purple tang!

aqua_dog · 12/29/2013, 01:44 PM

ever since i started in the hobby a goal of mine was to have a purple tang. well, my tank has been up for a while now and i found a purple tang at my LFS for a steal. it was a trade in from a friend of the owners tank so its been in captivity for a while. the fish is amazing and for the price i couldn't pass. I'm a bit nervous now that i have him. I've done some research throughout the time I've started the tank and it seems like they are relatively simple to care for. i have him in my 125 with no other tangs at all, just a couple clowns and a blue jaw trigger and a bunch of coral. anything special i should pay attention to? tips?tricks? advice?..a good price as he may have been but it was still a good chunk of change.

ryan_ · 12/29/2013, 02:01 PM

Nice fish! Consider upgrading your tank soon though. IIRC they require a minimum of 100-125g...forgive me if I'm wrong. As long as you have an open aquascape with plenty of room to swim and hide, you should be good for a little while. Good luck telling her you need an upgrade because of a fish...

aqua_dog · 12/29/2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan_

Nice fish! Consider upgrading your tank soon though. IIRC they require a minimum of 100-125g...forgive me if I'm wrong. As long as you have an open aquascape with plenty of room to swim and hide, you should be good for a little while. Good luck telling her you need an upgrade because of a fish...

yea i do have a 125 gal. its pretty open too. he was acclimated for a good amount of time so i really hope he does well.

EllieSuz · 12/29/2013, 02:57 PM

Once he gets comfy, will you share a picture of him?

aqua_dog · 12/29/2013, 03:38 PM

Absolutely1

titoav15 · 12/29/2013, 04:27 PM

I love purple tangs, congrats!!

ReeferSteve78 · 12/29/2013, 05:36 PM

Here's my purple tang. One of my favorite fish by far. iPhone pics are no good here lol

Reef1ruler · 12/29/2013, 06:24 PM

The tangs are very delicate fish,they get stressed very easily,they also tend to pick up disease easily,my point is,did you quarantine him at all.but he is a beautiful fish though,hope he does well.

pascal32 · 12/29/2013, 06:35 PM

I gifted mine to a friends tank as my new tank is too small, gorgeous fish. give him clean water, space, food, and an environment free of similar tangs and all will be well!

aqua_dog · 12/29/2013, 06:35 PM

I did not quarantine him when I got him. Did I screw up? They never mentioned to do so. Nice fish reefersteve!

aqua_dog · 12/29/2013, 06:36 PM

Yea I got some dry nori from the lfs though he does not seem interested right now

007rick · 12/29/2013, 07:06 PM

Too late for the quarantine... as for what to do? Do as little possible for the next few days just to let him settle in... Just going up to the glass repetitively to look at him can spook him. Don't worry about food yet, he'll start to graze when he is comfortable enough

terrypercula · 12/29/2013, 07:09 PM

Purple tang is up there for me as one of my favorites.

sean obergfell · 12/30/2013, 11:12 PM

I have had mine for about 7 years..... He is a beauty!!!

das75 · 12/31/2013, 12:38 AM

Was one of my first fish when started 12 years back. Made it through a plane ride from the coast, survived NH3 spikes in the QT, few years in a 75G, move across town, tank ick outbreak years ago and still going strong in my current tank.

Pretty laid back but have seen being little hostile so never tried adding a Yellow Tang.

Likes the nori, flake and pellets but goes crazy for mysis.

pascal32 · 12/31/2013, 07:38 AM

for feeding consider the seaweed extreme pellets from Hikari. Randy at ARC turned me on to them - fish love them! I used to feed sheets of seaweed, just never liked the clip that goes with them. with these I can have the feeder dispense!

aqua_dog · 12/31/2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by das75

Was one of my first fish when started 12 years back. Made it through a plane ride from the coast, survived NH3 spikes in the QT, few years in a 75G, move across town, tank ick outbreak years ago and still going strong in my current tank.

Pretty laid back but have seen being little hostile so never tried adding a Yellow Tang.

Likes the nori, flake and pellets but goes crazy for mysis.

Man it sounds like he survived hell! Haha

aqua_dog · 12/31/2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurry

for feeding consider the seaweed extreme pellets from Hikari. Randy at ARC turned me on to them - fish love them! I used to feed sheets of seaweed, just never liked the clip that goes with them. with these I can have the feeder dispense!

Where do you get these? Just at the local lfs?

Firedog1962 · 12/31/2013, 11:22 AM

I had 2 purples. I rescued 1 that I gave to G at ABC He is doing great and is an awesome fish. I have one in my 180 fish only and is one of my favorites. Good luck

Jarrok · 12/31/2013, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurry

for feeding consider the seaweed extreme pellets from Hikari. Randy at ARC turned me on to them - fish love them! I used to feed sheets of seaweed, just never liked the clip that goes with them. with these I can have the feeder dispense!

I grabbed a bag of those at ABC 2 this weekend. So far so good.

LKemp712 · 03/01/2014, 11:56 PM

I just bought a purple, he is beautiful. Good luck

saltyscotsman · 03/02/2014, 09:48 AM

my purple gets along fine with a yellow and a sail fin tang for about a year now

Ellery · 03/03/2014, 07:41 PM

I've had mine for 15 years so far (knock on wood) The only issue I had was a slight nutritional deficiency in the beginning which made his dorsal fin kinda recede and the tail of my Hippo tang got deformed. It all got better once I switched to Spectrum pellets but neither dorsal or tail fins grew back but they are both healthy, fat and colorful.

Sir Edward · 03/04/2014, 06:28 PM

Purple Tangs are a great addition to a tank, when healthy, brilliant color. I have had mine for 6 years, I got mine when I started up my 220. Along with a yellow tang, blue hippo tang, Kole tang, foxface, a mandarin, flame angel, a paired set of clowns and cardinals. Never had any problems with his tank mates. Only issue, once mine settled in, I have not been able to add other fish, very dominate fish (least mine is), though I got lucky once, I added a 4" Gold Spotted Rabbitfish and got away with it. I think as long as you maintain good tank husbandry, and water quality. Yours will do great. I feed my fish twice a day with frozen brine shrimp, and krill. I also feed them Nori. Never had luck with those clips. I use a 1" pvc tube, wrap the nori around it with 2 rubber bands. Keeps the fish busy for about 15 minutes ripping it off the tube.

adnanosmani · 11/13/2014, 12:42 PM

Ilove your purple tang it also has a fun personality, congratulation and happy keeping!

12/29/2013, 01:44 PM	#1
aqua_dog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 223	purple tang! ever since i started in the hobby a goal of mine was to have a purple tang. well, my tank has been up for a while now and i found a purple tang at my LFS for a steal. it was a trade in from a friend of the owners tank so its been in captivity for a while. the fish is amazing and for the price i couldn't pass. I'm a bit nervous now that i have him. I've done some research throughout the time I've started the tank and it seems like they are relatively simple to care for. i have him in my 125 with no other tangs at all, just a couple clowns and a blue jaw trigger and a bunch of coral. anything special i should pay attention to? tips?tricks? advice?..a good price as he may have been but it was still a good chunk of change.

12/29/2013, 02:01 PM	#2
ryan_ Yeah...Don't touch that. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Elma, NY Posts: 452	Nice fish! Consider upgrading your tank soon though. IIRC they require a minimum of 100-125g...forgive me if I'm wrong. As long as you have an open aquascape with plenty of room to swim and hide, you should be good for a little while. Good luck telling her you need an upgrade because of a fish... __________________ All the places I've been and things I've seen. A million stories that made up, a million shattered dreams. The faces of people Ill never see again and I cant seem to find my way home. "5fdp" RIP SFC Hall, SGT Forest, CPL Pautsch.I will never forget you guys!

12/29/2013, 02:57 PM	#4
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Once he gets comfy, will you share a picture of him? __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

12/29/2013, 04:27 PM	#6
titoav15 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: N Syracuse/Oneonta NY Posts: 427	I love purple tangs, congrats!! __________________ Alex Current Tank Info: 55g Reef & currently working on a frag tank

12/29/2013, 06:35 PM	#9
pascal32 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jordan NY by cross lake Posts: 3,089	I gifted mine to a friends tank as my new tank is too small, gorgeous fish. give him clean water, space, food, and an environment free of similar tangs and all will be well! __________________ Pascal reefCubed - 93 cube

12/29/2013, 03:38 PM	#5
aqua_dog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 223	Absolutely1

12/29/2013, 06:24 PM	#8
Reef1ruler Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 78	The tangs are very delicate fish,they get stressed very easily,they also tend to pick up disease easily,my point is,did you quarantine him at all.but he is a beautiful fish though,hope he does well.

12/29/2013, 06:36 PM	#11
aqua_dog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 223	Yea I got some dry nori from the lfs though he does not seem interested right now

12/29/2013, 07:06 PM	#12
007rick Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 60	Too late for the quarantine... as for what to do? Do as little possible for the next few days just to let him settle in... Just going up to the glass repetitively to look at him can spook him. Don't worry about food yet, he'll start to graze when he is comfortable enough

12/29/2013, 07:09 PM	#13
terrypercula Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 4,354	Purple tang is up there for me as one of my favorites. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion 10, Kessil A160, Tunze Osmolator 3155, Ecotech Vortech MP10

12/30/2013, 11:12 PM	#14
sean obergfell Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Olean, ny Posts: 852	I have had mine for about 7 years..... He is a beauty!!! __________________ Live Out Truth

12/31/2013, 12:38 AM	#15
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Was one of my first fish when started 12 years back. Made it through a plane ride from the coast, survived NH3 spikes in the QT, few years in a 75G, move across town, tank ick outbreak years ago and still going strong in my current tank. Pretty laid back but have seen being little hostile so never tried adding a Yellow Tang. Likes the nori, flake and pellets but goes crazy for mysis. __________________ . Current Tank Info: 145g Starfire display (mixed reef) w/75g basement sump & 20g refugium, Barracuda return, Dart w/OM 4way CL, AI Hydras and Director.

12/31/2013, 07:38 AM	#16
pascal32 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Jordan NY by cross lake Posts: 3,089	for feeding consider the seaweed extreme pellets from Hikari. Randy at ARC turned me on to them - fish love them! I used to feed sheets of seaweed, just never liked the clip that goes with them. with these I can have the feeder dispense! __________________ Pascal reefCubed - 93 cube

12/31/2013, 11:22 AM	#19
Firedog1962 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Honeoye NY Posts: 148	I had 2 purples. I rescued 1 that I gave to G at ABC He is doing great and is an awesome fish. I have one in my 180 fish only and is one of my favorites. Good luck

03/01/2014, 11:56 PM	#21
LKemp712 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bismarck,ND Posts: 14	I just bought a purple, he is beautiful. Good luck

03/02/2014, 09:48 AM	#22
saltyscotsman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: orchard park Posts: 467	my purple gets along fine with a yellow and a sail fin tang for about a year now

03/03/2014, 07:41 PM	#23
Ellery Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 954	I've had mine for 15 years so far (knock on wood) The only issue I had was a slight nutritional deficiency in the beginning which made his dorsal fin kinda recede and the tail of my Hippo tang got deformed. It all got better once I switched to Spectrum pellets but neither dorsal or tail fins grew back but they are both healthy, fat and colorful. __________________ ---------------------------------------- part-time jacque-cousteau Full Time money spender. Current Tank Info: 125G SPS Reef+ 120G + 80 Shallow Frag + 40B LPS/Anemone + 12g Clam + 20L Nano + (30&40g)sumps

03/04/2014, 06:28 PM	#24
Sir Edward Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rome, New York Posts: 168	Purple Tangs are a great addition to a tank, when healthy, brilliant color. I have had mine for 6 years, I got mine when I started up my 220. Along with a yellow tang, blue hippo tang, Kole tang, foxface, a mandarin, flame angel, a paired set of clowns and cardinals. Never had any problems with his tank mates. Only issue, once mine settled in, I have not been able to add other fish, very dominate fish (least mine is), though I got lucky once, I added a 4" Gold Spotted Rabbitfish and got away with it. I think as long as you maintain good tank husbandry, and water quality. Yours will do great. I feed my fish twice a day with frozen brine shrimp, and krill. I also feed them Nori. Never had luck with those clips. I use a 1" pvc tube, wrap the nori around it with 2 rubber bands. Keeps the fish busy for about 15 minutes ripping it off the tube. __________________ 220 reef tank Current Tank Info: 220 reef tank, with 2 29gal sumps

11/13/2014, 12:42 PM	#25
adnanosmani Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 2	Ilove your purple tang it also has a fun personality, congratulation and happy keeping!