Vlamingi Tang

museumguy said:
We have a Vlamingi and also a Unicorn tang here at the museum. Not sure how old they are, but at least 4 years old each. They are easily over a foot long and I'm not convinced that they are done growing.

I'm not going to engage in the argument/discussion about if its ok to buy a baby fish for a tank that it will outgrow with the intention of rehoming it later. However, I will say that I would not feel comfortable sticking either of those fish into a 210g tank at this time.

They are both powerful fish, with explosive swimming capabilities and in my opinion deserve a very large tank.
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how would you feel if you saw one in a 210, Tad?

(No need to reply publicly because we know these fishes are like puppies and they deserve a proper home environment.)

I know of people that purchase puppies without planning for their eventual requirements once they become full size dogs. Some people are simply unaware, others simply ignore what they already know and others could care less.

I'm not making any accusations here, simply hoping to make some people aware of the requirements of Naso Tangs. They're huge and powerful swimmers. There just aren't enough big aquariums around to take your Naso when it grows too large. There are better choices.
 
That is truly sad to hear of Greg. He will certainly be missed.I'm not sure how many are aware but many of the general guidelines regarding fish additions were written by him in AFM.
I was fortunate enough to have participated in a small forum some years back along with another person that went by the name "sonoferic1",probably better known nowadays as Ken for the work he was involved in on skimmate and carbon.Talked on the phone couple times and actually sent me some grass shrimp twice he had caught,my tang loved em.
Brought back some cool memories,sorry to jump topic.
 
~Gary,yes I believe so.But just wanted to say I haven't talked to him in years.Sort of a story behind it but I'm not hijacking.
You do have me curious though on where he is now,do you know?
 
I believe Ken is in State College, PA.
I might have met him at an NCPARS meet years ago... but maybe not.
I do know how to get in touch with him ;)
 
~ Gary, in a respectful way I realize your intentions and I have no problem.I was just throwing some thoughts out there to see what kind of discussion came of it.Simply a curiousity thing ,you know?
 
toddmh said:
well pretty much..People opening their yap and telling others how and what to put in their tank..A couple people were pretty hostile IMO..

You don't like others stock,shut your yap and say nothing.. :smokin:

Just sayin :bounce1:
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there's no hostility here.
I placed a Naso in a 220 before I knew any better.
There was nobody to advise me on bad livestock choices except the LFS which was eager to sell me Naso Tangs, Goniopora and orange tree sponges.
Had there been someone to advise me properly I would have thanked them!

I spent hundreds of dollars on books and magazine subscriptions as well as phone calls and killing livestock before finding RC and other local reefkeepers that were willing to share important information. This place is about sharing information- not just "shiny new fish syndrome" compliments.

As far as I'm concerned you can thank those that were brave enough to share their years experience with you here in this forum and thread. They are trying to help others.

Now off to do some more research on the stunting of captive marine fishes........
 
I see what you are saying Gary..When I thought about it..it is kinda nice to have people here to fill in the facts that online retailers will not tell you just to get the sale..Like you can not put a shark in a guppy bowl lol stuff like that..

With online retailers you lose allot of the teaching most LFS workers(respectable ones)will give you on buying advice..

Sorry I still feel the same on how some of the old posters responded to the OP..
 
it's understandable.

when I first got on RC I already had a Naso in a 220. I thought a 220 was a really big aquarium. It's not. After thinking about it for awhile I realized that the folks that were telling me that a 220 wasn't large enough for a Naso Tang were right. That's not to say that it can't be done, but all large adult Naso spp. need a really big aquarium.
 
Well looks like I need to apologize for mentioning I have this fish looks like it stirred the pot a little to close to home for a few people. Maybe I should just catch him and give him back to the person that had him in a 5 foot tank. Gary I get and respect your point when we spoke at your house I completely got where you were coming from. Here is the thing would I go out to a store and buy a vlamingi tang? The answer is no I wouldnt. But if a friend of mine has a very healthy very happy one in a 5 foot tank the answer is yes I would take him and put him in my tank with much more room for him to swim.
 
museumguy said:
We have a Vlamingi and also a Unicorn tang here at the museum. Not sure how old they are, but at least 4 years old each. They are easily over a foot long and I'm not convinced that they are done growing.

I'm not going to engage in the argument/discussion about if its ok to buy a baby fish for a tank that it will outgrow with the intention of rehoming it later. However, I will say that I would not feel comfortable sticking either of those fish into a 210g tank at this time.

They are both powerful fish, with explosive swimming capabilities and in my opinion deserve a very large tank.
Click to expand...

Seems like we already had this conversation haha
 
this is going to sound kind of crazy

this is going to sound kind of crazy

but if your vlamingii is growth stunted, Jeff, you have a much better shot at keeping it in that 210 long term. It would also help matters if it's a (smaller) female.
 
that is a question I've always had about tangs..Do they grow to their environment?say if you buy tangs as really small juveniles and raise them in a 120g will they out grow the tank,or will they only grow to a size thats suits their surroundings??

I had a small yellow in my 30g for about 6 months,always stayed pretty small..Now that I got a 120g going for him,he almost doubled in size in a couple months..
 
I think they will grow to suite their environment but eventually their growth will stunt and even if you move them to a larger tank they may, or may not grow larger
 
oh boy mine has streamers not long though and the nose is really not very large. I guess its half and half
 
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