Is small Regal Blue tang in 60 ok for a couple of years?

[djf91]

Hippo tangs can grow quick. Mine went from 2 inches to 8 inches in 3 years in my 500 gallon display. Boss of the tank. Can be destructive too. He nips at multiple coral colonies I have , paces the front of the acrylic daily and has left many little scratches, bullies a lot of the smaller fish (luckily this is spread out amongst 6 other tangs). He’s become a pain in the butt honestly as he reached this large size, but also very beautiful.

 

[Solo McReefer]

8 inches is stunted growth

/shrug

As the old timers used to say, "the fish will grow to the size of the tank".

I know that there is no chance for the Tang Police to see that stunted is stunted, whether it's 4 inches or 8 inches. I'm just curious why not?

 

[djf91]

8 inches is stunted growth

/shrug

As the old timers used to say, "the fish will grow to the size of the tank".

I know that there is no chance for the Tang Police to see that stunted is stunted, whether it's 4 inches or 8 inches. I'm just curious why not?

Based off what I’ve seen owning this one I agree. I don’t think I’d ever keep another one unless I had something around 2000 gallons, with 12 feet of length, and 40 inches tall. I think with this size tank you could probly really appreciate them and their swimming behavior. They are cruisers of open water and big currents.

 

[Solo McReefer]

My blue hides behind frags most of the time. No cruising at all

I think he thinks the coral beauty is a baby mako shark

At times, my mind sees him shaking in fear. If he wore pants, I bet he would pee them

The coral beauty needs a bigger tank right now, she cruises. I'm working on it

 

[ErikVR]

Like I said in a previous response, why wouldn’t I… firstly a full-grown tang would look inhumane in this tank let alone feel inhumane to the fish. Secondly, I clearly care about it if I’m making a post..
I think I would worry more about the number of people who don’t make inquisitive post and who do still keep fish inhumane size tanks.

I wasn’t talking specifically about you.

 

[Uncle99]

This is a blue and a yellow in a 4’ 60g.
Both lived there 3 years before moving to 180G.
Nothing wrong pushing the envelope in any hobby, that IMM, moved us forward.

 

[Solo McReefer]

This is a blue and a yellow in a 4’ 60g.
Both lived there 3 years before moving to 180G.
Nothing wrong pushing the envelope in any hobby, that IMM, moved us forward.

Nice fish

Nice tank

 

[Uncle99]

Nice fish

Nice tank

Thank you.
If it wasn’t for the blue, I’d have no real need to upgrade.

 

[exnisstech]

I already ended up getting a Whitetail bristle tooth instead because I know on average they get a bit smaller and know I would have more luck with that at least that’s what I’ve seen…your thoughts?

Good choice. The bristle tooths are much better grazers. I consider those and yellows as valuable members of my CUC. The white tails that I have seen are beautiful fish.

 

[Doctorgori]

Hippo tang in a 60g? sure
…..it will be square however, not round or commercially appealing …
they grow tuna exactly the same way, but in 12oz round cans…
place tang in oil once it fill out the tank…

seriously tho, sometimes these threads seem more affirmation/permission than seeking actual advise…

you must suspect the decision is borderline and you want folks to chime in it will be ok….

I wouldn’t do it ….
Regards. D.Gori shift supervisor Tang Police district 7

 

[buruskeee]

Hippo tangs can grow quick. Mine went from 2 inches to 8 inches in 3 years in my 500 gallon display.

I have a 5x2x2ft tank and my yellow belly regal went from 1.5” to 6” already in just 8 months! I might have to upgrade in a year lol. But I have been planning on either a 6x3 or 7x3.5 anyways.

Also I think speaking in terms of tank length is more appropriate than volume. You can have a 1000g 2ft cylinder tank that’s 20ft tall and it would be just as bad as a a normal 60g 2ft cube.

Minimum (not recommended just minimum) for smaller tangs IMO is 4ft and then it just goes up from there. That’s just my opinion though.

 

[Doctorgori]

…and not to expand the discussion but is the goal to have a “optimal specimen” or just keep it alive in a pretty tank?

If it’s the latter, then the logic is justified as it’s your fish, your tank, your money and short of torturing the animal: nobody’s business

if you want a top notch specimen, then anyone advocating “re-homing” might need to add a disclaimer or time limit because a stunted fish is not a fish at full potential….

Ive stunted fish before, in fact all my fish are stunted compared to the ocean….
…it’s a reasonable argument if this practice is justifiable or not

 

[Northern Flicker]

…and not to expand the discussion but is the goal to have a “optimal specimen” or just keep it alive in a pretty tank?

If it’s the latter, then the logic is justified as it’s your fish, your tank, your money and short of torturing the animal: nobody’s business

if you want a top notch specimen, then anyone advocating “re-homing” might need to add a disclaimer or time limit because a stunted fish is not a fish at full potential….

Ive stunted fish before, in fact all my fish are stunted compared to the ocean….
…it’s a reasonable argument if this practice is justifiable or not

Honestly I have 4’x18” footprint tank and there are days I feel like my 3” Royal gramma needs more space!

It’s really impressive to see these fish when they have more space than the minimum.

I’ve seen yellow tangs in 15’ tanks and its like they are a completely different fish the. The ones you see crammed in little 4’ tanks. They have so much power when they want to swim, they could cover half the tank in a second.

 

[djf91]

And then there are some fish that just don’t adapt to any type of captivity. I remember watching an Achilles tang pace the glass of the Shedd aquariums 50,000 gallon shark system.

 

[Lavey29]

And then there are some fish that just don’t adapt to any type of captivity. I remember watching an Achilles tang pace the glass of the Shedd aquariums 50,000 gallon shark system.

Wouldn't you be nervous to in a shark tank?

 

[lonelybones]

Hippo tangs can grow quick. Mine went from 2 inches to 8 inches in 3 years in my 500 gallon display. Boss of the tank. Can be destructive too. He nips at multiple coral colonies I have , paces the front of the acrylic daily and has left many little scratches, bullies a lot of the smaller fish (luckily this is spread out amongst 6 other tangs). He’s become a pain in the butt honestly as he reached this large size, but also very beautiful.

Appreciate the imput…I did trade him in for a whitetail brissle

Hippo tang in a 60g? sure
…..it will be square however, not round or commercially appealing …
they grow tuna exactly the same way, but in 12oz round cans…
place tang in oil once it fill out the tank…

seriously tho, sometimes these threads seem more affirmation/permission than seeking actual advise…

you must suspect the decision is borderline and you want folks to chime in it will be ok….

I wouldn’t do it ….
Regards. D.Gori shift supervisor Tang Police district 7

in my case, I’m only asking because both Lfs
near me told me that I could put two tangs in the 60 and that just does not sound right so not really affirmation. I just don’t know to begin with which is why I asked for people who are more knowledgeable.

This is a blue and a yellow in a 4’ 60g.
Both lived there 3 years before moving to 180G.
Nothing wrong pushing the envelope in any hobby, that IMM, moved us forward.

beautiful

 

[lonelybones]

…and not to expand the discussion but is the goal to have a “optimal specimen” or just keep it alive in a pretty tank?

If it’s the latter, then the logic is justified as it’s your fish, your tank, your money and short of torturing the animal: nobody’s business

if you want a top notch specimen, then anyone advocating “re-homing” might need to add a disclaimer or time limit because a stunted fish is not a fish at full potential….

Ive stunted fish before, in fact all my fish are stunted compared to the ocean….
…it’s a reasonable argument if this practice is justifiable or not

He’s been taken back to the lfs so no worries.

 

[Lavey29]

Appreciate the imput…I did trade him in for a whitetail brissle

in my case, I’m only asking because both Lfs
near me told me that I could put two tangs in the 60 and that just does not sound right so not really affirmation. I just don’t know to begin with which is why I asked for people who are more knowledgeable.

beautiful

I tried a white tail in my 65g but didn't work at all. Fish stressed from day 1. My tank was 36x22x22 with ample rock scape.

 

[lonelybones]

Hippo tang in a 60g? sure
…..it will be square however, not round or commercially appealing …
they grow tuna exactly the same way, but in 12oz round cans…
place tang in oil once it fill out the tank…

seriously tho, sometimes these threads seem more affirmation/permission than seeking actual advise…

you must suspect the decision is borderline and you want folks to chime in it will be ok….

I wouldn’t do it ….
Regards. D.Gori shift supervisor Tang Police district 7

Why do u automatically suspect that…don’t assume…he’s been back at the lfs for a bit now so no worries. Thanks for the input.

 

[lonelybones]

I tried a white tail in my 65g but didn't work at all. Fish stressed from day 1. My tank was 36x22x22 with ample rock scape.

Well dang I don’t wanna do that then because it would be in the back of my mind everyday…wanted less torpedo fish (no dwarf angels) but maybe I’ll just focus on corals for now. Appreciate the input.