Vlamingi Tang

Coderabit2

Coderabit2

New member
After losing most of my livestock during my move from an apt to a house in Feb. due to a heater malfunction. I finally decided to go and buy a fish this weekend.

I went to the LFS and told the guy there my setup. I really wanted another tang as I had a blue hippo since I had started my tank six years ago that I lost in the move. I was thinking of a powder blue. Then I saw that they had some gorgeous Sohols and Vlamingis. I watched the Sohols for a little bit and realized they are a really mean fish! I asked the guy if a Vlamingi would be to big for my tank and he said it would be fine as they don't grow as big or as fast in the wild. After having a blue hippo for six years that didn't even get to six inches I decided to go for it.

Will the Vlamingi grow faster than my hippo did? Should I return the fish and go with another tang? I know I could find a home for it if it outgrows my tank, but I get attached to my fish and would rather not do that. The Vlamingi is about 3.5 inches. How long would it take to outgrow my 90?
 
About 6 months or less....

WOW take it back and have an attitude with the LFS...... that fish gets 2 feet long in an aquarium.

My Vlamingi is about a year old and is the largest tang out of 7 in my tank. Started the size of a half dollar and is now 8 inches long. Grows a half inch to an inch a month now. My blue tang started the same size and I have had it for a year and a half, it is less than half the size of the vlamingi.

Sohal tangs are one of the meanest fish out there. I rate the powder blue as the same in terms of aggression..
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply. I'm really regretting getting the fish out and taking it back to the LFS that is an hour away.

What would you recommend for a show piece fish in a 90? Can be a tang or something else.
 
Yes a Vlamingi will get way to big for a 90gal. A PBT may be fine for a while in a 90 but they can get ich easily and will eventually outgrow it. A Sohal will get too big an agressive for the tank. A purple tang might be a nice addition.
 
I support the above experiences with the Vlamingi. This is the fastest growing fish I have ever seen! Mine has grown from about 1" to nearly 6" in about 6 months. He is rapidly catching up to my Naso elegans.

The Vlamingi is totally unsuitable for a 90 gallon tank. I'm worried now that he may get too large for my 400 gallon!
 
For a tang in a 90g, I would look into the Kole Tangs and Tomini Tangs. They both get to about 6-7" long and are the best choice of tangs for that size tank.
 
I have a Vlamingi in my 390. He's grown a lot.
I would scold your LFS extremely hard for either professional ignorance or just flat not telling the truth.
 
I certainly would not put one in my 350 gallon tank despite the fact that I LOVE this fish. Your LFS has a major credibility problem as far as I am concerned.
 
This should give you some idea on size when compared to the purple and CBB.
brian_vlamingi.jpg
 
Valmingi will get way to big for a 90. I think they are very beautiful fish but they just get so big. I think you can do,
bristletooth tang
purple tang
PBT can get ich easily and should do good in that tank for a good amount of time
Yellow
Chocolate tang
Just some of the smaller tangs would be your best bet.
 
i agree with all the above post, not only do they get big! they get big very fast 3-6 inches per year at least the one that i had.
 
i had a vlamingi and it grew 5 inches inside of 6 months on me. a 90 is not even close to the size tank that a vlamingi should have and same for the hippo. you should never have had a hippo in your 90. putting a fish that should get 15 inches in a 90 gallon stunts his growth is not healthy for a fish and is cruel to be honest.
 
Well it looks like I'll be bringing her back shortly! Sigh... I'm definetly blaming myself on this after being in this hobby for six years. I might wait a little bit for her to get bigger just so its easier for me to get her out.

How about a Chevron Tang for my 90?
 
j5aliv: I disagree on my hippo tang. Do you think that my hippo was unhealthy and unhappy? She ate out of my hand everyday and would eat like a pig. Her blue color was bluer than any that I've ever seen in the wild. How was the fish suffering? What percentage of people do you think keep their blue hippo for six years or any fish for that matter. I never regretted buying her and don't doubt that she had a good life. To each his own I guess.

Just another question, how big of a tank would you need for a Vlamingi tang to have it forever?
 
that list isn't a good guide, a 12 inch desjardini in a 135? a 14 inch sohal in a 180? a 2 foot long unicorn in a 200? really small for those big tangs
 
I think that the Chevron will make a great addition to your tank. They are great fish and very peaceful fish. You should love this choice as they have some great color.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

oceangopher
Tankpocalypse Now
Replies
2
Views
160
Reefing102
Reefing102
R
some random questions
Replies
1
Views
222
SantaMonica
S
S
Reef Tank for Sale (fish, corals, equipment, etc)
Replies
6
Views
304
chewey
C
G
New here! Here’s my 150G tall glass cages mixed reef aquarium
Replies
10
Views
435
Uncle99
Uncle99
beckya
purple tang
Replies
1
Views
199
OrionN
OrionN
Back
Top