Time for Tangs?

[corwise]

How's it going? I've had my 90 gal up since mid July, and was thinking of adding a few tangs in the next few months. One of the LFS's told me that you can put tangs in your tank after two months, but I've heard up to 6 months in other places. Just curious what everyone's opinion was. Thanks much.

Dave

 

[jxr182]

I'm by no means very experienced or knowledgeable with all this, I just set up my first tank in March, but I seem to recall getting my sailfin as my 3rd fish, about two months after setting up the tank... now I've also got a blue hippo/regal got it probably 5 mo or so into it...

I've done EVERYTHING wrong so far though, but i have been REALLY lucky. I overstocked way too quickly and had one loss, due to compatability not the tank's young age.

 

[pwhitby]

So long as your water is good, go for it.

Remember though....tangs are extremely susceptible to white spot (Ich). Make sure you get a fat healthy one and watch it feed at the store. Personally, I would ask them to hold it for a week before you take it home.

Ideally it should be quarantined, but that is your choice.

Acclimate it slowly, in the dark. Add it to the tank in the dark.

Tangs like to hide in rock work to sleep, so make sure there are spaces for it to do so.

Purchase some of the food the store uses as well as getting some sheets of Nori, or seaweed to supplement its diet with. They are all vegetarian and need vegetable matter in their diet.

Finally, choose an easy to keep tang, such as a yellow or purple, a chevron or scopas or maybe a naso. Regals are ok, but powder browns powder blue and clowns are really suceptible to ich.

Good luck,

Paul.

 

[corwise]

Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that the waiting period was not as much for your water, but to give aglea type stuff time to grow on your rocks so the Tangs can graze?

Also, anyone think there's a chance/way I can put a yellow and a purple tang in the same tank? Of the small "easy" tangs those are probably the ones who appeal to me most, but they are also of course the most violent.

Dave

 

[_Sooner_2]

You can supplement your tangs diet with green stuff...seaweed strips, formula one flake, spirulina flake, fresh greens, etc. Plus, they'll eat anything you're feeding your other fish as well. Tangs are hogs, they'll eat about anything.

I picked up a new tang just today...a yellow mimic, it's a fat thing already. It's a replacement for a Sohal I had for about 2 years.

GL with whichever you choose.

Ronnie

 

[pwhitby]

you can do that, but they may fight. I had a 180 with 2 yellow and 2 purple.

 

[jpitts101]

i had good luck by putting my tangs in my tank at the same time so they didnt have a territory already established.

 

[JR719]

That and... I have found mine like to hang around cleaner shrimp. The shrimp are always picking away at something on them. I would not do tangs again without the cleaners.

 

[corwise]

Thanks, I already got the cleaner waiting to go. He's just kind of hanging out right now waiting for a fish big enough for him to work on to join the tank...

 

[captbunzo]

Personally, I would say that it would be more humane to keep a single tang in a 90g tank. And I would go with one of those that Paul Whitby suggests above. In particular I recommend a yellow, purple, or scopas tang.

Concerning algae, most of the algae that grows in our tank is not really in the natural diet of a tang - you'd have to specifically plant for that. If you really wanted to do that, a PERFECT choice (and also a valid alternative to Chaetomorpha (chaeto) in a fuge) is Gracilaria. Otherwise, just supplement with some variety of Nori. I really like the packages of "seaweed selects" from Ocean Nutrition. I think a couple of companies sell stuff just like this.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_fish_food_ocean_nutrition_dry_algae_seaweeds_selects.asp

With a tang (or even 2), a 10 pack of this stuff will last a long time as the sheets are pretty big.

 

[poke75]

Put them in at the same time and when they are small and keep them fat and happy so they don't feel the need to fight over food and I bet you do fine.

I have too many in too small of a tank and they are still doing fine after a year or so, (Paul W. probably know how long I've had them) hehe. (Want em back Paul?) jk I have not had any white spot or anything.

Once in a while if I am gone for several days, they flick their tails at each other over the first feeding or two. Then they settle back down.

 

[MyMonkey]

I have a 58 gallon tank. Only 3 feet end to end. I had the nicest Kole Tang that was killed during some odd bacterial infection early on. (along with all my other fish but one) I waited a few months and got a Scopas Tang. Nice fish. However, If you are looking for brighter colors, go with the yellow.

I am upgrading to a 90 gallon soon and will likely either add a yellow or swap the scopas for a yellow tang.

As far as water readiness is concerned. If you are worried about inducing a cycle or new tank syndrome, you can add Bio Spira with your fish. I have had good luck with it.

BTW, Aquarium Concepts has two big fat Yellow Tangs. Saw them earlier this evening.