Minimum Tank size for Yellow or Purple Tangs

[cyork]

I have a community tank with a few fish - 2 false Perculas, 3 fire gobies and a six line wrasse. I also have 2 shrimp. I have a couple of corals and a complete janitor crew of hermits, snails, serp stars and crabs. I have been getting conflicting info on size of tank for either of the yellow or purple tangs. Anyone who has either of these tangs can you give me info on size of your tank and how long and how well the fish do would be helpful in deciding if I will get one of these fish.

I have a 72 gallon bow with a 30 gallon sump. 110 pounds of live rock and a couple inches of live sand - Turbo 1000 protein skimmer, 2 rio power heads and 700 gal per hour pump in sump.

 

[Len]

Hot potato topic IMO/IME, a 72 gallon will suffice for small specimens but they may outgrow the tank in a short period of time. For sure, I'd only get one. Both the species you listed are good candidates for smaller tanks since they don't grow as large as some other species.

My opinion only.

 

[Anonymous]

Nor do they grow as fast as some species. Yellow tangs get as big as a dinner plate - however when was the last time you saw one that big?
A 72 gallon tank should be fine for a yellow tang for quite a long time. I can't speak from experience with the purple tang.

Jim

 

[Jolieve]

I've only had my yellow for a month, but he's about the size of a tennis ball right now, and quite happy with life in my 75. I think a yellow would fit in nicely with your system. Just be sure to read up on them and choose your fish carefully before bringing one home

J.

 

[Anonymous]

It would depend on the size of the tang that you purchase. The reason this tends to be a hot topic is many people purchase a 2" tang for a 30gl tank which short term is fine. However they will outgrow that size tank in short order and while most everyone claims they're going to upgrade the size of their tank we know this usually doesn't happen. Both Zebrasoma flavescens ( Yellow Tang ) and Zebrasoma xanthurum ( Purple Tang ) are what I like to call "marvelously manic " they are very active swimmers tearing from one end of the tank to the other therefor they need space. While I agree that for most of these 2 species your tank would be fine though you may have to upgrade to a bigger tank depending on your specimen and they would be much happier in a larger tank. Oh and yes as Len said, only 1 tang to your tank. Have I confused you even more ?

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

oops, trying to fix my post above where I said no experience with a yellow tang instead of purple, then quoted myself instead and...well...it's been a long day... :?

JIm

 

[EmilyB]

I made the mistake of buying too large of a yellow for my 72g. As a result, I had to upgrade within a year to a six foot tank. (Tang was sprinting).

However, I have seen many small yellow tangs in tanks that size for quite some time. They do not seem to exhibit any swimming behavior that would indicate they need more space, imo.

 

[Jolieve]

Em, what sort of swimming behavior should one watch for to help determine when its time to upgrade the tank?

J.

 

[EmilyB]

In my case it was pretty obvious. She would bolt from one side of the tank to the other, like it was a four-foot dash. And do so repeatedly. I wasn't in the hobby that long then, so I hope no one would wait for them to do that, but perhaps prepare for when they are no longer just cruising in and around the rock and acting relaxed.

She's been double upgraded now, btw, into a 230g, and she is no longer shy, she spends a lot of time just grazing, and claiming caves she can stare at me from... :lol: I love it.

 

[Johnsteph10]

My yellow does the same thing...about the size of a softball. He just swims around from cave to cave grazing at rock, glass etc. Occasionally he'll go "manic" and zoom around -- esp. when it's feeding time. I think if you can label a fish as "happy" then it would be when he's in his big cave with a mouthfull of nori.

After he chases the lawnmower blenny.

After he cruises around the tank looking for chicks.

And know he's the king, baby.

Sometimes, I wish I was a fish

John