How Fast Do Sailfins Grow?

[temperatepuffer]

I have about a 3 inch one in my 40g. I know they get to be 15in big and that they need at least a 125g tank. But how fast do they grow. Will he reach his full size in a years time? Shorter even?

[IFbettas]

I got mine at about 3 inches a year and a half ago and he is probably about 4.5 now. I couldn't imagine keeping even a 3 incher in a tank that small though. Mine is extremely active.

[rort]

Even at 4inches now that tang is too big. Their growth is depndebt on a lot of abiotic and biotic variables and there is no exact answer to give save, if u fee a lot it will grow.

But if u don't feed enough u are depriving it of the nutrition it deserves. I would maybe recommend a Kole, tomini, mimic, or other cmaller tanga for ur tank but even then it will outgrow ur tank FAST.

A good rule to follow is buy fish that will fit ur CURRENT tank, not one for a future upgrade or depending on giving it off to a bigger tank...

[nikon187]

+1. I would look into a bigger tank ASAP.

[LobsterOfJustice]

IME, it wont grow more in that tank. But that's unhealthy, not justification for keeping it. In huge tanks they can reach close to a foot in just a couple years. I had one in a 90 for a year and didnt notice any growth so I took that as a sign it needed a bigger tank and gave it to someone with a bigger tank.

[yukonblizzard]

Mine has gone from less than 2 inches to about 9 inches in a year.

[jda]

They will grow very rapidly if adequately fed. I had a similar experience as yukonblizzard with about 6" of growth in a year.

[reefergeorge]

IME, I had one in a 90 for a year and didnt notice any growth


Mine grew from 3" to around 5" in under a year in my 90. Then just stopped.
I guess I need a bigger tank now.

[IFbettas]

I wonder why mine isn't growing faster. I have him in a 180 gallon reef and I feed lots, but he has only grown an inch and a half since I got him over a year ago. I don't think its my tank size.

[Kahuna Tuna]

Every fish is different and that includes growth rate and maximum size potential. Not every sailfin tang will get to be 15", even in the wild and assuming they live a long life. A 40 gallon is way too small for a sailfin and a tank that small will stunt his growth. I put a 3-1/2 incher in my 180 just a few months ago and he has grown already. I had another sailfin outgrow this same 180 tank but it took him about 6 years to do so.

I would say a 180 is still too small for most of the larger tang species longterm and this includes the sailfin. I plan on setting up my dream tank, somewhere in the 500 gallon range in a few years and hope to move him into that. These fish need a lot of space and if they aren't growing at all it is likely because they are stunted.

[temperatepuffer]

Okay thanks guys. I will look into a bigger tank asap!

[temperatepuffer]

Btw i am feeding him some seaweed i got at an lfs and he is busily eating the hair algae in the tank. What are you guys feeding your tang? Also what is the current tank size you have him in? He is my first big fish and i want to do it right! He has so much personality and i would hate to deprive him of anything.

[jda]

Mysis, squid, shrimp, octopus, etc. They need meat as well as the veggies. It is really hard for them to put on weight and grow without enough meaty stuff.

BTW - a 125G tank, as referenced in your first post, will be suitable for about a 5-6" sailfin. A foot long sailfin would probably be best in several thousand gallons.

[sedor]

Don't be "too" hard on him guys...the LFS probably convinced him it was ok and sold the sailfin along with the initial setup stating that you need it to get the cycle going.

In all seriousness...i'll be the first to admit I break the tang rule. I have a powder brown in a 72, which is really just enough room to house the fish, but not nearly ideal. That being said, 40G is a very small tank for any tang. I hate to say this, but in situations like this the fish almost always dies of something like ich because of the stress the environment puts on him.

[temperatepuffer]

Hmm. Well he was at the lfs for to months in a small 8g tank. I know its holding but if a 40 is to small than that 8 was terrible for him. However he seemed healthy. After all he lived in there for 2 months. Still though its no just reason for a tang to be kept in a tank that small. Anyways here are pictures of him. I would still like more responses to my other questions though so i can figure out what to do with him.

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu76/temperatemarine/40g%20Reef/DSCN0556.jpg

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu76/temperatemarine/40g%20Reef/DSCN0558.jpg