Two Tang Compatability

[FutureBoyGenius]

I have a 2" Pacific Blue Tang that has been in my 90 for about 3 months and has been fine. I want to eventually add a sizable Yellow Tang, maybe 4". Will this cause a problem since they are completely different size and color and the Pacific has home tank advantage?

I really don't want to end up having to change my rockwork because I have just squeezed all of my creative juices for the time being.

 

[Tswifty]

I wouldn't go with that large of a size differential. But those two are commonly seen together in tanks.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

I thought that large of a size differential would discourage quarrels? Would a 3" yellow tang be better?

 

[ScottL4619]

I have both tangs in my tank. The yellow was added after the blue and they were fine. They bumped each other a few times when going into their night time spots, but other than that they are fine. They eat Nori from the clip together like buddies now.

 

[fatdaddy]

I have a Naso and a Yellow tang in my tank. They get along fine.

I made the newbie mistake of adding two Nasos to the same tank, so I had to separate them when the sparks flew.

The Naso and Yellow do spare, but nothing serious. It's more just a warning.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I personally wouldn't do it, mainly because of the size of your tank --- hepatus tangs just get too big.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100513#post13100513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
I personally wouldn't do it, mainly because of the size of your tank --- hepatus tangs just get too big.

"Hepatus?"

I think I am going to eventually just go for it. The Yellow Tang is adds to much color to a tank. Especially when you have a Pacific Blue swimming around too. I will just have to remove it, if it doesn't work out.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100571#post13100571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FutureBoyGenius
"Hepatus?"

I think I am going to eventually just go for it. The Yellow Tang is adds to much color to a tank. Especially when you have a Pacific Blue swimming around too. I will just have to remove it, if it doesn't work out.

Paracanthurus hepatus is the scientific/latin name for that tang.

Think it is a bad idea to be already thinking about removing it if it doesn't work out. Hepatus tangs can/will get over a foot long.

 

[ScottL4619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100571#post13100571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FutureBoyGenius
"Hepatus?"

Pacific Blue Tangs also go by Regal Tang, Blue Surgeonfish, Indo-Pacific Blue Tang, Hepatus Tang, Hippo Tang, and probably others. They are all the same fish.

The reason that you will hear people tell you not to put a Blue Tang in a 90 gallon tank is because they are generally 4 foot long tanks. Blue tangs reach amazing speeds when they feel like going for a swim in your tank. They really should have the room they need. And quite frankly, Blue Tangs would probably be better off in something even larger if given the opportunity. 6 feet just seems to be the minimum requirement based on opinions of most veterans. I would not recommend purchasing the fish for color if you are already considering having to move it someday. They are not as easy as you would think to get out of the tank.

Just my $.02

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Wow, never seen one that big in captivity. How many years would you say that takes? I am pretty sure the oldest I have seen was 12 years and it was 8".

I'm not arguing, just being inquisitive, because I know this is probably one of the most popular marine aquarium fish.

 

[ScottL4619]

Some just stay smaller. But, they have the potential to reach 12 inches in just a couple of years. I knew someone who purchased one the size of a half dollar and it was every bit of 11 inches in 2 years or so.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

But, he was probably kept in a tank much larger than 90gallons.

 

[ScottL4619]

Yeah, it was in a 180.

 

[FutureBoyGenius]

Well my theory is that fish will usually grow to their surroundings. Yes, there are many holes in this theory, haha. Thank you for your advice Scott. I will always look out for the fish's best interest.

 

[IFbettas]

Hippo tangs really need a much bigger tank than 90 gallons in order to reach their full potential. I still feel kinda bad about keeping one in my 180 as these fish really like to swim ALOT.

As far as the yellow tang goes, I think they can do fine in a tank like yours and I would go for it. The two tangs might fight occasionally but nothing serious.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100715#post13100715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ScottL4619
Some just stay smaller. But, they have the potential to reach 12 inches in just a couple of years. I knew someone who purchased one the size of a half dollar and it was every bit of 11 inches in 2 years or so.

Must have fed him steroids too.

Someone posted a 3 year update the other day. They had both tangs you are talking about in your tank. I believe the Blue was about the same size on the first pic. 3 years later it looked to be 5 or 6 inches.

I would do a 3" yellow tang.

I have a 3" PBT and a 3" Yellow Tang in my 90g tank with no issues.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100851#post13100851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FutureBoyGenius
Well my theory is that fish will usually grow to their surroundings. Yes, there are many holes in this theory, haha. Thank you for your advice Scott. I will always look out for the fish's best interest.

I can't remember where I read it ( some fish magazine ), but there was an article about fish growing to their surroundings. Seemed to be the conclusion that it happened because of the added stress that the fish was under in being in a too small of a tank, stress = an unhappy fish.

 

[ScottL4619]

I don't think I would rely too heavily on this theory. I'm not sure that it's true with marine fish. I think there are some goldfish or something similar where this would apply. I think the only way this could happen is that the fish becomes too large for a small space and is not as healthy as it should be. This could (potentially) stunt it's growth. But it's not growing to the size of the tank, it is limiting it's growth (and most likely longevity) by being unhealthy.

 

[IFbettas]

Oh, about your little theory... lol. Most of the time it is true that fish only grow to the size of their aquarium, but this is because they either die a premature death in the small aquarium or their growth gets stunted from not enough space. Psycologically it is not good for the fish, even if they appear to be doing "well". I don't want to sound harsh but this is just my opinion.

 

[ScottL4619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13100870#post13100870 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tswifty8
Must have fed him steroids too.

Ha ha, you would think. I have had mine for just under 4 years and he/she has only gone from 2 inches to around 7. But, I really did see this monster I spoke of earlier and it was huge...easily twice the size of mine. I'm not sure what makes them grow fast/slow, I feed mine tons of meaty and Herb food including a never ending supply of Nori everyday, all day.