post is my advise.

 

[medic29]

Requesting Data

Requesting Data

If those tangs are in a 40 breeder or a 20 long, one will most likely be dead soon and the other very soon after. That kind of stress kills quickly. I am not a member of the tang police but I do believe that free swimming/schooling fish need larger tanks.

Supporting data is being requested. This sounds pretty black and white, I have seen others keep many tangs in similar sized tanks. Personally, when I first got into the hobby a few years ago I kept a Sailfin tang in a 30 gal tank with a few other fish or almost 2 years and he was healthy as a horse when he went to a larger home. So, outside of opinion, I'm looking for supporting reference data for this information.

 

[Jeff]

Data?

 

[Jeff]

I don't know if you believe Dr. Fosters and Smith either but here is their page for the Sailfin Tang. Note the minimum tank size they recommend: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+378&pcatid=378

 

[medic29]

I have over 22 years in the hobby and have kept tangs, plenty of them. The types of tangs you have need a bigger tank. At least 75 gallons+ and at least 5' long with plenty of room to swim. The problem you are having is because you are keeping the tangs in a tank that is too small. They will exhibit this behavior until one is dead and most likely both. I am speaking from experience.
You wish to make your tangs act normal, as you put it in the title of this thread. In my opinion, you should think about hosting them in a suitable tank to make that happen.

So...in your opinion, a tang that is 1" in length needs a tank the size of 18,144 cubic inches (based on the size of the average 75 gallon tank) to swim in to act normal? Or is this for a tang that is 6 inches in length? After doing a quick search I didn't find a 5 foot, 75 gallon tank, I found several 4 ft tanks.

Again, I'm trying to understand where these opinions are coming from. I do appreciate others' experiences as well.

 

[Jeff]

Ok, good luck to you .

 

[SlowCobra]

I have been in this hobby since the 80's I will keep it civil and say you obviously have failed to do your research involving tangs. Try to justify it with numbers all you want, the fact of the matter is that you are providing a beyond poor environment for the fish. They are stressed and they are angry and will stay that way.

 

[medic29]

I don't know if you believe Dr. Fosters and Smith either but here is their page for the Sailfin Tang. Note the minimum tank size they recommend: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+378&pcatid=378

Yes, I believe their information is correct, but is this for the average adult size animal or for the infant size animal...or is it being said all of them need this size? The other part of the question....we talking about average water volume or length. There are 6ft 125 gallong tanks, but I've seen some that are 3.5ft and are cubed. Same volume...different lengths.

Personally, my current thought is the concern really is in length so they have room to swim...distance; kind of like a runner, giveing them something with distance to swim in versus having a taller water column and more room from front to back.

 

[medic29]

I have been in this hobby since the 80's I will keep it civil and say you obviously have failed to do your research involving tangs. Try to justify it with numbers all you want, the fact of the matter is that you are providing a beyond poor environment for the fish. They are stressed and they are angry and will stay that way.

If you have been in the hobby since the 80's, you have seen a lot of changes I'm sure. Things they said couldn't be done back then, things that were said to be impossible, we are doing today. I have many friends who have also been in the hobby, as well as the LFS business, and those who are doing Marine research for the University of Illinois as well. I'm hoping I haven't failed in my research, and in asking questions and requesting the supporting data I am continuing it.

Please explain your thoughts. Now you mentioned about trying to keep it civil...if this is truly the case then your beliefs may be more based on emotions and opinion rather than fact. I am not trying to sarcastic or anything. I am honestly trying to learn and gain information which is based on truth and fact, not on emotion or personal opinion.

We attempt to create our own marine environment for the animals we keep, but it pales in comparision to what these animals are used to in the wild.

 

[Jeff]

I'm done with the tang discussion but thought it was cool that the three people "discussing" this topic are all paramedics . I should call wolf pup and get him in here.