Toughest Tang

[Neuticle]

If you had to pick a tang that does well in captivity, 100gal or smaller system, which one is best on these standards:
-Resistant to disease (Ich mainly)
-Eagerness to feed
-Not easily intimidated by other fish
-Not a bully of unrelated species

Are there any captive bred tangs?

My wife wants a hippo, I hear they are extremely vulnerable to disease, and we only have a 100gal tank, so size would eventually be a problem too.

I like the kole tang, but I don't want to buy an ich bomb that wipes out all my other cool fish. The foxface will have a single white spot on it occasionally, but is extremely robust and I have never seen anything larger than the single tiny spot on it. It is three times as wide as it was when I got him.

I have six fish total, a foxface (~4"), Oscellaris (~4"), black Oscellaris (2"), and three 3-stripe damsels (1.5")

[jenglish]

I think it is the nature of tang skin that they get parasites easily. I have heard there mobility makes it a moot point in the wild for survivability. When I was buying my live rock a few months ago the fish store guy said he was getting captive bred tangs for the first time. being that I have a 30 gallon I don't know much about tangs but he made it seem like it was abig deal to get captive bred ones. good luck on your search

[crvz]

No species is going to fit all four of your criteria there, especially the first two. It comes down to the individual specimen that you introduce to the tank. If you really want to ensure that it won't harbor disease into your tank, the only solution is to QT the fish. It's that simple. You're best bet on a tank that size will be one of the Ctenochaetus spp., so the Kole would be a great choice (or the tomini, chevron, etc.).

[Loverotties]

Under a 100 would only be a yellow.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Under a 100 would only be a yellow.

George, you offer this advice often, and I must say it's rather inaccurate. There are a number of tangs better suited in a tank 100 gallons an under, and most of the Zebrasoma genus wouldnt make that cut in my opinion. While the yellow is a tolerable solution, the bristletooth tangs make good additions to tanks in the 75 gallon range.

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by crvz

George, you offer this advice often, and I must say it's rather inaccurate. There are a number of tangs better suited in a tank 100 gallons an under, and most of the Zebrasoma genus wouldnt make that cut in my opinion. While the yellow is a tolerable solution, the bristletooth tangs make good additions to tanks in the 75 gallon range.

I guess your right!I've never herd of that kind,not a normal one I see in my area,so my guess it's pricy.(which they didn't say a cost).Thanks for letting me know.I'm going to look it up.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Loverotties

I guess your right!I've never herd of that kind,not a normal one I see in my area,so my guess it's pricy.(which they didn't say a cost).Thanks for letting me know.I'm going to look it up.

Bristletooth tangs range in price, the yellow-eye Kole can usually be found for ~$25 and are extremely common, I'd be shocked if they're not normal in your area. There are other species that share the Kole name, all of which fetch about the same price. The Tomini is a bit more expensive, but should be under $50. There are some more exotic Ctenochaetus spp. tangs, such as the Chevron and Spotted Kole, but there are plenty of species that are great additions and are rather inexpensive as far as suregeonfish go.

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by crvz

I'd be shocked if they're not normal in your area.

Well ground yourself!I've seen one or two near by and if I drive 58 miles I can see some and start at $58 for the comon ones and chevrons $78 for small.I don't know where south of dimples is,but we don't get alot of things that is normal other places and I don't understand it myself.

[Neuticle]

Kole tangs are about $30 at the local store, I think I may try one...

[Hendersonracing]

I have 3 in my 75 yellow, purple and regal and they all get along great! when they get to big I'll move them

[crvz]

Originally Posted by Neuticle

Kole tangs are about $30 at the local store, I think I may try one...

An awesome, underrated fish, I don't think you'll be unhappy if they have a healthy stock to chose from.

[Emilyj817]

I think the Kole Tang is a good option, mine tears it up! And gets along with my other fish.

[Neuticle]

Well, it looks like I'm one of those a-holes that asks your advice and then does something completely different. lol

After waiting impatiently for a couple of weeks I settled on a Scopas Tang, after realizing they are quite beautiful when you notice the stippled lines across their bodies. I got a 4" bruiser for $29, he acclimated very quickly and began eating as soon as he noticed the lush algae jungle he was just dropped into.

He's got a fin nip from a grouchy damsel, but no worse for wear. The rabbitfish and my big clown don't really know what to think, they give him quite a bit of space. The little black clown is too busy fighting the damsels to notice (In an amusing way, not physically dangerous to either of them). And my lawn mower blenny just keeps shooting me dirty looks, he wonders why I'm giving away all of his delicious hair algae.

Anyhow, I appreciate all the advice.

[crvz]

Scopas isnt a terrible choice, a Zebrasoma spp. that doesnt get terribly large in my experience (though literature indicates a bit more than a foot).

[Neuticle]

Yeah most of the stuff I've read puts the maximum at 7"-10", I did see one that put the max at 17.5" though. If I would have seen the 17.5" comment I probably wouldn't have bought it, but by the time it gets anywhere near that, I'll be making bigger fishtank money