Is there enough room for a tang?

[Lynn]

Hi everyone, well I'm wondering if I have enough room for a achilles tang. My books say they can mature to 9". I have a 180 gallon tank, with 2 rabbitfish (virgates and foxface) and a majestic angel. I also have about 10 small fish like gobies, blennies , chromis etc. If all the fish I have now grow to max I will have 40" of fish.. Whats the concenses?? I would really like one, but don't want to do a injustice to all of them because of it. Thanks
p.s. does anyone have one? can you tell me about them? personality, swimming traits??

 

[danmhippo]

Lynn, are you planning on buying a even larger tank then the 180 (Say, 300G) when some of the fish "feels" cramped 3-4 years down the road?

 

[monkeyboy]

The tang will be fine in the 180, finding a healthy achillies tang is another story... Good luck!

 

[Ritteri&Bubbles]

Ditto on monkeyboy's comment.

 

[sfloridasalty]

The tang will be fine in the 180, finding a healthy achillies tang is another story... Good luck!

My achilles is healthy, but I think his tank is too small...

sorry, couldn't help myself.

 

[EmilyB]

Lynn, I wouldn't do it if I were you, at least right now.

It is a very demanding tang, IME. A difficult tang to QT, it originates from highly oxygenated surge waters. Mine was lost to ick, which was very disturbing and did not respond to (Cupramine) treatment. It was also my first ick experience.

I have never before seen a fish trying to wipe the ick from its eyes with its fins. It is not anything I will ever forget.


Perhaps you will run across a specimen that is captive, healthy, etc. and your experience will be different.

 

[Anonymous]

Take a read http://www.wetwebmedia.com/badacanthurusaq.htm here. Still, not an easy fish by any stretch of the imagination.

Sorry, was reading the naso thread also. Got the two confused(imagine that, not even bedtime yet :wink: )

 

[JeremyR]

I would strongly suggest avoiding the achilles tang.. not because I"m a member of the tang police, but because they have an abysmally poor captive survival record... one of the fish I never stock.

 

[scavdog]

I second Jeremys opinion. IME, they are a very nervous specimen and prone to stress as with many of the surgeon fish family.

I know.. I lost a hybrid Achilles. No apparent signs of stress and was eating like a pig right up til the last moment. Just up and died. Perhaps I will try again someday when I can dig up the funds for my 400 gallon.


HTH,

 

[Mouse]

Methinks theres something we just dont provide for, or take consideration of when housing the achillies' and the blue's. Must be something to do with their squashed up faces and little beaky mouths. All the pointy ones seem ok, Yellows, blacks, purps and sohol etc. wierd :?