View Full Version : Yellow Tang- Tank Size
Hiya, I took a trip to my LFS yesterday with adding another fish to my aquarium in mind. So far have 1x Dwarf Angel 1x Pyjama Wrasse and 1x Clown, 1x toadstool and 1x mushrooms, crabs and snails.
I have a chromis aquarium (55x55x55). Holds about 35 gallons.
The usual guy was'nt in so I had a word with the person running it, he never came across as knowing too much about the marine side. He mentioned that it would be ok to put a yellow tang into my tank.
Im a fan of tangs, regal and yellow especially but always thought my setup was just too small as research I'v done on the yellow tang says they require a minimum tank size of 45-50 gallons and mine only holds 35.
So I thought Id put it past you lot first. Would it be acceptible or has this guy got no clue? Seems to me the later but I'd love to be able to add a yellow tang, and seeing a number in much smaller show tanks has made me wonder.
Id appreciate any feedback, thanks alot.
Joe
dan-the-man
01-09-06, 10:13
Nope too small IMO, good of you to ask instead of just buying though :)
instantsquid
01-09-06, 10:13
My personal feeling is that the guy simply wanted to sell you a fish :(
A Yellow Tang would need more swimming space than your current tank can provide.
Start planning that upgrade! :D
- Ian
A Yellow Tang would need more swimming space than your current tank can provide.
Sorry, Joe, but I'd agree. :(
OK thanks alot for your help. Just out of curiosity, what effects can putting a fish in an undersized tank have?
Cheers Joe
Chris2500DK
05-09-06, 12:38
In general it can lead to added aggression, disease, stunted growth (hence the old tale about fish growing to fit the tank you put them in) and a miserable fish. If they don't have the space they need they will get stressed and it will cause problems.
Tangs are very active swimmers and most of the places I've read about them recommends at least 75 gallons for any kind of tang. Opinions vary of course.
Silverback
08-09-06, 23:52
Tangs (like surgeon and butterfly fish) have territories that cover several hundred square metres in the wild, and to squeeze one into a 75 gallon system would seem a little claustrophobic IMHO...
Cramped conditions for the fish mean stress, disease, agression towards other inhabitants, reduced growth rates and premature death. Is there an upside to putting fish with decent growth potential into small systems????
I'm sure that the good people here would be able to suggest some interesting additions to your system that will not feel too constrained by the size of your system...
the other flip side to the coin is that people have kept YT in A Chromis with m uch success. I knwo several people who have done, and although it isn't right, i think it can be done.
Chris2500DK
09-09-06, 08:22
Tangs (like surgeon and butterfly fish) have territories that cover several hundred square metres in the wild, and to squeeze one into a 75 gallon system would seem a little claustrophobic IMHO...
Cramped conditions for the fish mean stress, disease, agression towards other inhabitants, reduced growth rates and premature death. Is there an upside to putting fish with decent growth potential into small systems????
I'm sure that the good people here would be able to suggest some interesting additions to your system that will not feel too constrained by the size of your system...
What you're saying is that noone should be keeping tangs in aquariums. It's actually an interesting point, if the fish in the wild has a territory of hundreds of metres is it really going to be any happier in a 200 gal tank than in a 35? Either would be ridiculously small compared to the natural behavior of the fish.
the other flip side to the coin is that people have kept YT in A Chromis with m uch success. I knwo several people who have done, and although it isn't right, i think it can be done.
Of course it can be done. However, "much success" is a little open to interpretation. How long did they keep them alive? Did the fish exhibit any repetitive behaviour symptoms? What was the growth like? What did the tank look like? I've seen small tanks with YTs in that quite frankly looked crap but the tang was alive - is that deemed a success?
If you're trying to recreate a bit of the ocean where the inhabitants' behaviour does not appear to be hugely affected by the fact they are in a glass box then a tang should not be kept in that size tank. If you don't really care but want a pretty yellow active fish then go ahead.
However, time and again we see posts on here asking the same question, and people chirping in with "I kept 3 tangs in a tank that big" an a couple of months down the line we see please for help with whitespot or similar diseases which may be caused by stress.
IMO it's too small.
John
reefer_rob
29-09-06, 14:53
Even if you could fit a yellow tang into a small tank, you won't get much enjoyment over seeing a big dull yellow fish sulking in the corner of a tank compared to a bright yellow active fish swimming speedily in and out of the rockwork in a larger system. I wouldn't put one in anything less the a 4ft long 55g.
Sorry to jump in on this thread (got to make my 50!) but I'm putting together a 3x2x2 and would like to put a Yellow Tang in it, a nice bright fish which if healthy are very inquisitive - just right for the target audience of my two year old!
Currently planned occupants are a pair of Percula clownfish and the 'standard' clean up crew. Just started to put the list together.
I'm going to have a good amount of flow across the open swimming area of the tank using a larger Seio to give the occupants some exercise space.
Would this be OK? I don't want to stress a fish anymore than necessary, but then taking it out of the ocean and putting it into a little box is probably stressful enough already!
Thanks
Alan.
I have a YT in my 3x2x2 & it seems fine: one of the most active fish in there & always first out for food.
I have a YT in my 3x2x2 & it seems fine:..........
What does that mean? You tang is probably surviving but I doubt it is happy.
David
Lets be honest, no tang is going to be totally happy in a fish tank (even 10 ft) due to the size of the ocean they cover. But as this is a selfish hobby, the best you can do is try and give them as much swimming space as possible.
I would say a 5 ft tank for a YT is realistic.
IMHO Danny
What does that mean? You tang is probably surviving but I doubt it is happy.
David
It means exactly what is says: it seems fine. No white spot, eats well, always out, not spooked by movement outside the tank. How would you know if anybody's tang is "happy" or not? Maybe fish don't have a concept of "happiness".
I've had a Yellow Tang in my 4ft for the past 6 months. It seems to be one of the happiest fish in the tank. I've seen huge tanks at LFS with groups of 20 or more in, and they nip each other's fins etc. Surely these fish would be less happy and healthy? My water's fine, there's plenty of flow, and to be honest the tang doesn't even utilise the swimming space provided.
sod the bills get a 10 footer lol
i wish too mate but they are all very right just not fare
to the little fella but to be honest even us lot with 5 foot plus tanks ar`nt far too them eaither
look how big there natural back garden is mate
disapointment is what makes us thrive to go bigger and better
you will and be proud
tony
EDIT sorry dANNY skipped the last few post when posted saw yours i bow _ _ _ _
just were thinking the same mate.
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