Vlamingi Tang

Coderabit2 · 04/27/2008, 09:55 AM

After losing most of my livestock during my move from an apt to a house in Feb. due to a heater malfunction. I finally decided to go and buy a fish this weekend.

I went to the LFS and told the guy there my setup. I really wanted another tang as I had a blue hippo since I had started my tank six years ago that I lost in the move. I was thinking of a powder blue. Then I saw that they had some gorgeous Sohols and Vlamingis. I watched the Sohols for a little bit and realized they are a really mean fish! I asked the guy if a Vlamingi would be to big for my tank and he said it would be fine as they don't grow as big or as fast in the wild. After having a blue hippo for six years that didn't even get to six inches I decided to go for it.

Will the Vlamingi grow faster than my hippo did? Should I return the fish and go with another tang? I know I could find a home for it if it outgrows my tank, but I get attached to my fish and would rather not do that. The Vlamingi is about 3.5 inches. How long would it take to outgrow my 90?

tkeracer619 · 04/27/2008, 10:04 AM

About 6 months or less....

WOW take it back and have an attitude with the LFS...... that fish gets 2 feet long in an aquarium.

My Vlamingi is about a year old and is the largest tang out of 7 in my tank. Started the size of a half dollar and is now 8 inches long. Grows a half inch to an inch a month now. My blue tang started the same size and I have had it for a year and a half, it is less than half the size of the vlamingi.

Sohal tangs are one of the meanest fish out there. I rate the powder blue as the same in terms of aggression..

Coderabit2 · 04/27/2008, 10:16 AM

Thanks for the reply. I'm really regretting getting the fish out and taking it back to the LFS that is an hour away.

What would you recommend for a show piece fish in a 90? Can be a tang or something else.

kar93 · 04/27/2008, 10:55 AM

Yes a Vlamingi will get way to big for a 90gal. A PBT may be fine for a while in a 90 but they can get ich easily and will eventually outgrow it. A Sohal will get too big an agressive for the tank. A purple tang might be a nice addition.

Untamed12 · 04/27/2008, 11:13 AM

I support the above experiences with the Vlamingi. This is the fastest growing fish I have ever seen! Mine has grown from about 1" to nearly 6" in about 6 months. He is rapidly catching up to my Naso elegans.

The Vlamingi is totally unsuitable for a 90 gallon tank. I'm worried now that he may get too large for my 400 gallon!

TheSaltwaterGuy · 04/27/2008, 11:17 AM

For a tang in a 90g, I would look into the Kole Tangs and Tomini Tangs. They both get to about 6-7" long and are the best choice of tangs for that size tank.

buck50bmg · 04/27/2008, 11:30 AM

Mine is 14" in a 210gallon. I need to find a bigger home for him ASAP

mflamb · 04/27/2008, 12:44 PM

I have a Vlamingi in my 390. He's grown a lot.
I would scold your LFS extremely hard for either professional ignorance or just flat not telling the truth.

snorvich · 04/27/2008, 01:36 PM

I certainly would not put one in my 350 gallon tank despite the fact that I LOVE this fish. Your LFS has a major credibility problem as far as I am concerned.

kar93 · 04/27/2008, 02:48 PM

This should give you some idea on size when compared to the purple and CBB.

Znut Reefer · 04/27/2008, 03:34 PM

Kar whats the fish down close to the derasa clam?

herostar · 04/27/2008, 03:59 PM

A Kole tang would work well in a 90g. They've got great personalities.

Reeftanks6 · 04/27/2008, 05:27 PM

Valmingi will get way to big for a 90. I think they are very beautiful fish but they just get so big. I think you can do,
bristletooth tang
purple tang
PBT can get ich easily and should do good in that tank for a good amount of time
Yellow
Chocolate tang
Just some of the smaller tangs would be your best bet.

DEXNC · 04/27/2008, 06:22 PM

i agree with all the above post, not only do they get big! they get big very fast 3-6 inches per year at least the one that i had.

j5aliv · 04/27/2008, 07:25 PM

i had a vlamingi and it grew 5 inches inside of 6 months on me. a 90 is not even close to the size tank that a vlamingi should have and same for the hippo. you should never have had a hippo in your 90. putting a fish that should get 15 inches in a 90 gallon stunts his growth is not healthy for a fish and is cruel to be honest.

Coderabit2 · 04/28/2008, 06:25 PM

Well it looks like I'll be bringing her back shortly! Sigh... I'm definetly blaming myself on this after being in this hobby for six years. I might wait a little bit for her to get bigger just so its easier for me to get her out.

How about a Chevron Tang for my 90?

Coderabit2 · 04/28/2008, 06:34 PM

j5aliv: I disagree on my hippo tang. Do you think that my hippo was unhealthy and unhappy? She ate out of my hand everyday and would eat like a pig. Her blue color was bluer than any that I've ever seen in the wild. How was the fish suffering? What percentage of people do you think keep their blue hippo for six years or any fish for that matter. I never regretted buying her and don't doubt that she had a good life. To each his own I guess.

Just another question, how big of a tank would you need for a Vlamingi tang to have it forever?

ToxicPoison · 04/28/2008, 07:10 PM

I don't know why no one has pointed you to this thread, but there's a sticky in the Reef Fish forum that specifically mentions which tang is good for which size tank:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=739380

Maybe you found it already, but if not, that should help some..

clekchau · 04/28/2008, 07:14 PM

that list isn't a good guide, a 12 inch desjardini in a 135? a 14 inch sohal in a 180? a 2 foot long unicorn in a 200? really small for those big tangs

Reeftanks6 · 04/28/2008, 07:54 PM

I think that the Chevron will make a great addition to your tank. They are great fish and very peaceful fish. You should love this choice as they have some great color.

Coderabit2 · 04/28/2008, 09:17 PM

Toxic Poison: Thanks for the link as I had not seen that thread.

clekchau: I agree that some of them are off, but are you considering that most of the tangs only get to about half the size that they do in the wild?

Reeftanks6: Thanks for the comment. I think that will be my next fish

Corndork2 · 04/28/2008, 10:10 PM

ive seen Vlamingis that have gotten to 20" in home aquariums. It really is a huge species

tkeracer619 · 04/28/2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Coderabit2
Just another question, how big of a tank would you need for a Vlamingi tang to have it forever?

We have a 18" long one that is going into a 900 gallon or a 1500. That should be acceptable.

Coderabit2 · 04/29/2008, 10:46 AM

Dang 1500 gallons. I'm not sure that would fit in my living room hehe.

Anteverius · 04/29/2008, 10:58 AM

WOW! reading this thread makes me glad I stopped buying from the LFS. a while back, my roommate got a Vlamengi (without doing any prior research) because he wanted a tang. the guys at the LFS said it would be fine in the tank. a 55 gallon tank! the tang eventually died, as with pretty much everything I got from there (except a Mandarin). i think all of their fish have ich.

04/27/2008, 09:55 AM	#1
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	Vlamingi Tang After losing most of my livestock during my move from an apt to a house in Feb. due to a heater malfunction. I finally decided to go and buy a fish this weekend. I went to the LFS and told the guy there my setup. I really wanted another tang as I had a blue hippo since I had started my tank six years ago that I lost in the move. I was thinking of a powder blue. Then I saw that they had some gorgeous Sohols and Vlamingis. I watched the Sohols for a little bit and realized they are a really mean fish! I asked the guy if a Vlamingi would be to big for my tank and he said it would be fine as they don't grow as big or as fast in the wild. After having a blue hippo for six years that didn't even get to six inches I decided to go for it. Will the Vlamingi grow faster than my hippo did? Should I return the fish and go with another tang? I know I could find a home for it if it outgrows my tank, but I get attached to my fish and would rather not do that. The Vlamingi is about 3.5 inches. How long would it take to outgrow my 90?

04/27/2008, 10:04 AM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	About 6 months or less.... WOW take it back and have an attitude with the LFS...... that fish gets 2 feet long in an aquarium. My Vlamingi is about a year old and is the largest tang out of 7 in my tank. Started the size of a half dollar and is now 8 inches long. Grows a half inch to an inch a month now. My blue tang started the same size and I have had it for a year and a half, it is less than half the size of the vlamingi. Sohal tangs are one of the meanest fish out there. I rate the powder blue as the same in terms of aggression.. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k. Last edited by tkeracer619; 04/27/2008 at 10:11 AM.

04/27/2008, 11:13 AM	#5
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I support the above experiences with the Vlamingi. This is the fastest growing fish I have ever seen! Mine has grown from about 1" to nearly 6" in about 6 months. He is rapidly catching up to my Naso elegans. The Vlamingi is totally unsuitable for a 90 gallon tank. I'm worried now that he may get too large for my 400 gallon! __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

04/27/2008, 11:17 AM	#6
TheSaltwaterGuy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,482	For a tang in a 90g, I would look into the Kole Tangs and Tomini Tangs. They both get to about 6-7" long and are the best choice of tangs for that size tank. __________________ - Chad "The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." - Robert Bloch

04/27/2008, 12:44 PM	#8
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	I have a Vlamingi in my 390. He's grown a lot. I would scold your LFS extremely hard for either professional ignorance or just flat not telling the truth. __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

04/27/2008, 10:16 AM	#3
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	Thanks for the reply. I'm really regretting getting the fish out and taking it back to the LFS that is an hour away. What would you recommend for a show piece fish in a 90? Can be a tang or something else.

04/27/2008, 10:55 AM	#4
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Yes a Vlamingi will get way to big for a 90gal. A PBT may be fine for a while in a 90 but they can get ich easily and will eventually outgrow it. A Sohal will get too big an agressive for the tank. A purple tang might be a nice addition.

04/27/2008, 11:30 AM	#7
buck50bmg Moved On Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 792	Mine is 14" in a 210gallon. I need to find a bigger home for him ASAP

04/27/2008, 01:36 PM	#9
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I certainly would not put one in my 350 gallon tank despite the fact that I LOVE this fish. Your LFS has a major credibility problem as far as I am concerned. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/27/2008, 02:48 PM	#10
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	This should give you some idea on size when compared to the purple and CBB.

04/27/2008, 03:34 PM	#11
Znut Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Claxton, Ga Posts: 3,396	Kar whats the fish down close to the derasa clam?

04/27/2008, 03:59 PM	#12
herostar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 1,024	A Kole tang would work well in a 90g. They've got great personalities. __________________ Do a good turn daily. Current Tank Info: 58g Oceanic (Est. 2007)

04/27/2008, 05:27 PM	#13
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	Valmingi will get way to big for a 90. I think they are very beautiful fish but they just get so big. I think you can do, bristletooth tang purple tang PBT can get ich easily and should do good in that tank for a good amount of time Yellow Chocolate tang Just some of the smaller tangs would be your best bet. __________________ 110g Reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Reef

04/27/2008, 06:22 PM	#14
DEXNC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greensboro, N.C Posts: 220	i agree with all the above post, not only do they get big! they get big very fast 3-6 inches per year at least the one that i had.

04/27/2008, 07:25 PM	#15
j5aliv Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: syracuse Posts: 37	i had a vlamingi and it grew 5 inches inside of 6 months on me. a 90 is not even close to the size tank that a vlamingi should have and same for the hippo. you should never have had a hippo in your 90. putting a fish that should get 15 inches in a 90 gallon stunts his growth is not healthy for a fish and is cruel to be honest.

04/28/2008, 06:25 PM	#16
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	Well it looks like I'll be bringing her back shortly! Sigh... I'm definetly blaming myself on this after being in this hobby for six years. I might wait a little bit for her to get bigger just so its easier for me to get her out. How about a Chevron Tang for my 90?

04/28/2008, 06:34 PM	#17
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	j5aliv: I disagree on my hippo tang. Do you think that my hippo was unhealthy and unhappy? She ate out of my hand everyday and would eat like a pig. Her blue color was bluer than any that I've ever seen in the wild. How was the fish suffering? What percentage of people do you think keep their blue hippo for six years or any fish for that matter. I never regretted buying her and don't doubt that she had a good life. To each his own I guess. Just another question, how big of a tank would you need for a Vlamingi tang to have it forever?

04/28/2008, 07:10 PM	#18
ToxicPoison Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Portland OR Posts: 66	I don't know why no one has pointed you to this thread, but there's a sticky in the Reef Fish forum that specifically mentions which tang is good for which size tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=739380 Maybe you found it already, but if not, that should help some..

04/28/2008, 07:14 PM	#19
clekchau Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,159	that list isn't a good guide, a 12 inch desjardini in a 135? a 14 inch sohal in a 180? a 2 foot long unicorn in a 200? really small for those big tangs __________________ RIP: 550 Fowlr, 600 Mixed Cichlids Aquarium Blog: www.clekchau.com

04/28/2008, 07:54 PM	#20
Reeftanks6 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: PA Posts: 3,857	I think that the Chevron will make a great addition to your tank. They are great fish and very peaceful fish. You should love this choice as they have some great color. __________________ 110g Reef build in progress Current Tank Info: 110 Gallon Reef

04/28/2008, 09:17 PM	#21
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	Toxic Poison: Thanks for the link as I had not seen that thread. clekchau: I agree that some of them are off, but are you considering that most of the tangs only get to about half the size that they do in the wild? Reeftanks6: Thanks for the comment. I think that will be my next fish

04/28/2008, 10:10 PM	#22
Corndork2 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 511	ive seen Vlamingis that have gotten to 20" in home aquariums. It really is a huge species

04/29/2008, 10:46 AM	#24
Coderabit2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 256	Dang 1500 gallons. I'm not sure that would fit in my living room hehe.

04/29/2008, 10:58 AM	#25
Anteverius Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Swamp...Go Gators! Posts: 204	WOW! reading this thread makes me glad I stopped buying from the LFS. a while back, my roommate got a Vlamengi (without doing any prior research) because he wanted a tang. the guys at the LFS said it would be fine in the tank. a 55 gallon tank! the tang eventually died, as with pretty much everything I got from there (except a Mandarin). i think all of their fish have ich.