I've seen groups of yellows, Hippos, and groups of purples, but have never heard of anyone with a group of powder blue in captive (not refering to public aquarium). Has anyone seen of heard of this? Please share as I would love to set that goal.
Has anyone got a group of PB tangs?
- Thread starter supafly
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matts125
Well-known member
I havent seen it but I do know that you would need a very large aquarium for more then one powder blue tang...
Matt
Matt
steve-s
Well-known member
This is primarily a solitary fish so while it may be possible, it's highly inadvisable even in a very large tank.
shallowreef
Well-known member
I would try it because i'm an idot, but the thought of all of the ich that you would be dealing with wouldn't be worth the stress you and your fish would be under in my opinion.
I am pretty sure that they are the schooling variety, all the pictures I've ever seen are of them in a huge group, in the ocean that is.
I never thought about the ich problem, but it is definately a factor. The last PB I had (for 2 yrs), was a good example. It was always fat and healthy yet it would have ich for a day and then would be clear for a week. All awhile it never seem to be bothered by it. I guess it's just one of those fish and are magnetized to these parasites. I am seriously considering to give it a try. 4-6 or so in a 120g. There will fighting initially, but I think that will fade after a day or so. I'd like to hear if anyone has this these tangs in group and please share your experience.
balogh03
Well-known member
I dont know about you, but that just sounds bad to me. Transfering and acclimating will induse enough stress....and then you excpect them to live after fighting? If you try it, try it but IMO it is not a good idea at all unless you had a 600gal maybe even more.
-augustus
yeh 120 is pretty small for 5-6 tangs of that size unless u could maybe get pbt under 3 inches but still uj probley lose alot of moeny my friend
if u can do it and get away with it great people back in the 70's didnt think u would ever be able to keep sps but look now sumtimes it takes a radical idea to break the mould
if u can do it and get away with it great people back in the 70's didnt think u would ever be able to keep sps but look now sumtimes it takes a radical idea to break the mould
I think it's very possible. Too many time we just go by what's been taught or told to us, and never really experience the real thing ourselves. I know what the risks are involved and I'm aware it's a great challenge, but I've also put some planning into this process.
1. These tangs will be house in very good water condition (sps tank running for 3yrs)
2. They will be the only fish in the tank to start
3. They are special ordered from a LFS, approx 3"
4. I have past experience with 4 yellows in a 75g that last for almost 2 years.
Contrary to most believes, crowding them is the key to success. IME, if they stay busy, they tend to show less aggression. To do so, you must have other different fish in the mix to act as "target fish" and it take away the attention of the most hated enermy, themselves. My order is in, should be getting them sometime next week.
1. These tangs will be house in very good water condition (sps tank running for 3yrs)
2. They will be the only fish in the tank to start
3. They are special ordered from a LFS, approx 3"
4. I have past experience with 4 yellows in a 75g that last for almost 2 years.
Contrary to most believes, crowding them is the key to success. IME, if they stay busy, they tend to show less aggression. To do so, you must have other different fish in the mix to act as "target fish" and it take away the attention of the most hated enermy, themselves. My order is in, should be getting them sometime next week.
balogh03
Well-known member
Sorry, after many thoughts (and i ate breakfast)....I have changed my mind and i was just getting WAY too mad. I would like to keep this thing clean and you deserve the respect that everyone else deserves.
Again very sorry, just find me a zen garden sometimes and things will work out:lol:
-augustus
Again very sorry, just find me a zen garden sometimes and things will work out:lol:
-augustus
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Easy there tang police, it's guys like you that I hate discussing things with. so stay off here if you don't mind.
By the way, PB are not more aggressive then the yellow. It's all about the individual fish and the circumstances. My 2 years with the PB and group of yellows ended with me selling them off, not becuase they perished.
By the way, PB are not more aggressive then the yellow. It's all about the individual fish and the circumstances. My 2 years with the PB and group of yellows ended with me selling them off, not becuase they perished.
shallowreef
Well-known member
Okay this is not going in the right direction.
Supafly, We are only giving you are opinions and allowing you to take which ever ones you want into consideration.
Augustus, He's not doing it in your tank so relax.
Whatever you do supafly, i have to warn you that many people on these types of forums will say its wrong. But just because they say you can't do it doesn't mean you can't prove them wrong. So good luck with this and keep us updated if you have any Q's.
Supafly, We are only giving you are opinions and allowing you to take which ever ones you want into consideration.
Augustus, He's not doing it in your tank so relax.
Whatever you do supafly, i have to warn you that many people on these types of forums will say its wrong. But just because they say you can't do it doesn't mean you can't prove them wrong. So good luck with this and keep us updated if you have any Q's.
balogh03
Well-known member
Revised my thoughts
Hoopsguru
Member
It often does not pay to jump in these discussions, but there is a side point that should be established.
One of the biggest values of the internet and forums is that we can browse the success and failures of others. These days, we do not have to experience ich, velvet, etc. to know that we should quarantine, we know it is not a good idea to put a clownfish in with a grouper, or that a stunted fish likely needed a bigger tank. Established guidelines have been paved out of these experiences.
To break these guidelines really does nothing to further the hobby as even the examples above we all know have been "broken" before. All rules have exceptions, this does not make it science to do so.
It is ultimately our own decision to purchase and keep what we want and how we want, however, it should be separated what is paving the way and what is simply "been there, done that" in regards to these guidelines. In regards to this specifically, with the lifespan of these fish being 10+ years, it has to approach this to be a "success"....so I would expect a journal detailing such starting around 2015.
One of the biggest values of the internet and forums is that we can browse the success and failures of others. These days, we do not have to experience ich, velvet, etc. to know that we should quarantine, we know it is not a good idea to put a clownfish in with a grouper, or that a stunted fish likely needed a bigger tank. Established guidelines have been paved out of these experiences.
To break these guidelines really does nothing to further the hobby as even the examples above we all know have been "broken" before. All rules have exceptions, this does not make it science to do so.
It is ultimately our own decision to purchase and keep what we want and how we want, however, it should be separated what is paving the way and what is simply "been there, done that" in regards to these guidelines. In regards to this specifically, with the lifespan of these fish being 10+ years, it has to approach this to be a "success"....so I would expect a journal detailing such starting around 2015.
steve-s
Well-known member
They are no such thing nor are most tang species. What your seeing is wildlife film/photographers catching these scenes at opportune moments. Adult Tangs have a habit of banding together in species groups to over power apposing/competing groups/species for food resources on the reef. In actual fact, they are generally solitary fish except as juveniles or for protection.
Which species have you tried this with and what would you deem successful? I would be interested in how you where able to accomplish this and still maintain the opportune water quality/environment that this and other species like it require.
Well said Hoops. The actual problem with most attempt in these directions is success is gauged in weeks or months when it should be gauged in years!!
you will have alot of dead fish on your hands!!! please don't put those poor fish together!!!! in a 120g???? that isn't even enough room for one of them.. i would bet that one or two would be dead within the first day!!! try convict tangs or possibly hippo tangs together if you are just set on doing it, but that is not enough room for any of them really
My goal in this hobby is simple, as I am sure most can relate, is to have the most pleasing reef/tank that I can possible have. This is why we all got into reefing in the first place. The pure beauty and serenity of it all is primarally obtained to indulge ourselves, not to save the reef, protect the endangered, nor to provide a better place than the ocean. It is mainly for our enjoyment, right or wrong that is a fact. With that said, no one is really providing the most suitable environment for our fin friends. And if everyone looked at it that way, then all the fish should stay in the ocean, really, because there is nothing that can compare.
While I am still in this hobby, I would like to contribute in it's advancement as much as possible. That means researching, taking advises, sharing, and learning from others as much as possible to improve and better the reefing community. In the process I've learn to take everything as a grain of salt, that is, there are usually more than one way to achieve success. This experience that I plan on going ahead with will fail or succeed, time will tell. However, I am very optimistic, and with my past experience with the yellows, including 10yrs of breeding cichlids, and the preparation I've provided, I truely believe the results will be positive. I am not one to not try or experience because it's unpresidented. I believe people who think outside of the box could potentially contribute a whole lot more to society than ones that go by the books. Regardless of their failure or success, they are teaching the world something, rather than nothing.
Sorry for snapping at you earlier augutus, I just rather not discuss my fish hubandry ideas with someone who doesn't like to think otherwise. Theirs lots to be learnt and I am willing to experiment. For those that don't think success is achieved in two years, what is success than. Getting them to spawn and raise the fries to adulthood? Get real!
While I am still in this hobby, I would like to contribute in it's advancement as much as possible. That means researching, taking advises, sharing, and learning from others as much as possible to improve and better the reefing community. In the process I've learn to take everything as a grain of salt, that is, there are usually more than one way to achieve success. This experience that I plan on going ahead with will fail or succeed, time will tell. However, I am very optimistic, and with my past experience with the yellows, including 10yrs of breeding cichlids, and the preparation I've provided, I truely believe the results will be positive. I am not one to not try or experience because it's unpresidented. I believe people who think outside of the box could potentially contribute a whole lot more to society than ones that go by the books. Regardless of their failure or success, they are teaching the world something, rather than nothing.
Sorry for snapping at you earlier augutus, I just rather not discuss my fish hubandry ideas with someone who doesn't like to think otherwise. Theirs lots to be learnt and I am willing to experiment. For those that don't think success is achieved in two years, what is success than. Getting them to spawn and raise the fries to adulthood? Get real!
i have seen this first hand in several tanks..last week was a good example..i drove to a guys house to get some frags..he had a 300+g with alot of fish..his tank was 7ft long..he had several different tangs in there..he had a hippo, naso, yellow, 2 purples, chevron, Bristletooth?, and 2 powder blues..the PB's were added 2-3 days before..they had open wounds all over them and never once stopped chasing each other!!!! he expected one to be dead within a day..it was really sad...it's not that people are thinking "out of the box", but just trying to share personal experiences and warn you of what will happen..do you have any idea how many thousands of folks have tried it and failed before????.if it could be done in a smaller tank, i can assure you that you would be seeing it on my webpage..i love powder blues, but i know that it would be a disater to try it..
If we wanted to give all the room that they need, we might as well leave everything in the ocean. There is never enough room for these fish, so stop trying to push this fact. This same tank a few months ago had a sohal, powder blue, naso, hippo, yellow, purple, chevron, and some other smaller fishs. This was the population for a year and a half. No sustaining problems while they were living together, every fish did it's own thing and lived as happily as I can tell. But of course that is no success unless it's ten years long according to some people.
