Thoughts about the Yellow Tang

Oliver

Oliver
Jan 17, 2005
424
0
0
Perth, Western Australia
Hi everyone,
I am currently considering getting a yellow tank for my aquarium and i am wondering if it is a good fish to get. It looks beautiful and I think it would look great in my "aquarium to be". I also want a blue (regal) tang and I am wondering if these two will mix. They both have like the best colour ever so the match would be awsome. Do any of these have "scalpels"? If they do, do you think that if i put my hand in the aquarium to clean that they will cut it.

Your comments are greatly appreciated, thank you :)
 
How big is your tank? Tangs in tanks less than 4 feet--and even in some that are 4 feet--are prone to stress and disease issues. The yellow and blue will mix with few problems if added together, but will need a very large tank to really thrive. Both have scalpels--all tangs/surgeonfish do--but usually just use them defensively. Unless you really **** the tang off, it will likley just hide when you're working in the tank.
 
ok, thanks, my tank is 50g. I have this fish book and it says that the yellow tangs only ges to a size oft 7.5 cm in captivity but 20cm in the ocean. And the the blue tang gets to 15 cm in captivity and 31cm in the ocean. Is this true or is the book written wrong?

How big is your yellow tang, and/or blue tang?
 
My yellow is about 6 inches right now, and I fully expect him to hit 9-10 inches. Fish that don't get as big as their wild counterparts are being stunted, either by tank size, poor nutrition, or water conditions, and will die an early death.
 
I wouldn't put a yellow tang in a 4' tank. They need lots of swimming room. I would think they would be too stressed. Maybe if you knew for a fact you would be upgrading soon. They are ick magnets. IMO they belong in at least a 75g. preferably bigger.
 
I have a yellow tang (6-7") in my 75 gal tank and I wouldn't put another in there. I would say 75 gal is bare min for one tang to live and thrive in. How much expereince do you have with more sensitive saltwater fish as well? They can be difficult to care for. They are hardy if you want to put the time in (frequent water changes, tank size, vitamin enrichment for algae, varied food, good water parameters at all times). I don't mean to seem negative because they are bright, colorful and rewarding fish. I love my little guy. He eats from my hand and comes out to see anyone who comes near enough to the tank. Just know some friends who shouldn't have bought them and did, they lacked experience.
 
Hey Cpn Aaron:

Went to Florida Tech for my masters degree in Operations Research in 1992-1995. There used to be a great little salt water store in the main street in Indiatlantic. Is it still there. Nice to see a techie on the forum

Azorean
 
skippy2 said:
I wouldn't put a yellow tang in a 4' tank. They need lots of swimming room. I would think they would be too stressed. Maybe if you knew for a fact you would be upgrading soon. They are ick magnets. IMO they belong in at least a 75g. preferably bigger.

a 75g is a 4' tank :)
 
i was thinking that too dorkfish
 
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