Care Level for Tangs

[drew930]

Just a quick question. Care level wise , which tangs are the easiest to take care of ? Which ones stress out more easily ?

Blue Hippo
Blue Powder
Sailfin ( Desjardini )
Achilles
Yellow
Orange Shoulder
Naso
Lieutenant

[orangegoby]

based on personal experience, Blue Hippo, Sailfin, Yellow r fairly hardy.
Powder Blue - super ich machine.
others in your list never have them before.

[Urchinhead]

Hippo's and Powders tend to be problematic in my experience. Yellows tend to be fairly hardy.

[snorvich]

Hippo's and Powders tend to be problematic in my experience. Yellows tend to be fairly hardy.

Agreed.

[nonstopfishies]

Just a quick question. Care level wise , which tangs are the easiest to take care of ? Which ones stress out more easily ?

Blue Hippo
Blue Powder
Sailfin ( Desjardini )
Achilles
Yellow
Orange Shoulder
Naso
Lieutenant

From easiest to hardest IMO:

Yellow
Sailfin
Hippo
Orange Shoulder/Lieutenant
Naso
Powder Blue
Achilles

All tangs are ich magnets, but the Hippo, Powder Blue, and Achilles are particularly susceptible.

Powder Blue and Achilles, like all Acanthurus tangs are most aggressive generally as well.

Naso's get really big.

Powder Blue and Achilles are the ones that are the pickiest eaters also.

Achilles have soft bodies and often times get damaged in collection/transport.

[drew930]

If you got both the orange shoulder and the lieutenant, would you introduce at same time ?

[nonstopfishies]

If you got both the orange shoulder and the lieutenant, would you introduce at same time ?

How big is the tank? Other inhabitants?

In general, I would say yes do it at the same time. Might want to do 2 different sizes too, one small and one a bit bigger.

[Reefing Newbie]

He wants them in a 180 gallon tank. He started a thread in the Reef Discussion forums asking about a similar list in a 180. In such a small tank I think the orange shoulder and tennenti tang would be a problem... They look fairly similar not only in shale but color as well. You should pick no more than three tangs with them. All being different colors and shapes. Try and pick three that are within your difficulty level.

[drew930]

Yes I do want a couple in a 180 . I'm not sure which ones but I'm not sure which ones . I was just asking general questions

Achilles and powder blue are similar ... But I knew blue powder was aggressive.

Orange shoulder and lieutenant are similar ... But I didn't know if you could since they aren't too aggressive .

I wouldn't get both of these , just because they are so similar Nd I don't want two of the same fish .

[nonstopfishies]

Yes I do want a couple in a 180 . I'm not sure which ones but I'm not sure which ones . I was just asking general questions

Achilles and powder blue are similar ... But I knew blue powder was aggressive.

Orange shoulder and lieutenant are similar ... But I didn't know if you could since they aren't too aggressive .

I wouldn't get both of these , just because they are so similar Nd I don't want two of the same fish .

I would say your best bet would be to go with 3 tangs, 4 tops in a 180. Start with the smallest ones you want to get and work your way up. This will help prevent problems with established tang going after new tangs.

I would stock your tank with a combination of the ones below:

1. Hippo
2. Yellow or Sailfin(Desjardini or "normal")
3. Lieutenant or Orange Shoulder
If you want, 4. Powder Blue or Naso

If you want to do both #2's and skip #4, they must be added at the same time.

If you feel you are more advanced and want to work with some harder fish I would go this way.

1. Yellow or Sailfin or Hippo or Purple(?)
2. Lieutenant or Orange Shoulder
3. Naso
4. Powder Blue or the real challenge Achilles

[darthparj]

I've read that the yellow eye kole tang are easy to take of

[clowntriggerfis]

Naso get way to big and need a min of 10ft tank look at the tang tanksize thread and what other people have said about them on the forum.

[bballdad13]

Hey Drew!

Actually, the Tennenti and Orange Shoulder are vastly vastly different in coloration. They do have the same body shape which still should not present a problem. I am a TANG LOVER and I have had just about every tang so feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding tangs. \

The easiest would be the YT, Desjardini tang, Orange Shoulder.

The Naso and Hippo would be medium care level with the achilles and powder blue being the least hardy and the most likely to get ick along with the hippo tang.

[drew930]

Thanks for all the replies !!! I will probably end up going with the desjardini sailfin, orange shoulder and the blue hippo. I will try to get them all about 3-4 inches and let them grow . By the time they are pretty big, I ll probably have a bigger tank.

I don't know what the deal is with the sailfins though....I have seen the guides says to put them in a 8 ft, 240 gallon tank. I have seen pretty big ones in 180 tanks.

One more thing, I have had tangs but I'm not an expert. I will have other fish such as clowns, an angel fish and maybe a dotty back/ cardinal. Would it be okay to feed Mysis shrimp one day, then the next, feed frozen veggies, then mix it up a little? What other food should I feed ? Do they NEED seaweed/veggie sheets if they are getting frozen veggies ?

Dont wanna feed to much. I hate algae and DINOS !!!! I will be using a SRO 3000 though, so Im thinking that will take care of most of it .

[clowntriggerfis]

Hippo tangs grow fast at least that's what I have heard