Clown Tangs

[Puffalicious]

how fast do these fishes grow?

I saw one that's around 3" at the LFS and love it, but I only have a 120G and was wondering if it's a fast grower. If it's not I want to get one of these and when it gets larger I'll probably sell it or give it away.

[danorth]

From my experiences, they are not fast growers, though up until now, I wasn't able to get a reading on my over the top nitrates so that may have had something to do with that.

[paveking1]

They are not very fast growers , but they do need very clean highly oxygenated water , i have a 16" sohal that took 5 years to get that big he was about 4" when i got him , Good Luck Nice Fish.

[JamesJR]

Well I would like to offer a different opinion. Expert reef fish taxonomist Dr. John Randall states that they attain 79-80% of their growth in the first year alone (Reef and shore fishes of the south pacific, page 577). These fish get very large at around 38 cm. in total length and I would strongly suggest that you not get one for a 120 gallon tank. They are incredibly mean and if you are lucky to get it to survive the acclimation it will quickly dominate the entire tank and your fish will be scared to death of it. These are mean fish!!! I put one in my reef a few years back and it grew over an inch the first month I had it and terrorized a sailfin tang 3 times its size.

They are really gorgeous but are really only appropriate for much larger tanks. And they are not hardy by any means.

[thor32766]

yes jamesjr is correct. These are tough tough fish to keep alive for a long time. Unless you have high high high turnover and near perfect water stay away. also he will make a 120 gallon tank look very small. very few of these fish ever make it.

[danorth]

See, I never had an issue keeping them alive, my Eheim 2229 sprays water into the tank every 40 seconds and makes tons of aeration. The problem is their attitude. Like trying to have a pic-nic with a fly that won't go away. Also, it is eatting all of the time!

[Puffalicious]

yeah after a little research i've decided not to go with that fish.... i went with another tang tho.. purple tang!!!!!!!!!!! weeeeeeeeee

[paveking1]

Good idea purple tang very nice tang I have no luck with those wish i did there beautiful, I have just about every other tang thats hard to keep & they do great . GOOD LUCK>

[Carnavor180]

my clown tang i have had a while now, and i think they are slow growers compaired to other tangs.
there great tangs, fast and always on the move.

[kdblove_99]

Good luck i have had 2 and they both died. I know several people that had them also and they also died

[JamesJR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11614840#post11614840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Puffalicious
yeah after a little research i've decided not to go with that fish.... i went with another tang tho.. purple tang!!!!!!!!!!! weeeeeeeeee


Good call! You have made a wise decision. The purple tang is a great fish, easy to keep, affordable and is pretty well mannered.

[Puffalicious]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11618492#post11618492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kdblove_99
Good luck i have had 2 and they both died. I know several people that had them also and they also died

are you talking about the purple tang? why did you have no luck with it? was your tank overstocked ?