Has anyone got a group of PB tangs?

[ronj]

well it sounds like you already know it all then!! good luck

 

[supafly]

I would not try less than 4. Crowding is the key and introducing them all at once is another. You will have very little success introducing a pair into an establish environment. Besides, a pair doesn't have the same visual affect as a group 5 or 6, I wouldn't bother with a pair. In a 300g, I would house atleast 8 of them. I hope that don't all kill each other like you think.

 

[ronj]

i understand where you are coming from..i too love these fish!! if i thought it possible, i would be the first to tell you to go for it, but it just isn't a good idea..PB's are pretty aggresive fish... i hope they work out.. that would be really cool!!!!!!

 

[supafly]

Too cool. I've never seen a group of pb's before so I don't know what their behavoir is like. I had single pb for a year and a half and I didn't think it was any more aggressive than my yellows or purple. Nothing beats the Sohal, that's the devil....and if anyone tries them, I would seriously think they are insane.

 

[morgan]

who here has tryed or knows sum one whos cousins brothers girlfriends brother did it....no one i reackon if u got the money to do it and the determination more power to u buddy
as for how long it will take to see if this has worked with succsuess i would say a couple months hell ever a week if u dont lose any and i hope u dont i know what u mean about leaving stuff in the ocean i live really close to alot of reef formations ive taken stuff its lived its died and stuff has flourished
there may be alot of nay sayers and people who know other ise but they havent done its just a pipe dream to many before i stumbled in to my first saltwater lfs i had alot of diving expeirence and never thought u could keep anything from the ocean alive in captivite in a home aquarium
if u dont do who eles will try no one because look at all this negetivite here
i wish u all the best and dont have 50 people saying I TOLD U SO
best of luck supafly im sure u could be supatang with any luck

 

[Hoopsguru]

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.

This is usually an argument put forth by those looking to do something inadvisable. The true answer is quite the contrary, many people, including folks on this and other fish forums have had (or are still having) success keeping fish species for their full lifespans. This indicates that the necessary housing, diet, and social needs are properly met. To go even further, when given the appropriate environment, many of our fish/corals in conscientious systems actually get to live their full lives where they easily could have been prey in the wild. The open ocean is not a kind place where all animals grow old and fat in peace and harmony.

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.

If you think it is "unprecedented", take five minutes and go to www.wetwebmedia.com and browse a few of the email questions in the surgeonfish links with people trying to stuff them into a system. For years, this has amounted to "been there, done that.....failure". You are really only pleading a case of ignorance as there is no other way to describe it.

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!

What is success? Success would be providing the ideal environment where a fish can reach maturity. You seem to put a lot of weight on the fact you were able to keep several yellow tangs for 2 years but this really doesn't prove anything. Juvenile fish often will not fight with their own species because they have not yet matured to where they claim a territory. Once you are dealing with sexual maturity you are in for a lot of trouble with both aggression and the immense amount of bioload from having fish in your tank that may reach 10". Although, I have the likely impression that you will sell off this lot of fish too after a short time...claiming "success" because none had perished short term.

In regards to prior questions from Steve, you have not yet detailed how you determined "success" with your yellows after two years.

From the viewpoint of anybody doing any actual experimentation, studies, etc. to further the hobby, the presentation of this as such is absolutely silly. I would have more respect (although still little for the deliberate ignorance of hobby information) if it was simple stated that "I want to see first hand what happens when you...." as opposed to hiding it under the guise of research.

 

[DonW]

Funny conversation, I'll give my 2 cents worth. PB are not schooling like Steve said. They move in groups to diffent food sources but that is not schooling.
Can they be kept in a group in a small aquarium. For the most part I'd say its a coin toss and all about luck. That being said My buddy has 9pb and 3 yellows in a 75 aga, not a reef just dead white display aquarium. They have been there as long as I can remember i'd guess 6 or 7 years. Then on the other hand Ive never been able to keep a single one alive for a extended period of time.
Should someone try this. Moraly I'd say no, financially I'd say no but I'm more incline to keep fish that are close to a sure thing.

Don

 

[steve-s]

Excellent replies all!!

I would add more but I think the important issues have been asked/answered. I do not want a good discussion to dwindle down to the nitty gritty so I hope we can leave this here. I think Don's last sentence sums it up nicely!

 

[supafly]

Thanks for sharing Don, that's really someting. It's giving me more motivation to go ahead with my group. Can you share some details about your buddy's group.