Can i have a tang?

[wasabi bean]

Im checking here so i dont get in trouble with the tang police, recently i bought a 3ft by 2ft by 2ft tank and currently have a 20gallon so quite the upgrade, i currently have a pair of clowns and bangai cardinals as well as a midas blenny and royal gramma, i am thinking about a flame angel but what do you think about tangs and whether there are any smaller ones that would fit as i think most need at least 4ft? Thanks for any help. By the way i have more rock but it is currently in my old tank.

 

[JayM]

I know many will disagree, but a yellow tang will likely be fine in a 3x2x2 for at least a few years. If it grows to its full size potential, it probably won’t be happy for long.

A Lemonpeel Angel might be a reasonable substitute if you don’t want to gamble with a yellow tang.

 

[Lavey29]

Nope, but yes a lemon peel might be okay if you don't mind losing corals

 

[wasabi bean]

I know many will disagree, but a yellow tang will likely be fine in a 3x2x2 for at least a few years. If it grows to its full size potential, it probably won’t be happy for long.

A Lemonpeel Angel might be a reasonable substitute if you don’t want to gamble with a yellow tang.

I will give them a look, does anyone know about tomini tangs, apparently they are the smallest ones

 

[Lavey29]

I will give them a look, does anyone know about tomini tangs, apparently they are the smallest ones

I have the same tank. I tried a bristletooth which is small like a tomini and did not work at all. Stressed from the moment it hit the water but some people have had success with tomoni in smaller tanks.

Look at a flame angel to. Beautiful fish for that tank.

 

[edsbeaker]

I know this isn’t a popular answer, but I have the same size tank with a small tomini tang. There are only rocks down the middle so he has the entire back and front of the tank to swim, as well as lots of openings and caves in the aquascape to swim through. When and if the time comes he will go to a larger tank. This is the only size tang I would keep in a 3’ tank, and I don’t take it lightly that I did it.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Should be fine for bristletooth tangs or small angels

 

[Should I]

yes you can bristletooth or tomini maybe yellow

just tell the fish its a 4ft tank should be good

 

[wasabi bean]

yes you can bristletooth or tomini maybe yellow

just tell the fish its a 4ft tank should be good

Ahh, gaslighting always the way to go

 

[OfficeReefer]

I will give them a look, does anyone know about tomini tangs, apparently they are the smallest ones

The Tomini will be as helpful as the others mentioned, but will not feed the same on algae. At least that is my observations. I would not recommend permanent housing of a tang in less than 55g.

 

[wasabi bean]

I have the same tank. I tried a bristletooth which is small like a tomini and did not work at all. Stressed from the moment it hit the water but some people have had success with tomoni in smaller tanks.

Look at a flame angel to. Beautiful fish for that tank.

I am going to see if my lfs has a flame angel or maybe a coral beauty but i don’t know how reef safe they are and i will do more research into the tang side of things

 

[Should I]

I am going to see if my lfs has a flame angel or maybe a coral beauty but i don’t know how reef safe they are and i will do more research into the tang side of things

what corals you planning on having?

if you get the coral beauty keep an eye out for a tiger tail 1 more money but 100% worth

 

[Lavey29]

I am going to see if my lfs has a flame angel or maybe a coral beauty but i don’t know how reef safe they are and i will do more research into the tang side of things

I have a CB in my tank over 3 years. Reef safe for me but you have to make sure they get some sponge in their diet with frozen food so then they don't nip soft corals.

 

[JayM]

I am going to see if my lfs has a flame angel or maybe a coral beauty but i don’t know how reef safe they are and i will do more research into the tang side of things

Every fish is different obviously, but I have a Flame Angel and a Lemonpeel with a bunch of different coral, and neither one have ever bothered them. Hopefully it stays that way.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I would say no. In addition to fish size is, one needs to take into account the swim lane. And a 3' tank isn't long enough.

 

[Lavey29]

Every fish is different obviously, but I have a Flame Angel and a Lemonpeel with a bunch of different coral, and neither one have ever bothered them. Hopefully it stays that way.

I really wanted to try a lemon peel in place of a yellow tang but just to nervous about the coral.

 

[JayM]

I really wanted to try a lemon peel in place of a yellow tang but just to nervous about the coral.

I was a bit leery as well, but I rolled the dice and it’s worked well so far. I don’t know if getting them small and keeping them well fed in a tank with no coral for a month helped, but it didn’t hurt.

 

[Doctorgori]

After owning a biota yellow tang, I’m now wondering….
They sell them at the size of a dime and they grow about half as fast…

I’ve owned every tang under the sun, I’ve never seen one grow so slow…
Unless it has an amazing growth spurt, the one I have would be 2yr before. it gets 4” long

 

[Lavey29]

I was a bit leery as well, but I rolled the dice and it’s worked well so far. I don’t know if getting them small and keeping them well fed in a tank with no coral for a month helped, but it didn’t hurt.

I don't know why the lemons sometimes go after corals never had a problem with CB or flame angels.

 

[Gtinnel]

IMO a tomini tang would do fine in your tank. I have a tomini in my 125 and he isn’t as active of a swimmer as other tangs that I have had. He slowly swims around picking at the glass and rocks all day.