Auriga butterfly and a yellow tang be kept in the same tank?
- Thread starter Djm9288
- Start date
Yes they can cohabitate in a 60 gallon aquarium. I suggest adding the butterfly first. It is the more difficult of the two to keep and less territorial in nature than the tang.
FWIW, I don't believe that a 60 gallon aquarium is too small for either of these species. I've seen some of the arguments about tangs in smaller aquariums. None of us are maintaining tangs under natural conditions, so let the first aquarist that's keeping 25-100 same-species tangs, in a reef aquarium that spans 1/2 acre, cast the first stone.
Do most tangs do better in larger aquariums? Sure, most fish do. Can they be maintained and live a full life in smaller aquariums, such as the 60 gallon in question? Absolutlely!
Greg Schiemer
FWIW, I don't believe that a 60 gallon aquarium is too small for either of these species. I've seen some of the arguments about tangs in smaller aquariums. None of us are maintaining tangs under natural conditions, so let the first aquarist that's keeping 25-100 same-species tangs, in a reef aquarium that spans 1/2 acre, cast the first stone.
Do most tangs do better in larger aquariums? Sure, most fish do. Can they be maintained and live a full life in smaller aquariums, such as the 60 gallon in question? Absolutlely!
Greg Schiemer
No offense but one still has to draw the line somewhere , no? That is a very circular argument. Obviously no one has a full-sized ocean in their living room. If I said I wanted to keep a couple triggers in a 20 gallon would you cast a stone? Well you should, because we are still trying to keep our animals is the best environment possible. I never understood the whole 6 foot minimum tank size for tangs until my yellow started to grow... Yes he probably will survive but IMO he would be happier in a bigger tank.
Save_the_Expos":l9xmk7mr said:
You tell me where to draw the line. I've seen beautiful specimens of the yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) maintained in 40 gallon reef aquariums and half-dead groups floating in 600 gallon aquariums. It's not as much about the size of the aquarium but the quality of the care. A 60 gallon aquarium is perfectly acceptable for the two fish mentioned previously, assuming the aquarium is maintained properly. No one asked about a "couple of triggers in a 20 gallon." If they had, I would have advised against it, regardless of the species.
BTW, the attached picture shows my "happy" scopas tang (Zebrasoma scopas) in my 38 gallon reef aquarium. In fact, it's "happier" than most of the tangs in my 500 gallon reef because it has no competition for food or territory. And yes, it's supposed to look like that. It's a freak of nature
Greg Schiemer
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Good to see your name Mitch!
There are a number of theories on these freaky scopas tangs. Some say they are just genetic mutations of Zebrasoma scopas (I share that opinion). Some say they are hybrids of Z. scopas and Z. flavescens. And recently I've seen it written that some kind of fungal disease is responsible for the freakish coloration!
Greg Schiemer
There are a number of theories on these freaky scopas tangs. Some say they are just genetic mutations of Zebrasoma scopas (I share that opinion). Some say they are hybrids of Z. scopas and Z. flavescens. And recently I've seen it written that some kind of fungal disease is responsible for the freakish coloration!
Greg Schiemer
From time to time, this board is graced with the reefer of the past.
Those that taught us to use damsels to cycle tanks.
Those that felt that countless repetitive fish deaths were part of the learning curve. And if you were not successful try try and try again.
We know this dated thinking is simply not acceptable by todays reefers.
No, your 60 gallon tank is too small for your tang.
Tangs are beautiful fish. Please give them the swimming room they require which larger tanks provide.
If you cant provide it at this time please choose something else.
Thank you for asking
Those that taught us to use damsels to cycle tanks.
Those that felt that countless repetitive fish deaths were part of the learning curve. And if you were not successful try try and try again.
We know this dated thinking is simply not acceptable by todays reefers.
No, your 60 gallon tank is too small for your tang.
Tangs are beautiful fish. Please give them the swimming room they require which larger tanks provide.
If you cant provide it at this time please choose something else.
Thank you for asking
naesco":3ba0aimv said:
I was tempted to respond to your flame in like kind, but I won't. You're not worth it. If I debated every self-proclaimed expert on these forums, it would turn into a full-time job
One thing this "old reefer" has learned through the years is that there are very few "absolutes" in the reef aquarium hobby and even fewer "rigid rules." When you respond to a question by simply quoting a self-concocted edict, such as a "60 gallon tank is too small for your tang," you do a disservice to yourself and the questioner, especially when your statements are not backed up with any scientific or empirical support. We’re all too quick to give glib answers in these fast-paced forums. Before responding to this question, perhaps you should find out the species and size of the fish in consideration; what other fish are in the aquarium; what type of filtration is in use on the aquarium; how the aquarium is set up, etc. Let’s say the questioner is theoretically looking at a two-inch Zebrasoma flavescens for his/her 60 gallon FOWLR aquarium; the aquarium is lit with two 36 inch PC lamps; employs a Euro-Reef skimmer in a 20 gallon sump; has no other fish in the aquarium and does 20% monthly water changes. Given these facts, I can recommend the purchase of the fish. OTOH, if someone was looking to add a 5-6 inch fish into a 60 gallon aquarium that was brand new, didn’t have a skimmer or had a large population of fish in it already, I would recommend against the purchase. It’s all relative, which is why we have to learn the facts before dispensing advice.
Greg Schiemer
No one is questioning your experience and most certainly not your age.
If you felt that is what I meant, I sincerely apologise.
There is more to clean water, good food. Reefers to day Greg are concerned about their fish in the environment today.
We cannot provide the ocean for them, but we can provide minimum standards. Everyone today accepts that tangs require swimming room unlike some other and some larger fish.
Given excellent other parameters, a 6o gallon reef tank is too small.
I viewed your picture of your tang in this thread.
The picture of your 38 gallon reef tank housing a tang is a case in point.
This picture indicates that your tank is filled with coral providing unacceptabe swimming room for the tang
Further the tang appears to have HLE disease. Most experts feel that the case of lateral line erosion is environmental.
IME, if you provide a larger tank which this fish needs, and feed selcon soaked foods, this condition will improve.
I trust this is the advice you were looking for.
Thank you
If you felt that is what I meant, I sincerely apologise.
There is more to clean water, good food. Reefers to day Greg are concerned about their fish in the environment today.
We cannot provide the ocean for them, but we can provide minimum standards. Everyone today accepts that tangs require swimming room unlike some other and some larger fish.
Given excellent other parameters, a 6o gallon reef tank is too small.
I viewed your picture of your tang in this thread.
The picture of your 38 gallon reef tank housing a tang is a case in point.
This picture indicates that your tank is filled with coral providing unacceptabe swimming room for the tang
Further the tang appears to have HLE disease. Most experts feel that the case of lateral line erosion is environmental.
IME, if you provide a larger tank which this fish needs, and feed selcon soaked foods, this condition will improve.
I trust this is the advice you were looking for.
Thank you
Sorry but i just had to post, You can drive a car with your feet but that doesn't make it a good idea. I think what happens in the online community is it's hard to get ones point across to everyone. Sure you can keep a tang in 60g tank, I've seen lots of big fish in small tanks, anything is possible and wether a fish is healthy is definintly more of a question of water quality and living conditions than anything, hell some fish do better than other fish so unless anyone here has years and years of research on every species of tang in every possible situation then no one is a scientific expert, to say a tang would be better in a large tank is simple a general statement to give a fish the best oportunity to thrive, thats all, it applies to pretty much every living creature because nothing evolved in a cage. What works for one person may or may not work for another person, there is just too many variables in this equation for anyone to assume they know whats best. Neither one of you guys should call the other one incorrect you should just add your knowlege and accept others opinons. I believe that bigger is better for the simple fact that it is easier to control and anything that is easier in this hobby is a good thing.
naesco":2akxve7p said:
Thanks for the unsolicited advice, but the scopas tang in the picture is quite healthy. It's very clear from the picture that it doesn't have a trace of LLE. If you read the entire thread, you would have known that this specimen has unusual coloration, which I assume you've mistaken for LLE. A knowledgeable aquarist would not have made this misdiagnosis.
BTW, who made you arbiter of what are acceptable standards for maintaining tangs? I suspect that I have tangs in my care that are older than you.
Greg Schiemer
It definatly is ground hog day......i'v been here so many many times..djm9228 to answer your question yes they will go together. :lol: and very well indeed ....The tang police love commenting on there favorite thread, but fail short of educating people on real matters :?
....The tang police love commenting on there favorite thread, but fail short of educating people on real matters :?hhmm..i LOVE the Zebrasoma scopas, and the one pictured looks pretty damn healthy to my eye (20/13, thank you), which has been taught to be exceedingly picky when judging overall health of a given specimen.
i think that greg has hit the nail on the head: this endeavor is as much art as science (though we shouldn't discount the science). i've seen enough sys's that "shouldn't" work, but do, to know this as well. and, i've killed enough fish trying to fix what in reality wasn't broke, too.
i kept my own Z. scopas in my first 60gal sys for several years. then i moved, couldn't afford to take the setup with me so i sold everything off. but, while with me he was fat and happy. i'm afraid to tell y'all how long ago it was, cuz i'm "an old reefer". :lol: (think: the days before refugiums!)
i think that greg has hit the nail on the head: this endeavor is as much art as science (though we shouldn't discount the science). i've seen enough sys's that "shouldn't" work, but do, to know this as well. and, i've killed enough fish trying to fix what in reality wasn't broke, too.
i kept my own Z. scopas in my first 60gal sys for several years. then i moved, couldn't afford to take the setup with me so i sold everything off. but, while with me he was fat and happy. i'm afraid to tell y'all how long ago it was, cuz i'm "an old reefer". :lol: (think: the days before refugiums!)
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