Black Tang (Zebrasoma rostratum) Tank size?

[Fishbone]

I'm getting ready to down grade from a 240 gal aquarium (4x4x2) to a 100 gal tank 48lx24wx18h. I currently have a black tang medium sized. Do you think the 100 gal will be to small for him? He will be the only big fish in the tank.

[nonstopfishies]

Too small of a tank.


PM me if interested in selling. I would come pick up.

[nonstopfishies]

Sorry double post

[Dr Colliebreath]

One just sold on DD today and the DD description said it needs a 180 gallon tank. 100 gallon would seem not to be close enough. The small ones I have seen at my lfs are extremely active. I assume yours is the same??

[snorvich]

Although RC does not post a suggestion for this tang, it is a Zebrasoma and I think 180 gallons would be about right.

[Toddrtrex]

......


PM me if interested in selling. I would come pick up.

Keep that out of this thread.

[Fishbone]

That what I was thinking. I'll be sad to give him up, but I don't want him to be unhappy.

[crobattt]

I'd look at a 120gallon long :/

[betamed]

He might be OK short term, but at the max size I agree with the 180g being appropriate

[Fishbone]

Crobbattt thanks for the suggestion on the 120 long. I am setting this up as a full blown reef so I prefer to have the 24 inch depth of the tank. I’m tempted to put him in the tank, but I know that is not the right thing to do. I’m just going to have to find him a better home. To bad this fish has a wonderful personality and is very docile yet still able to hold his own when provoked.

[tcmfish]

It probably won't reach the size of the big ones imported (and those things are massive!) but yeah I have to agree 100 gallons is too small. And with those weird dimensions of your current tank, a big one would make that look small as well IMO.

[Fishbone]

tcmfish after some thought I agree the 100 gallon is to small. I'm sure I could keep him alive and fat, but it just not fair to the fish to cram him in 100 gal tank. I've seen how tangs swim in the ocean and I sometimes look at the ones in my tank and wonder if I did the wrong thing by taking them out of the ocean.

[clowntriggerfis]

I would get a 135(6X1.5X2) or a 125(72X18X22)

[snorvich]

I would get a 135(6X1.5X2) or a 125(72X18X22)

Of course you don't really have the experience to make that recommendation.

[clowntriggerfis]

Of course you don't really have the experience to make that recommendation.

It is better than a 100 and 24 tall and does not take up a lot more space.

[username in use]

The height isnt really the issue, it is length and width that is more important.

[geaux xman]

i'm going with 60"x24" minimum footprint.

[andrew9]

Black tangs are goregous fish but i agree, i dont think he would be happy in that size tank.

[myerst2]

IMO a 180 or something of similar footprint would work. I had a monster show rostratum in my FOWLR and the fish was very happy. Fish is still kicking 5 years later. T

[Fishbone]

Not really interested in getting bigger tank. I'm actually downgrading to put the hobby back into my reef keeping. My current tanks just got to be to be so much work.

[Curtispants]

I would say yes, that tank would be too small. 48x18 is not that large of a footprint...but you can still have a very nice reef in there!

[sandwi54]

As a Zebra tang I would say the minimum size to display most of its natural behavior is 180 gallons, and loosely decorated.

Honestly, after keeping different types of tangs I have to say that I'm starting to think they really belong to public aquariums or the ocean. The public library near where I live has a roughly 3,500 gallon public aquarium with mostly tangs, including both large and small species. all they do is swim around and around in relaxed manners all day long, and that's the natural behavior. they just don't display that kind of behavior in a typical home aquarium, unless it's at least 10-foot long.