Let the flaming begin.. Clown tang ?

michael43

New member
Ok so I am about to finally have my reefer 450 running. Dimension are 59"X20"X22" high. Its the largest I was able to get right now. Intensions are a reef setup. Not completely full of rock and corals tho. I have always loved clown tangs. Man would I love to be able to get one but obviously I'm concerned about the tank size. I can imagine you all will say don't do it, or with ample swimming room in my dimensions can I get away with it. Obviously I will start him about 3" or so but I know 8-10" is possible in a few years. I'd love to guarantee myself in upgrading to a much larger tank in the next few years but realistically not sure. let me know what you guys think? Hopefully not all flaming and some positivity..
 
Let the flaming begin.. Clown tang ?

No.

We've all been there, but you have to understand that it's really not for the good health of the fish.
 
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30 years ago I had a little A. lineatus (maybe 4 in) in a 40 gallon tank and in no time he became the terror of the tank. He liked especially to pick fights with my ocellaris pair.
A lineatus is closely related to A. sohal which says about everything you need to know.
I wouldn't add one ever again to any of my tanks.
 
thats only a 115g aquarium so no much too small. I have my beast in my 7 foot 210g and he runs the tank lol . 9 inches
 
What about something a little smaller? Yellow, purple, Zebra, convict, or powder blue?

Powder blue gets you some similar coloration as the clown tang....
 
Powder blue's are mean, Clown Tangs are awesome, and they can slice Royal Grammas in half.

Best luck I have had was with a Sohal, I kept a small one for years in a 6ft 125. He was paired with the likes of a mature breeding pair of yellow stripe Maroon clowns and "Big Mama" who was the Female ran the tank and kept him in line until I traded him to someone who had a much larger tank. She was every bit of 6" and we traded the Sohal when it got bigger than her.
 
I wasn't too worried about the aggression as much as tank size. All the other fish will be of completely different species and not too many. We'll see. Water goes in the tank this weekend. Have to confortably get it stable before I add anything
 
I wasn't too worried about the aggression as much as tank size. All the other fish will be of completely different species and not too many. We'll see. Water goes in the tank this weekend. Have to confortably get it stable before I add anything


With the clown tang it's not just a species thing, when they have attitude they will go after anything in the tank.
 
Honestly I know people who keep clown tangs in those size-Ish tanks for years without issues. Lfs had a 3" one in a small holding/sales tank for about a year, didn't seem to care much, always ate and happy.

I know someone with a 150 that has one for YEARS without an issue.

They're pretty fish.
 
I wasn't too worried about the aggression as much as tank size. All the other fish will be of completely different species and not too many. We'll see. Water goes in the tank this weekend. Have to confortably get it stable before I add anything

Why do you ask for advice, when your mind is made up already? You created this thread well knowing that it's a bad idea what you're up to, yet it's obvious that you're getting the tang anyway. Almost like you want permission to be irresponsible. :)
 
Um that's actually wrong

Um that's actually wrong

Why do you ask for advice, when your mind is made up already? You created this thread well knowing that it's a bad idea what you're up to, yet it's obvious that you're getting the tang anyway. Almost like you want permission to be irresponsible. :)

I'm not going to be getting the clown tang thank you as much as I want it. No where in there does it say I am. It was recommended I get a powder blue and that's what I said I'll do. Thanks for the insight
 
I'm not going to be getting the clown tang thank you as much as I want it. No where in there does it say I am. It was recommended I get a powder blue and that's what I said I'll do. Thanks for the insight

I'm sorry I came across a bit rude.
"We'll see." was what threw me off.
 
Appreciate that. I'm trying to do the right thing

Appreciate that. I'm trying to do the right thing

If I listened to the LFS I can put a dozen tangs in the tank and have them be fine hahaha
 
I agree with jbvdhp, if you want a clown tang, why not try it. You can always borrow a fish trap and remove it. Sometimes I think we overthink some of this stuff. I am guessing most of the people who gave you advice have never kept them before. Get a small one and see what happens. You aren't trying to put a massive trigger in a nano. A small clown tang - why not give it a shot?

And Moeshi, chill out dude.
 
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Let the flaming begin.. Clown tang ?

I agree with jbvdhp, if you want a clown tang, why not try it. You can always borrow a fish trap and remove it. Sometimes I think we overthink some of this stuff. I am guessing most of the people who gave you advice have never kept them before. Get a small one and see what happens. You aren't trying to put a massive trigger in a nano. A small clown tang - why not give it a shot?

And Moeshi, chill out dude.


I know we have experts on this forum, like legit ones that do research and stuff in the field, marine biology, etc., but most of us are hobbyists with real world experience. A lot of people pull info and size "requirements" from live aquaria. Like are they the end all for everything?

Common sense plays a very important role in this hobby. Don't throw a shark into a 3' tank, you know? Don't mix stuff that may kill each other. A lot of people always state "well in the wild..." Yeah we get they're capable of getting to those sizes, but how often are those sizes seen in homes? To me, I feel like a 6' tank is still too small, cuz I want a large tank, which is visually more appealing to me/my eyes and I can have more fish.

The hobbyist part of me has been seeing people throw tangs into any size tank and people have been keeping the same tangs, in the same size tank for years without issue. None. Whatsoever. Does it make them sad and depressed? Who knows. How can anyone gauge that? I've had a hippo in a 70 tall for 6 years. He was fat and visually healthy, but I felt bad as he got to 4" and then seemed too big.

I'm sure people are gonna take some time to quote me and refute anything I've said, but I see stuff all the time, doesn't mean it's "right" but who's the one determining what is "right" from wrong? Might as well leave all fish in the ocean then. :)
 
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