Lavender Tang Minimum Tank Size

[ag09g]

I will hopefully be starting up a new tank within the next year or so, and the main fish I want to keep in it is a Lavender tang. I'm thinking I might be able to pull off a standard 120g (4ftX2ftX2ft), but probably not any larger. Do you think this would be big enough for one of them?

I've tried looking around, and checked the tang tank size sticky and the lavender isn't there. I know they are one of the smaller tangs so I'm hoping this will work out

Any input from lavender owners would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Mr D smack]

I kept one in a 5 foot long 135 if that helps you

 

[steelwrap]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946007

 

[DopeCantWin]

I had one in a 90, it got very aggressive, to the point I had to take it out. It was transferred to what looked like an 8' shallow, and still had some aggressive tendencies.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

I've had one for a couple years in my 125g 6 footer and he's kind of a jerk. Never actually causes any damage to fish but still..... Lol. My Lavender also eats clams, but single handedly keeps all my glass clean from film algae.

I would be hesitant in keeping one in a 4ft tank.

 

[ag09g]

Did your lavenders tend to get aggressive to only certain types of fish, or everything in general?

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

He doesn't like my melarunus when he tries to go to sleep. other then that he tried to bully my black a couple times but it didn't go anywhere.

 

[greg1786]

I have one that was in my 55 and I now moved him to my 125 6'. Hes very peaceful. Hes about 4-4.5 inches and doesnt bother anyone. He eats from my hand and allows me to touch him. In fact he gets bullied sometimes by my yellow tang but nothing that hurts him. Def one of the coolest fish ive ever had and a beautiful color pattern. Plus its one of the few acanthurus that dont get huge i believe max size is around 8".

 

[ag09g]

So I guess then I must ask. If I were to get one, who happened to be peaceful would a 120 be enough room? Obviously if he's aggressive a smaller tank will only exacerbate it, so would a bigger tank be necessary because it will physically need the room, or because if it gets aggressive more room is better?

I don't know if that makes sense?

 

[greg1786]

A bigger tank is always better for any tang but i think a 120 is big enough for a lavender, IMO. If he gets really agressive take him back or trade him. I dont advocate buying a fish only to eventually get rid of it when it gets to big but i dont think the lavender is to big for a 120. The only issue would be if it got too agressive for your liking which at this point is an unknown variable and one you really have no control over as every fish acts differently

 

[ag09g]

Yes that's exactly what I was thinking. I wouldn't want to put the fish in there if I couldn't theoretically keep it for the entirety of its life. The goal for this tank would be to have only sand/rock/coral/fish/inverts that I physically acquired in the Red Sea as I'll only be getting the tank if I move to the region. As such, since there won't be any risk of introducing foreign parasites into the wild Im thinking I can just release it if it gets overly aggressive/obviously cramped.

 

[greg1786]

I dont know a whole lot about releasing fish back into the wild. I would be curious though, if because one has been in captivity for so long, would it lack the necessary instincts to survive in the ocean? I'm interested in your concept of an all red sea tank. What are your plans for livestock beyond the lavender? If the lavender ends up being a no go for you, a red sea purple tang is another option. They are absolutely stunning. Maybe you could do both??

 

[ag09g]

that's a really good question and honestly I dont know how being in captivity would affect it if I were to reintroduce it...the good news is Im a little girl who gets far too attached to my animals, so even if the tang turns out to be some kind of murderous demon spawn I probably wouldnt have the heart to get rid of it as long as the fish appeared otherwise happy with its lonely life.

Welp as far as other plans, I've been going through this "coral reef quide to the red sea" book I bought and picking out fish. For sure Im going to have a pair of bicinctus clowns and a tang. I LOVE purple tangs, I lost the one I had for 6 years in a tank crash a few years ago, but the fact that Ive already had one kinda makes me want to try something new - hence the lavender haha. I was originally thinking Id probably end up with a purple too though.

Other than that Id love to have a small group of lyretail anthias or chromis, a crown/eritrean butterflyfish, there are some pretty wrasses and blennies/gobies and such. Also regal angelfish which I love, if I found a small one I would definitely be keeping that.

Not saying Id have all of those together, just tentative possibilities really! There are literally so many beautiful fish to choose from, and since I havent been there yet to get a feel of what Ill actually encounter, I cant really narrow it down or make a definite stocking list yet!

 

[greg1786]

this is a crappy cell pic of my lavender. The photo does no justice for its color. Very deep purple with orange spots on its face and its fins are pink near the body and get bright orange as they go outward. There is a very flourescent blue rim to the dorsal fin. As for gobies and blennies I love them as well. Not sure if this type comes the red sea but here is my second favorite fish in my tank my starry blenny.

i really like some of your fish on the list especially the clowns! What nems come from the red sea that you can choose from

 

[ag09g]

Your fish are absolutely adorable! Im loving that tang, I neeeed one! That starry blenny is gorgeous too, if it wasn't for my current blenny I would have one. Not from the red sea though, so I wont be able to catch one ever :'(

Anemones on the other hand though, I've got some good options for them. BTAs, Haddoni, Ritteri and Sebae are all from there. And Im thinking that being freshly collected and placed in an aquarium, without the stress of being shipped across the world, might increase my chances with keeping either of those last three in good shape. At least im hoping that will be the case

 

[Michigan Mike]

Hard to go wrong with a Blennie, my LM Blennie and coral beauty are best buds!
When I do it over again I'm going to look at Starry blennies instead, awesome fish.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

I didn't know we were doing pictures!

 

[3dpilot]

^^That's an awesome fish portrait pic. Got any more full size pic, all this lavender talk got me interested in getting one

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

 

[Mr D smack]