Yellow Tang in Nano tank

[jack.pe]

Guys,

Went to the LFS (very well respected by all local aquarium keepers, 25 years in the business) on Saturday with intention of getting a peackock wrasse for my 24G JBJ Nano. I was having a conversation with the owner of the shop and as part of that said that it was a shame my tank was not big eough for a Yellow Tang as I really liked them, I had already said I was going to get the Wrasse and never even considered getting the Tang but he said my tank was absolutely fine for it and that it would do a good job on my hair algae too. Given his experience and the fact he is well respected I took his word for it and bought the fish. I have spent over £700 in the shop over the last 7 weeks (bought my cube and other stuff there), so I don't think his motivation for recommending the Tang was money, the Peackock Wrasse was only £5 cheaper.

But I have since had second thoughts, conversations with other people have raised doubts, he is not very large but still almost 3 inches from tip of mouth to tip of tail (about the length of a grown ocellaris but taller) and am now worried he won't be happy in my tank. He seems ok for now and is chomping down on a rock which has hair alage but I will not keep him if the conditions are not right. I intend to upgrade in size within 12 months to a 3x2x2 but for now he would have to stay in the Nano. I only have one other fish in there, a sunstripe goby.

I know people feel strongly about this type of issue and advice is greatly appreciated, hysterical posts won't be. So please measured posts only, I did not go into the shop without any information, I was aware that generally Yellow Tangs are known to need space but as I said I trusted the LFS owner who keeps his stock well and has a good reputation.

I am concerned about the welfare of the fish and will take him back ot LFS or give him away if he is likely to suffer in my tank.

Jack

[rjsilvers]

Definitely too small of a tank. Not only that, but he recommended you put a yellow tang in there and it was only 7 weeks ago that you bought the cube? That's barely enough time to cycle, let alone have the tank mature enough to support that fish.

I know you keep saying he's a well-respected guy. But it sounds like you know more about these fish than he does.

I think the fish probably would survive until you upgraded to a bigger tank, but it probably isn't going to be the happiest fish.

[scrmbld33]

IMO yellow tangs need at least a 90g to be happy. they usually get big fast. i think a 24g is too small for tangs

[downhillbiker]

i just found out my friend got a yellow tang in a 46 gallon tank. your tank is smaller than his, and i was sorry to break the news to him, but i told him the fish will be absolutely be miserable in that tank. nano tanks should hold nano fish, and everyone knows a tang is not a nano fish.

i certainly do question the owner's intentions. you may think he is very nice and knowledgeable, but he is displaying signs of either being dishonest, or not knowing very much at all about fish. sad to say, but the best LFS people will tell you "NO WAY" in that situation, and you may not be happy about it at the time, and maybe think they are rude, but in all honesty they are doing you and the organism a favor.

[tkeracer619]

.... Is this for real?

Take the fish back.

[tmantaylor18]

Originally posted by tkeracer619
.... Is this for real?

Take the fish back.

No he made this thread to be flamed by you. He made a mistake but he is coming here so he can fix it and that's all that matters.

[tkeracer619]

Originally posted by tmantaylor18
No he made this thread to be flamed by you. He made a mistake but he is coming here so he can fix it and that's all that matters.

Didn't flame anyone. These threads pop up every once in a while that are jokes. Take it how you want it but I didn't say anything offensive, wrong, or inflammatory.

If it's not a joke, simple, take it back. If you take offense to that... sorry but I don't care about people feelings, just the fishes long term health. There isn't really or shouldn't even be a debate on what to do in this situation.

[Ehaze]

I have known many people that keep tangs in 10-40gal tanks, they for like 5 or so years, and they seem fine.

Hell any size of tank you put them in is "too small" they swim 10s-100s of miles a day in the wild, how can we offer a tang that? oh here is that guys "You need a 72x24x30 to keep so and so..." we can't... I say keep him... ANYTHING you put that fish into is going to be "too small" aslong as he is happy then GOOD! and + you are getting a new tank soon so problem solved!

Have you ever not been to a LFS that has a display tank that is not "over stocked"??? or have like 10 tanks in a 120gal??


I have a 75gal tank cycleing now, and I plan to put a sohal and a yellow in there.

[kar93]

Not to be the Tang Police Ehaze but the Sohal will definitely not be a good fish for a 75, they grow big, fast and they are very territoiral.

[fyrefysh]

I agree with Ehaze, I believe that there is not a home aquarium that is large enough for a Tang; I don't agree however that anything smaller than 120g is suitable for a Tang. Please take him back, he will be better off. I will most likely never own one myself (a Tang that is).

[jack.pe]

To tkeracer619:

I made a mistake and am going to rectify it.
The kinds of people who made me realise that are the ones who put forward calm and reasoned posts aimed at explaining the situation as it stands. Your post asking "is this a joke?" was most definitely inflamatory and helps no one, least of all the fish. You help people (and the fish they keep) with constructive comments and criticism not by trying to **** them off.

I specifically said that I would listen to reasoned argument and wanted to avoid precisely your type of post.
You have made no contribution to this discussion whatsoever so don't hide behind your "I only care about the fish" nonsense. If that was really true you would have added to the discussion with a reasonable contribution rather than your pathetic attitude.

To everyone else, thanks for your posts, the fish will be going back to the LFS.

Jack

[kar93]

Jack, It was good of you to ask here and not just leave the fish in there with hardly any swimming room and probably stressed. But may I make a suggestion. Next time before buying a fish you might ask here first as there are alot of experts on here who will ensure you do the right thing for yourself and the fish. Good luck!

[tkeracer619]

Originally posted by Ehaze
I have known many people that keep tangs in 10-40gal tanks, they for like 5 or so years, and they seem fine.

Hell any size of tank you put them in is "too small" they swim 10s-100s of miles a day in the wild, how can we offer a tang that?

Lets get a picture of the successful 5 year old 10 gallon tang tank, please.

I think you are in for a bad surprise with a sohal in a 75. IME I would not do that.

No, we cannot give them a several mile long tank. Thats a bit abstract to use as an example though. What we can do is try to provide an environment that suits the fish in terms of swimming while supplying cover for the fish to hide. The fish can still swim openly, graze, and poop without sitting in its own filth. Tangs explode with waste if your not starving them and I think it would be crule to keep one in a nano.

That said there are all different sized tangs. None that I know of should be kept in anything smaller than a 90 for long term success. Yellows tend to stay a decent size along with the bristletooth tangs and could be kept long term in a 90G. The rest pretty much need 6'+ tanks. Some require 1000+ gallons. Tangs are not small tank fish.

[jack.pe]

Thanks Kane, will do!

I might give him away to someone here in the UK now, I know a fair few people with bigger tanks (the ones who have told me since I got him that my tank is too small) and I've got attached to him in this short time so would like to see him go to a good home!

Jack

[abulgin]

These fish can suffer serious psychological problems if kept in an aquarium that is too small and will either die prematurely or act crazy. A yellow tang in a nano is not even debatable, IMO.

[tkeracer619]

Originally posted by jack.pe
To tkeracer619:

I made a mistake and am going to rectify it. The kinds of people who made me realise that are the ones who put forward calm and reasoned posts aimed at explaining the situation as it stands. Your post asking "is this a joke?" was most definitely inflamatory and helps no one, least of all the fish. You help people (and the fish they keep) with constructive comments and criticism not by trying to **** them off.

You didn't really make a mistake, the shop owner did. In your post you say you know its not right, people had already expressed there concerns, yet you still consider keeping the fish. That is why I said is this a joke. This thread title has popped up a hundred times, worded pretty much the same, and they are jokes. I did NOT intend to **** you off, sorry.

You have made no contribution to this discussion whatsoever so don't hide behind your "I only care about the fish" nonsense. If that was really true you would have added to the discussion with a reasonable contribution rather than your pathetic attitude.

To everyone else, thanks for your posts, the fish will be going back to the LFS.

Jack

Calm down. I have added to the tread, I have added to many. I do care. There is no pathetic attitude. Obviously you took way too much offense and inserted an attitude (I am actually quite cheerfull at the moment) into to my post so we can just leave it at that. I said what I said because thats how I feel about it.

[vanmo92]

I would say take the fish back, Or find it a new home. IMO you need at least a 55+ to keep yellow tang(s).

[jack.pe]

TKERACER:

I did not know it for sure, I suspected it. A couple of people said he was not suitable as opposed to the LFS owner who said he was. I suspected the others were right and wanted to make sure, hence my post here.

My point is simply that you may get tired of people making mistakes and it may frustrate you but at the end of the day you will always get a better response and result if you temper your desire to let that (sometimes understandable) frustration show.

Anyhow, he's going back or to a better home so all ends well.. I would never deliberately make an animal suffer.

Jack

[kar93]

IMO dont take him back to the LFS, it would be better if you found someone with a bigger tank for him. That way you know he is going to a good home.

[Twz]

Originally posted by Ehaze
I have known many people that keep tangs in 10-40gal tanks, they for like 5 or so years, and they seem fine.

Hell any size of tank you put them in is "too small" they swim 10s-100s of miles a day in the wild, how can we offer a tang that? oh here is that guys "You need a 72x24x30 to keep so and so..." we can't... I say keep him... ANYTHING you put that fish into is going to be "too small" aslong as he is happy then GOOD! and + you are getting a new tank soon so problem solved!

Have you ever not been to a LFS that has a display tank that is not "over stocked"??? or have like 10 tanks in a 120gal??


I have a 75gal tank cycleing now, and I plan to put a sohal and a yellow in there.

Exactly My thoughts,
How could you say a aquarium is too small for a fish?
You only took them out of the LARGEST Body of water known to man
and put them in a small box?

[jack.pe]

Well I have put out the feelers already so i'm sure someone will take him. Since he's free I will be able to select the biggest and best kept (with non clashing livestock) !

[Ehaze]

Good luck dude! hope the little fellas does not stress too much.

[DLANDINO]

I fell victim to the LFS and the tang issue. I have a Yellow tang in my 46 bow tank. Every day I know is a day closer to the day that I will have to trap him and find him a new home. The guy I bought him from owns the shop and has had many years of experience. I went in with a hair algae question and came out with a tang. So far he seems fine in the tank and has grown only a little in 3 months. But I know as I add more coral and LR that he is going to get unhappy quickly.

[jack.pe]

Well I feel better now I have decided he is going.

[abulgin]

When is everyone going to realize that this guy is pulling our chain because he's bored today?