Yellow tang in 55gallon corner tank

[crissie]

Let me guess your tank is 6 foot? So I see these guys swim circles in corners more than in rectangular in that case length is infinite is it not? I have seen yellow tangs happy in 55 gallon corners

No actually. I had to down-size after an injury meant I couldn't keep up with the maintenance of a larger tank - so now my tank is not big enough for a tang.

No, length is not infinite - tangs will naturally swim in a line before turning, if they are swimming in circles this is not appropriate housing for them.

How do you know those tangs are happy?

 

[stantheman]

3 in here for a year and they are looking pretty happy!
54 Gallon Corner Reef Tank 1 year old: http://youtu.be/MBtjbjILptE

 

[crissie]

I don't have the patience to watch the full 12 minutes - however from the first 2 I would say if you think those tangs (especially the Hippo) are behaving in a natural "happy" way then I would suspect you have never seen them either in the wild or in a tank of real length.

 

[CHSUB]

how does one measure "happiness" of yellow tangs? 6 foot, 5 foot, corner tank...in the wild yellow tangs school by the hundreds, if you're concerned about the fishes "happiness" you should try to replicate its natural enviroment.

 

[stantheman]

I don't know man I can't put an ocean in my living room

 

[crissie]

I don't believe happiness can be measured in a fish - but unhappiness can. Certain behaviours show that a fish is unhappy with either it's housing or it's tank mates.

 

[stantheman]

Like my pure evil gramma gaping at snails hahaha also if they get close to his house he nails them saw one fly 4 inches yesterday

 

[CHSUB]

I don't believe happiness can be measured in a fish - but unhappiness can. Certain behaviours show that a fish is unhappy with either it's housing or it's tank mates.

yes!!!!

however, suggesting the yellow tang is unhappy in a 54 corner vs 8 ft tank is rediculious.....if you were to add a second yellow tang to the 8 ft tank one would kill the other, but add six and they would all be fine. the 54 corner is not perfect, but it's not to bad either. if set up properly and maintained the fish could live a long and "happy" life.

 

[crissie]

yes!!!!

however, suggesting the yellow tang is unhappy in a 54 corner vs 8 ft tank is rediculious.....if you were to add a second yellow tang to the 8 ft tank one would kill the other, but add six and they would all be fine. the 54 corner is not perfect, but it's not to bad either. if set up properly and maintained the fish could live a long and "happy" life.

I don't know - a fish flitting back and forth over an area of inches (as was in the video) is displaying much less natural behaviour than a fish swimming 7 1/2 foot before turning back and taking another long swim. Same with the hippo having to utilise the powerhead to replicate swimming.

I've known two tangs be okay when added at the same time - but I completely agree with the more the better. These fish aren't naturally alone.

 

[stantheman]

Well my 2 clowns don't have an anemone and that's not "natural" either but they do live very healthy obviously I cant replicate a completely natural environment I suppose you have a suggested depth like 25 feet as well because that would be natural. My question is would a yellow tang live and be healthy in my tank?

 

[BrianD]

I'm not sure why you dredged up a 4 year old thread just to argue about something you have already made your mind up about. There is no point for this to continue. You will do what you want to do.