Featured Call the Tang Police

My stupid friend thinks he can keep a Yellow Tang in his 2x2x2 tank.

He already has Flame Angel, Royal Gramma and a pair of Wild clownfish.

Someone please explain to him that this isnt a good idea.

Thanks in advance.

 

Think a small tang would be ok???

See what the tang police think

Do you keep tangs ben?

 

Yes it would start off small but get to big for his tank. I currently have 4 yellow tangs in my 7x2x2 tank and 2 in my 6x2x2. They are one of my fave fish to keep.

 

Sounds an impressive setup. You got any pics to share with the salty box forum ?

 

Yes ive been sorting out my fish house so want it all to look neat and tidy before I take some snaps. I had a wall knocked through to my garage and its been a mess for a while. Its getting there though

 

A yellow should be ok in there for about 18/24 months easy just get a nice small one ...karl...

 

A 2x2x2 tank is no place for any Tang especially a Yellow Tang as they never stop swimming around and it will go stir crazy in a 2 ft cube. I know you will have seen them in LFS tanks but they are only in there for a few days at the most but in a 2x2x2 its cruel. chris

 

Compaired to the ocean isn't any tank cruel even if it is 7ft long or 2x2x2 as long as the fish looks healthy and shows no sign of stress then of coarse it will be ok I have a regal , naso and a purple aswell as my other fishes and I know I won't be able to keep them forever but they are kept with the best of intentions so all is good...Karl...

 

How do you know they are OK? No offence meant Karl but the argument of any tank is cruel isnt strictly true, obviously an ocean is better lol but 7ft tank gives some room to "stretch" or should I say swim, 2ft would be the equivalent of sticking you in the boot of a car and saying "he looks happy enough"

Tangs and tank size will always cause differences of opinion hence the tang police jokes so no offence meant but its still my opinion 2ft isnt enough room for any tang

Mine were too big for my tank and even though I said Id move them on as they grew being honest I probably wouldnt have done

 

Yeh if it was the boot of the Titanic or something.

Proportionately, if you put Karl in a boot, then that would be nothing like putting a tang in a 2 foot tank.

You could quite easily fit probably over 100 small Yellow Tangs in a 2 foot tank, but try putting over 100 Karls in a boot.

The recommended size of 75g for a Yellow Tang is a guide. People will either respect that guide or not.

I know people who have more than 1 tang in a smaller than 2 foot tank, and they look happy enough. However, without being a physcic or a doctor and doing a post mortem on those fish, we do not know if they are actually healthy or not.

One thing for sure, they have already been taken out of the ocean, so chances are their lives are never going to be the same again. At least they have a chance with the people who own them.

I absolutely hate TANG POLICE. :whistling:

 

Well I totally understand but the easiest way to tell with a tang is the stress factor and White spot I know they get this anyway but if only now and then and the battle is half won plus them being out swimming and eating is another indication of them being ok I have personally had more different varieties of tang and as they got to big I have passed them on to bigger systems and I also agree none of us have the same views but as long as I keep them with the best of intentions I'm happy and if they started to deteriorate I'd act quickly and regarding me in the boot no ta it's me that puts others in the boot lol...Karl...

 

Chill. Like I said its just an opinion :whistling:

This whole tang police thing gets to me. It would be OK to criticize someone for keeping a bamboo shark in a 2x2x2 but mention a tang and its the hated tang police. I say the same with goldfish, they shouldnt be kept in bowls but its just my opinion.

I didnt think Id get a reply like the above the boot thing was tongue in cheek Ged

 

Big Thumbs Up nice one I wasnt after a row just a different slant on things

Theres a guy whos house I've been in with iirc around 15 yellows and 15 purples all in one tank, they look happy enough I was just offering my opinion :-d

 

smiley-sex020

Oh dear... looks like the Tang Police need to consider that not everyone can house such a huge tank! I think as long as the fish is cared for there is no problem.

But owners should consider that if the fish does grow really big, then its time to say goodbye.

maybe 100 tangs in a 2footer would be a great idea? Hysterical

 

yeh interesting debate. Ideally we could all have 7ft tanks like ben and the fish would be happy.

I'm not ashamed to admit that i own a 2ft tank and have seriously thought about getting a yellow tang. I've even had "friends" outside of the forum telling me it will be OK and they are experienced and responsible fish keepers (although cichlid specialists).


At the end of the day how can the tang police say if it is cruel or not?

 

And you are entitled to it. :thumbup1:

My opinion is I hate Tang Police, of which I am entitled.

No one purposely goes out to cause stress on any pet. Now if once the YT was growing and then was showing signs of stress, I would agree, it is irresponsible to keep it in a small tank.

A lot of reefers however, start off small, and then naturally upgrade to bigger tanks, their fish following them.

It totally gets on my man boobs, not because they are wrong, but because of the way they argue, and make the OP feel like ****, because they are being chastized by someone over the internet.

A forum is a forum, and you will always get different view points etc, it doesn't make any one person better than the other though.

There is a huge difference between advising and criticising someone. Most Tang Police do not advise, they jump in with size 12 wellies and rip people apart.

I know but the logic was just wrong.

This is not a dig at you btw.

 

That's exactly my point, people buy it small, keep it in a small tank, they either then upgrade or they pass their fish onto a bigger tank. That is a responsible reefer.

It's just some people do not believe that the above is a reasonable tradeoff, it's straight away, YOU MUST NOT DO THIS

 

At the end of the day it's down to preferential choice as long as the individual is doing things correctly to look after the fish and happy with there own choice then have fun with your tangtastic tanks...Karl...

 

I know people on here who do not announce what fish they have just bought, because of the I told you so brigade. Now that is just a shame.

Common sense means a lot, and most people can see if their fish are stressed or not.

 

i understand the any tank is cruel argument as a tang can swim miles per day and never stays on the same reef for long, i also understand that some people think there is a certain tank size (minimum) for a tang. My personal view on this is a 2 ft tank with or without current stocking is a little on the small side. I dont see the point in the view to rehoming it when it gets to big. Surely it would be better to get a biger tank and keep the fish and if you cant get a bigger tank then stick to fish that can grow old in the one you have. I dont judge people and its up to them how they spend there money but this forum is for advice and my advice will be given even if its different to others.

Dave