Tang to tank size

[johnnyb]

i have 5 in two tanks a yellow a purple 2 blue hippos and a scorpus they were all added a different times and have all done well together. Ihave the option of moving them from tank to tank(180 and 54) if i have a problem and my daughter has a 180 all fish and they are adding a larger tank in the next few months...so i dont really worry about them getting to big for my tanks. i just keep an eye on em.

 

[pallobi]

Interesting thread... I don't have a whole lot to contribute, but... If you have been out on a real reef snorkeling etc, and have had a real chance to observe nature and tangs, it would give a little bit different perspective to the conversation and what tangs truly need to thrive... Myself, I've seen many a tangs on the reefs in Maui, and stuffing a tang in any tank that's smaller than a few hundred gallons is of no help to the animal at all... With that said, I have a tang in an 80g display...

 

[johnnyb]

But using that analogy wouldnt that apply to all fish? And Corals?

 

[pallobi]

IMO, its more about the area they cover naturally in the wild and swim patterns etc... I've watched them burst 30 to 60' across the reef.. Of course we can't give them that... And again, all this said and I house a purple in a 4' 80g tank... As hypocritical and sad as it is, it's a much better home and he is taken much better care of than where I got him...

IMO in captivity, nutrition and oxygen levels should be looked at more as well... All tangs require a large amount of both...

 

[dz6t]

Come to think about it, for baby tang, it may have a better chance to survive in a tank( that is not a nano) than in the wild. For adult, a larger tank is more confortable than a small one. Anyhow, we are not doing them a favor to keep them in tanks.

 

[dz6t]

But using that analogy wouldnt that apply to all fish? And Corals?

Good point about corals.
I think if the type of coral grow and multiply in our tanks, it is doing fine and may actually no worse off than in the wild. It doesn't care about moving around as long as the water parameters are good. For tank breeded clownfish, it is better off in captive than in the wild. For tangs, no, until one day people is able to tank breed tangs.

 

[acrofragger]

Good point about corals.
I think if the type of coral grow and multiply in our tanks, it is doing fine and may actually no worse off than in the wild. It doesn't care about moving around as long as the water parameters are good. For tank breeded clownfish, it is better off in captive than in the wild. For tangs, no, until one day people is able to tank breed tangs.

dont think this will ever happen .. unless we have 1000s of gallons of water for them to come up the top and realese the eggs as they would in the wild