Is this possible

[salty160]

I have a yellow tang in a 30 gallon quarantine, im just waiting to find a good tank in the 100 to 125 gallon range.

So I was doing some research on yellow tangs, and I then I saw a small article on the achilles tang they look amazing!

What are your thoughts on these things is it possible to keep a yellow and an achilles in a 100 with small reef fish like percs and chromis. I just have to get an achilles! the look stunning

 

[ilikefish34]

I think this should be fine as far as compatibility goes. But definitely do you homework on the achilles. They are very ick prone and expensive but I believe they are worth it. I would get an Achilles that is larger than the Yellow since the it will be added later. Also, you may want to remove their scalpels (I do not) depending on what size tank you go with and other tank-mates that you are considering. Since you're already looking at the 125 which is a 6' long tank, perhaps you could round up to a 180 (upgrading is inevitable in this hobby)... that 2' front to back makes a considerable difference when mixing fish although it will come with a cost. Good luck with everything.

p.s. you should check out the recent threads on schooling Chromis before going that route as well.

 

[humaguy]

At sounds that at this moment you do not have tank suitable for an Achilles. These fish can be very sensitive and difficult to keep alive if you do not have the proper environment- meaning a mature and pristine tank with lots of water movement. At the moment it sounds like you only have a 30 gallon tank. The 30 isn't big enough for the Yellow tang. Get a big tank and wait a few years before trying your luck with an Achilles...and please do not try and remove the scalpel under any circumstance. :headwally:

 

[namxas]

and please do not try and remove the scalpel under any circumstance.

Huma,

Do people actually DO that???!!! Holy I'm an idiot, Batman...

 

[Holsteiner]

I highly recommend doing some more research before going with an achilles. I love my guy, but he definitely isn't easy and takes a lot more care then most. Also with the amount that mine swims, I can't imagine keeping in smaller then a 6ft tank.

 

[humaguy]

Huma,

Do people actually DO that???!!! Holy I'm an idiot, Batman...

I have never heard of anyone actually doing it but I have heard it mentioned before but never took it seriously...this is such an irresponsible comment and wreckless idea that I am blown away it was mentioned as a viable possibility or option...ugh....:angryfire:

 

[o2manyfish]

Most Naso Tangs are clipped before being shipping into the country
In the past when adding new Nasos to an existing group, we would clip the tail scalpes to limit the amount of injuries during the initial introduction.

Dave B

 

[Dmorty217]

At sounds that at this moment you do not have tank suitable for an Achilles. These fish can be very sensitive and difficult to keep alive if you do not have the proper environment- meaning a mature and pristine tank with lots of water movement. At the moment it sounds like you only have a 30 gallon tank. The 30 isn't big enough for the Yellow tang. Get a big tank and wait a few years before trying your luck with an Achilles...and please do not try and remove the scalpel under any circumstance. :headwally:

+1 Achilles tang minimum tank size is a 220g with a ton of flow, like 25k gph within the DT and years of marine aquarium experience. Judging that you weren't familiar with what a Achilles tang looks like I would assume you are relatively new to the hobby. You should definitely wait to get a Achilles until you have the tank and equipment to give this difficult fish a chance of survival in your aquarium.

 

[humaguy]

Most Naso Tangs are clipped before being shipping into the country
In the past when adding new Nasos to an existing group, we would clip the tail scalpes to limit the amount of injuries during the initial introduction.

Dave B

I thought that practice was abandoned years ago??

 

[hybrid]

most nasos that i have sean in lfs the scapes are clipped i actually paid more for mine for having them but they were huge

 

[cbatkinson]

sounds like the tang police might get you...

 

[sandwi54]

+1 Achilles tang minimum tank size is a 220g with a ton of flow, like 25k gph within the DT and years of marine aquarium experience. Judging that you weren't familiar with what a Achilles tang looks like I would assume you are relatively new to the hobby. You should definitely wait to get a Achilles until you have the tank and equipment to give this difficult fish a chance of survival in your aquarium.

+1. Difficult fish like achilles or regal angel require the proper setup and years of experience to get them to eat well and acclimate to captivity. For achilles, it needs a LARGE tank; I wouldn't place it in anything less than a 6'x2' footprint. The water flow must be very strong as well, and I'd think somewhere around 10,000gph in the DT is the right amount.

Please try keeping easier fish first. Once you achieve that, then move onto the more difficult fish. Don't get the difficult fish because it looks nice. Get it when you are prepared and experienced enough.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Not trying to sound snobby; but I wouldn't even consider an Achilles (or any other "expert only" fish) until you've kept a basic tank for a few years. There are a lot of intangibles you pick up along way that make keeping fish like these much easier. Most sources consider these fish "expert only" for good reason.

 

[MrTuskfish]

sounds like the tang police might get you...

Please avoid this term; many hours, by many members, have gone into the RC stickies on tangs. Many folks consider this term offensive; I have very thick skin and just consider the term "tang police'' childish and ignorant.