Sailfin Tang Concern

[coral_reefer_]

Hello. I have a 55g diverse reef tank. Maybe not as diverse as some of yours but I would like to think mine is. I rescued a Desjardini Sailfin Tang from my local Petco about a year ago. The marine section is poorly kept and beautiful fish go there to die. It usually looks like a graveyard when I show up. The Tang is most likely a year and couple months old. Unfortunately my landlord won't let me upgrade to a larger tank and I must replace my current tank because it is in poor condition. I was considering a 56g show tank. Has anyone had any success with a Tang in a 56g show tank? Just looking for a little feedback because I love my Tang. Thanks.

 

[NYCBOB]

sailfins grow big. even a 56 show wouldnt be sufficient. if u really love ur sailfin, give it to someone with a bigger tank.

 

[coral_reefer_]

how long till they grow to maturity?

 

[coral_reefer_]

yeah i want to, but i dont know anyone trustworthy to give him to

 

[coral_reefer_]

i plan on moving in 6mo-1 year.

 

[ReeferBill]

Sailfin Tangs?

Sailfin Tangs?

Hello Coral Reefer ; Do you think you could sneak in a 75 or 100 gallon tank without your landlord seeing you? I know these Tangs can grow pretty fast if you keep them well fed. Limit your feedings to hold onto to him as long as you can and then trade him in for something smaller and more practicle. Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!!!:fish1:

 

[coral_reefer_]

i usually feed him once every other day. i dont like to pollute my tank much with extra nutrients. i have tried getting a bigger tank and my landlord was quite unhappy. when i picked the tang up he had lateral line erosion bad and i cured him of it. i feel like we have bonded since. well i guess i might try the show tank for 6mo and hopefully he adjusts fine. thanks for the input.

 

[DanEnglish]

how did you get the lateral line to go away? I have one with the same problem.

 

[palmer373]

feed atleast once a day, your tang will be happier. my yellow tang has grown maybe 3/4-1" in a yearish. he is about 5 inches right now. im expecting 3/4-1" growth a year. how large is your sailfin?

 

[NYCBOB]

they dont grow all that fast. i wouldnt limit the feeding just so it wouldnt grow, bc it sounds cruel.

 

[sTefaniA]

They do grow fast when kept properly. Mine has doubled in size in little over a year.

From this:

To this:

 

[aday2remmbr]

sailfin tangs get over a foot long, and im not trying to be rude or anything but to upgrade from a 55 gallon to a 56 gallon just doesnt seem to make any sense in my opinion. haha i guess you do what you can

 

[Alex T.]

I had one in my 150 (72 x 18 x 27). He was getting large very fast, and I didn't feel that even a 6 foot tank was a good home long term. It was either him or my Achilles. Easy choice as far as I'm concerned.

He's now happy in a much larger tank with someone on these forums who if I recall had a 10 foot tank and very wide. I'm totally in agreement with Stefania. Tangs are all day foragers and simply picking at your liverock until you feed every other day is cruel and not enough. All tangs in the wild are plump and robust. If you've seen them when they come in to an importer you'd be amazed how much weight they lose by the time they make it to our tanks. Do not keep any fish if you are going to have to decide between water quality and keeping your fish healthy. Get a larger skimmer, increase the volume of your sump, feed more and do larger water changes.

If you want to dance you've gotta pay the band.

 

[westreef]

The sailfin grows fast. Mine is about 6" from mouth to end of tail in about a year. Initially it was only 1/3 of the size of my purple tang. Now it is the same size. After a brief period of fight with the purple tang, they now get along well. Both of them keep my algae down. Wish the tank was a bit bigger for them though. Btw, it poops a lot. :rollface: