tang or no tang

[daddycadi]

i really want a yellow tang in my tank. my current tank is only 50 gallons. i want to upgrade to a much larger tank eventually. how much time would I have before i had to move him to a larger tank? thanks

 

[RUFISHY2]

Well, IMO the real problem is regulating the social structure when you put him in a bigger tank. Trust me, you won't want him to be the first fish in a great big tank. He'll make it his...only his.

As for the amount of time you have until he needs a bigger tank. There are just a ton of variables, and an equal number of opinions on it.

Truthfully, I've seen a scopas tang do well in a 36 for years, and I've seen yellow tangs "pace" themselves to death in 200 gallon tanks.

If it were me I would do it. Start with as small a healthy specimen as you can find. (Just remember, plenty of people plan on having a bigger tank. Many never do. Finding a home for a large yellow tang ain't a sure thing.)

 

[daddycadi]

good advice, thanks for the response!

 

[TampaReefer79]

I'd say stock the tank you currently have. When you get a bigger tank, start stockig it with bigger fish. Just my opinion!

Let me also add that you more than likely won't be able to add any fish after the tang is added to a 50 gallon tank. He could make life very difficult for ANY new addition. I saw a tang almost pester a yellow watchman goby to death in a 90 because it was the tang's tank.

Also, how old is the tank? Tangs fare better in well established systems. Hope this helps!