2 inch purple tang in a 30 gallon?

[fishforu]

My LFS advised that I can keep a 2 inch purple tang in my 30 gallon tank. And because the fish is so small to start with, the size of my tank would limit the growth, thus not require a larger environment moving forward.

Also, the LFS said the odds of the fish surviving the 1st week is 50/50 like most fish you purchase from the store and would do well if it survives the 1st week.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[Mike612]

Find a new lfs to shop at because none of that information is correct.

1) The tang will continue to grow regardless of the tank's size.
2) Fish obviously have a 50/50 chance of making it. When you go to purchase a fish, you should be ensuring that a fish is disease free, that it is eating, that its fins are intact, that it is aware of your presence, and how it reacts with its tankmates at the lfs. If the fish passes all these tests and you acclimate it properly, odds are that the 50/50 chance will change drastically in your favor.
3) Some fish need even longer than a week to adjust. When you buy a fish, some times it can go on a 2 week hunger strike, maybe even longer. Technically, that would imply that you aren't set after 1 week.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, don't listen to your LFS advise. While a smaller tank will inhibit the growth of the tang simply due to lack of food, whether it's 2" or 10" they like swimming room. IMO 100g no less, and even then it's a bit small.

As to the 50/50 chance? Wow, I wouldn't be shopping there if I had 50% of my fish dead within a week. If you have a good quality store, there's no reason why you shouldn't have a 100% survival rate.

 

[Anonymous]

Mike612 is entirely correct, that LFS has given you bad information! I suggest you RUN don't walk to another LFS in your area. First off, that old wrong idea that a fish won't grow if the tank is smaller is pure BS. No tang is suitable for a 30 gallon setup, regardless of how small it is when you get it. The eventual mature size coupled with the temperment of the species makes that all around a bad idea. Secondly, the 50/50 odds thing is totally whack. If you start out with good stock, have the right tank environs and the smarts to quarantine (and treat if necessary) any new arrival the odds are much better than that. Seriously, the last fish I lost was due to a carpet surfing incident.

 

[Ben1]

I agree with both Mikes and the Law lol.

FWIW if you find a good LFS and get a good relationship with them they will take care of you. My LFS would never sell me a fish and tell me I have 50/50 odds. They know me, in fact he usually tells me if anything happens he will replace it just let him know because he is both confident on the health of what he sells and the fact that I know how to care for what I am purchasing. If I see something, fish or coral I like I can just tell him and he will hold it for me till I am ready to take it home as well. A good LFS goes out of the way to earn repeat business.

If you have no LFS that is reliable you may need to do alot of homework in advance, which is a good idea either way before deciding on any purchase.

Some LFS's may also buy from cheaper wholesalers that buy from cheaper importers, and usually these are not net collected fish that come from clean facilitys. This may be why they only have low confidence in their stock.