how fast can a tang grow?

[reefermike1]

went in my lfs today and saw a gorgeous powderblue tang. hes only about an 1.5inches. i am planning eventually on getting a large setup(what i would consider large) around 180gallons. if i were to get him hed be going in my hex tank which is basicly 2x2x2. how long do u think i would have? at the lfs hes in what appears to be a 29gal

[jenajet]

Honestly I wouldn't put a small tang in a two foot tank. My clown tang is about the same size and he zips across my 90 like a mad man. Even tho they are small they are still extremely fast and need a lot of swimming room. I am moving mine to a 6 ft tank within the next 3 months before he bashes his head in. They don't know to stop and just hit the wall.

[reefermike1]

thanks for the reply jena. yea i wont do it then, darnit lol. the powderblue, clown, and achilles are all tangs that i WILL one day own though! and yea it a bad idea getting something for a tank that u will have eventualy, better to have the equipment first. its like spending money that u havent made yet! (although im guilty of that too)

[jenajet]

Yeah he seemed so calm and peaceful at the lfs, I think they had him drugged cause he is in no way calm. I have already found the tank and getting it next week. I still have to get all the equipment for it which is why I gave myself a 3 month fill up date. Let's just hope everything goes smoothly.

[salt-rookie]

Jena is right. ALSO Tangs produce a LOT of fecal matter. Tangs are pretty voracious algae eaters....FIBER! Rule of thumb, if water conditions are good, regular water changes, etc and fed right, should grow an inch per year. Listen to Jena's advice!

[crvz]

Hey mike, how fast can you feed them?

I saw one of mine poop today, i was amazed. Couldnt believe that much came out of a little 3" fish.

Are you planning on keeping those three fish in the same tank? It would be a feat, I'm not telling you not to try it, but make sure you've got it figured out before your do so... they are all the same genus (Acanthurus).

[Mike01z]

yeah they are like crop dusters

[MIO]

Reef Mike- I have always had a tang in all my tanks. The Longest one lived 4yrs in a 30 gal and now resides in a 90. I have had Tangs in in 30gal and they will be fine- I can Guarantee It. If you want it get it. I mean a fish in captivity is in captivity in a 2 foot, 4ft, or 6ft, tank. Fish belong in an ocean not in a tank regardless of size.

[betamed]

MIO many people would agree that a powder blue needs more space than the hippo or yellow tangs that you have. If he wanted a Zebrascoma Species it might be different. Its not that it can't be done but I got a powder blue in a 4 foot tank and it paniced for a few weeks banging into opposite ends of the glass then died.

[MIO]

I know, Of course it's much better for them but like you said it can be done. It's kind of the luck of the draw, the blue tang might be okay and maybe not. Fish stress for many reasons, one being space but there are other things they stress about. I'm just giving my experience on fish that I have had. Yellow Tangs are suppose to need lots swiming room but never had trouble with one in a 29. I also kept a blue tang in a 45 Tall I had with no problems, I had the tanj for about 2 yrs and sold it with the blue in it.

[Loverotties]

I wouldn't do it!