Vlamingii Tang- Enough space?

[happyclam]

I am setting up a 135 gallon reef aquarium- is that enough space for a Vlamingii tang? I know the recommended volume is 150-180 gal, but an 180 is 6'x2'x2', my 135 is 6'x1.5'(wide)x2', which is only a 6" difference. So what do you think?

 

[reefer96]

He will outgrow that tank. they get somewhere around 18 in long i believe
You'd have to find him a new home sooner or later.

 

[jmccown]

8' tank minimum

 

[fittiger]

Also if 18" is an adult lenght, a 1.5' wide tank isn't much to turn around in.

 

[Tangwich]

I agree with everyone else, when I bought my 225g, the previous owner had one that wasn't even fully grown and with 6 feet in length and 2 feet to turn around, it still looked a bit cramped so when I acquired the tank, the poor fish had to go.

 

[snorvich]

Agree with all of the above. It is a great fish though!

 

[ezcompany]

don't these fish get to 2 feet long?

 

[Untamed12]

I've not seen one get to 2 feet long....but I agree with others above...Not only will it outgrow that tank, but it will do it so fast it will make your head spin.

The vlamingi tang has to be the fastest growing fish that I have ever seen!

 

[Znut Reefer]

Agreed. I just took a 10" one out of my 550 sps tank. He is getting so big he steady knocks over my sps. I'm currently trying to find him a home.

 

[dman17878]

Im not to sure that a 8' tank is enough !! I have one in a 300 gal tank that is 8' long and my 10" vlamingii needs more room he makes clumsy looking turns and late at night he tends to jet back and forth . He does not look stressed but Im sure that 2-3 foot longer tank would make huge diffrence.I could not even begin to think of this fish in anything shorter than 8' or less than 30" wide

 

[mflamb]

I have one in my 390. He's only about 8 inches and doing ok. I wouldn't put one in a 135.

 

[happyclam]

What about in a 72"L x 36"W x 24"T?

 

[SDguy]

I saw them at the aquarium at the Madalay Bay...they are HUGE!!!!!!!! Don't even bother getting one unless you have a multi hundred gallon tank!

 

[Hormigaquatica]

We have a young one in the 450g (96x36x30") display at work. He was maybe 3" when he went in. In less than a year, he has tripled in length (much more than that if you consider total body size). I honestly would feel bad keeping that fish as an adult in that tank. While theyre beautiful fish, they are a very poor choice for casual saltwater hobbiests.

 

[iceemn360]

I had one shortly for a while. It grew fast and it was in my 125. My tank was way too small for this amazing fish. I donated it to the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla where it is now the star fish in tank 26!

 

[Slakker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13164845#post13164845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happyclam
What about in a 72"L x 36"W x 24"T?

That's a 6' tank.

 

[happyclam]

I now you probably think of me as a scum bag & a red necked un educated fool, but one more question: how 'bout a tank 96"L x 48"W x 36"T?

 

[mflamb]

That would work.

 

[mmotown]

I just got a 4" one today in my 150. I have alot os SPS in my tank. I Was told he can stay in my tank for at least 2yrs. My plans are to have already upgrade to a 300 or so. Even if he does out grow the tank, at least I can say I had one.

 

[BrianD]

The problem is, once it outgrows your tank, there are very few options for it. Not many people have a tank suitable to keep it. I would only buy fish that I am prepared to keep for the duration.