Tangs, again ;)
- Thread starter k4ndyk1ng
- Start date
Fish Biscuit
Active member
when you put it that way, it sounds like women at the grocery store in sweatpants one size too small :lol:
sandwi54
New member
+1. lol...
k4ndyk1ng
New member
nsmith_mma
New member
ok thanks
You could always go with a blue caribbean tang:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+43+328&pcatid=328
It says they need a 180 on that site, but I wouldn't trust it. They are a small acanthurus species and are not the most active swimmers. I actually dove with them in the Caribbean and they were stunning. They aren't the most active swimmers either, which makes them good candidates for this tank size.
That said, I wouldn't rule out adding a blue hippo but then again, to the regulars on here, I am Lucifer.
nsmith_mma
New member
They get to a size of 9 inches...about the same as a yellow tang. And they all were slow, methodical swimmers when I saw them similar to a purple tang. 9 inches in the wild would probably mean about 6 inches in captivity, which imo is not unreasonable for a 4 foot tank.
Dragon moray ki
New member
I have seen them 14 inches big tang and I'm low balling that size could be up to 16.
Daniel Reef
New member
It's hard to follow the posts. So does an Acanthurus coeruleus grow to 9 inches or 15 inches? Or are you guys talking about different tangs?
jason2459
Well-known member
The Caribbean blue tang can easily get to 15". Also where do you get a 9" fish will only get to 6". Listings of a Max size is the averaged max size for a fish. They could get bigger or smaller in the wild or in our tanks. In our tanks they generally don't reach as big in the wild but doesn't mean that pacific blue won't hit 13" in someones tank provided the right conditions including the proper sized tank. Unless you shove them in a shoe box they should get close to their stated max size.
I've seen the Caribbean blue swim great distances along a reef line and seen them surfing a shoreline in some extremely turbulent waters.
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Toddrtrex
Premium Member
It is 15 -- someone found one piece of information that fit their view, and ran with it. Would be harder to justify a 15" tang in an 4 foot tank, so...
Dragon moray ki
New member
I agree with Todd on this one.
jason2459
Well-known member
I just saw this and assuming PR is Puerto Rico I was just down there a couple weeks ago. They were everywhere I went. Nice large schools of them. And you are right they were very active. Fun to watch as they would swarm in on areas peck away and just take off to the next place. Never really staying in one spot. With the exception of watching them at just about every rocky shoreline,which there was mostly,where they would constantly ride in and out with the waves. Many various shades of blues but a lot of them were a deep deep blue. Just beautiful.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Jealous. I was there back when the Vikings played the Saints in the NFC championship game -- was able to do some snorkeling during a "booze" cruise before a wedding. Those fish were all over the place, and I was just in shock at how large they were, and just how active they were.
nsmith_mma
New member
Right...sorry...my bad guys. It is 15 inches. I was going off of Live Aquaria's size. I should have looked up more info.
Scratch that idea lol.
The ones I saw in Jamaica must have been juvies.
Scratch that idea lol.
The ones I saw in Jamaica must have been juvies.
nsmith_mma
New member
But to be fair, I didn't do this. I generally trust Live Aquaria...but they messed up on this one. I was led astray. Damn you Live Aquaria! lol
Live aquaria is normally really good. I have the 48 x 36 x 12 with a yellow and tomini and don't call me satan but a Naso. I am currently moving the naso to my 150. He is also going to move into a 240 when he gets to big for this tank. (buddy's tank). I just wanted to say that if you bought a regal or carribean for that tank. You could move it into a larger tank, if you have one. I wouldn't suggest buying it with the idea of upgrading. Have the tank already that the fish will be moving in when he reaches appropriate size. IMO!
