Vlamingii Tang,Chocolate & Tomini

[1boatnut]

Would a 125 be ok to house the Vlamingii Tang?
Wife fell in love at the LFS,but I didn't buy it as I figured a 6' tank would not be large enough.

She also liked the Chocolate & Tomini.
Anyone have any imput on any of these fish?
The Chocolate may get to big for a 125 too ??????

Would love to have thoughts & experiences on any of these

[Toddrtrex]

No, a 125 would not work for a Vlamingi tang -- they get to be just under 2 feet long.

[jjk_reef00]

No Vlamingi tang, they get big real fast.
I would get either Chocolate or Tomini both would be ok for a 125 as the only tang in the tank.

[1boatnut]

Thanks.
So with a Chocolate & Tomini they can be the only Tang in the tank,or the only Tang with similar body shape?

Anyone have a Atlantic Blue ? Thats the one I like

[xxtriggermanxx]

My vote would be for the Chocolate and Atlantic Blue for just color reasons alone.. had a Chocolate in my last tank and loved him. sadly lost him during my upgrade. he was in a 6 foot 135. along with a fairly large sailfin . but he held his own ground. never had a AB but realy like the colors.

[Dante_JoseCuerv]

As one of the biggest fans of vlamingiis I can tell you right now that while they're gorgeous fish they get huge. A 125 is a terribly small tank for one. My vote goes for the chocolate and tomini.

[1boatnut]

Originally Posted by Dante_JoseCuerv

As one of the biggest fans of vlamingiis I can tell you right now that while they're gorgeous fish they get huge. A 125 is a terribly small tank for one. My vote goes for the chocolate and tomini.

Yes,after much reading I see this fish will get really big.
The LFS told me when it got to big for my tank he would take it back,but it looks like they can grow 4-5" a year.Let it go to someone that can accomadate it's needs


chocolate and tomini
Both?
They can be kept together?

I'm interested in a Kole Tang too.
I think I may need a much larger set-up for my future desires

[cindre2000]

Most tang's full grown size is far too big for your tank. But since almost none of them will reach that full size, you have several acceptable options. In my opinion the Tomini is one of the most boring Ctenochaetus tang available. The Kole and Blue-eye Kole are much prettier. You might also consider a Zebramosa species, such as a yellow, scopas, or purple tang.

Acanthurius species are little more hit or miss in that size tank. They tend to be very active and finiky. But of all of them I have had a good deal of success with chocolate tangs.

As for total number of tangs, I would say that if you keep them well fed w/ good filtration you could probably keep up to 5; though I would not put more than 3 larger species/specimens.

[Kahuna Tuna]

A 125 isn't a big tank when you are talking about housing tangs but both the mimic and Tomini would be fine in that size tank. What are the actual dimentions of the tank? Atlantic blues get big as do most Acanthurus species but the mimic (chocolate) is a great choice for both smaller size and temper. I think you could do a small mimic and a small bristletooth in the 125 and they would be fine (this is exactly what I did in my 180 with a binotatus and mimic), mine got along pretty well the last four years.

[revaltion131]

I'm going to go with a Chocolate in my 125. I thought about an Atlantic Blue but they're hard to find healthy and it seemed borderline on whether or not it could be in the tank long-term. I would also be more than comfortable putting a Ctenochaetus sp. in the tank size but my system will only be suitable for one tang.

[Kahuna Tuna]

You will like the chocolate tang, just a great fish. Are you getting a juvie and if so which color morph, there are several to choose from. Mine started out as a Herald's angel mimic (all yellow).

[1boatnut]

Originally Posted by Kahuna Tuna

You will like the chocolate tang, just a great fish. Are you getting a juvie and if so which color morph, there are several to choose from. Mine started out as a Herald's angel mimic (all yellow).

I believe the one I was looking at was all yellow.
Hard to remember,wife had me going all over Saturday looking @ fish & coralds
Still not sure though.

I like the Kole Tangs,but I had 2 die.

One was pretty beat up when I got him & the LFS guy practically gave it to me. Lasted 1 day.
Bought another and seemed fine. Became buddies with my Allard Clownfish.
Then just all of a sudden the Clown didn't look good,next thing I know its dead. It almost looked like it had Ich,but hard to tell as it used to sleep on its side in the sand,and my sand is very fine. About a week after the Clown died,the Kole died too.
Odd thing is this was a few months back,no new fish added,and all the fish that were in the tank when these 2 died are all doing fine

All that,and I still like the Kole.

[Eric the half-bee]

My vlamingii is gonna outgrow my 7' 400gal in 1-2 more years. He's already eating size. My experience in thr slowest growth has been the bristletooth tangs. Mine have grown very little compared to the others.

[Kahuna Tuna]

I have had terrible luck with bristletooths in general. I also lost two kole tangs within months of their purchase years ago and the only one I've had any good fortune with at all was my binotatus which just died from an internal parasite or infection after 4 1/2 years in my tank. My binotatus hardly grew in all the time I had him and never got any larger than 4 1/2 inches (he was about 3 1/2 inches when I got him).

The bristletooths have a generally good rep for hardiness but this has not been my experience.