Yellow tang question

[michealprater]

Ive read they are schooling fish. Whats the minimum # you can keep without territory problems. How much does a medium yellow tank affect your fish load. Such as how many gallon per fish method. This is in regards to my 100 gallon reef tank. any help is appreciated.

[Jacob Morgan]

I believe a grown tang is 5-7".. I mgiht be mistaken



Tho schooling htats a first to me. I haven't done much research on them as my tank is too small for one. Tho I do admire them as they are very cool. I have heard of them fighting one anothers. but not sure..


Jacob

[Anemoneman]

Rule of thumb for keeping tangs is less than 2 or more than 4. They will shoal if you have enough of them. I recommend at least 6 (of the same species of course). That means a LARGE tank but it can be done.

Mark

[Jacob Morgan]

Kind of like Oscars ina F/W tank? sorry I just happened to make that connection..


Jacob

[fishfreek]

Mark, How many yellow tangs would you suggest for the 100 gal tank that Micheal is working with?

Your recommendation of 6 seems a bit much for a 100 gal tank. Maybe 4 would do?

One side effect of several fish is that the agression can be spread out over the group of fish vs just toward 1 or 2 individuals.

I would have to think that 4 tangs in a 100 gal tank would just about do ya for fish.


What else where you wanting to keep?

[Bang Guy]

I agree 100% with Anemoneman, but I'd like to add a small clarification.

When Yellow Tangs shoal they usually swim 2 or 3 feet apart. That is like their "personal space".

A tank able to house 6 Tangs with 4 - 9 square feet of "personal Space" for each fish would need to be at least a 700 gal, preferably 1000 gallons.

It's your tank and 6 tangs will fit in a 100 gal, but I would not expect them to live very long.

[michealprater]

Well i definatly cant do four. although, i've always had success going a little heavy on the fish load. (good protein skimmer, weekly 10% water change, and a boatload of live rock). However I already have a pair of maroons one very large, one medium. Pair of neon dottybacks, full grown. pair of blue damsels one medium one small, and a medium dragon goby. I have over 300 lbs of lr crammed into my 100 gal. if i should include shrimp let me know. i was hoping for 3 small yellow tangs. probably pushin it. however i always say there are no rules in saltwater, just guidelines. Like for instance in the past i have had luck keeping 2 different angels in a tank, friends of mine have kept 3 and 4. well im rambling. Guess im out of luck on the tangs. maybe ill just do one.

[Anemoneman]

When Yellow Tangs shoal they usually swim 2 or 3 feet apart.

Excellent point Guy. Large schools of Tangs in their natural habitat are a beautiful sight but are probably not fit for a home aquarium.

Mark

[fishfreek]

How about some chromis ? I have three chromis and they are always swimming together. They would be a better schooling fish than tangs since they dont get that large.

A school of 6 would look nice in a 100 gal tank.

[michealprater]

i think i will try chromises. plus there cheap and they look cool. is there a price difference between blue and greens.