FishProfiles.com Message Forums

What are your personel opinions of purple tangs? Is it a good fish, is it tough to feed, is it agressive etc.
It sounds like it isnt agressive and is reef safe. id love to here your opinion! thanx!!



>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

We've had a couple of these at work, one happened to stay quite some time, because he was a bit pricey. It was a very nice specimen though, and well worth the money. It ate from my fingers, and wasn't mean to the clowns or anyone else he was housed with. Tough as nails too, it survived a pretty nasty ich outbreak when the UV sterilizers went bad.

The other that was in wasn't quite as personable, but still ate well, but left the store quick, so I don't think it had a great chance to settle in. They seem kinda comparable to yellow tangs IMO. Overall I think they can be lovely fish.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thank you very much for your opinion!

purple tang good: 1
to
purple tang bad: 0

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

I forgot to mention that they do get pretty big, bigger than the yellow tangs...so think about giving them 100+ gallons as adults.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Purple tangs are nice-looking and to me seem fairly hardy for a tang, but these fish are usually pretty expensive. If you want a purple tang, be prepared to pay top dollar or at least middle dollar for even a small specimen. Purple tangs grow large, too. They get along pretty well with non-tangs, though I wouldn't keep more than one together. All in all, pretty much the same stuff Mattyboom said.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

mattyboombatty,
so you do not think a 55 would be big enuff for this tang?

and if its a too small of a tank for the purp. tang, would a yellow tank be better?

thanx

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

no a 55g wouldnt be enough for a purple tang and not for a yellow either for the purple tangs i recomend a 100+g tank for 1 and for a yellow tang i would recomend a 75+g tank for one.

how big does a yellow tang get. and what other tang options do i have?

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

There aren't any good permanent tang options for a 55G tank. If you get a small one and move to a larger tank when it hits 4 inches or so then you might be ok, but I think it's always stressful on fish to move tanks, so I'd avoid it if possible.

For cool fish check out the wrasses. Six and twelve lines are neat, flasher wrasses, and other small wrasses would be perfect. Clowns and such would do well in that size tank too. You have plenty of options for a 55, tangs just don't happen to be one of them.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

any bigger fish for my tank that would look good?

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

A 55 gallon is a relatively small tank even though it is 4' long. That doesn't really provide enough swimming space for many of the larger fish.

In an established tank, I'd say *maybe* you could attempt some of the hardier anthias.

I think everyone from the surgeonfish family is out.

Are you interested in dwarf or pygmy angels? The flame angel is a gorgeous specimen I'm sure you'd like.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Well, he did ask that it be reef-safe so angels could pose a problem there. Everything depends on the species and circumstances, but they certainly have the potential to be destructive.

I like hawkfish myself, the flame and longnose are largish species which are reef-safe. Don't count on any small crustaceans or snails surviving long, though.

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

ok thanx im not a big fan of hawk fish though. Any angels that would be reef safe im shure there is one.

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

anyone ???

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

I can't think of any guaranteed reef safe angels. I'd say the dwarf angels are your best bets, and those are something like a 50/50 shot they might eat your corals. You can always try a dwarf like a flame, potters, or coral beauty. But don't say nobody warned you.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

nah im not gonna risk it...
What are your (anyone) personell preferances for a reef safe fish for a 55 gal. ?


>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

You could prolly get away with a 6line.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

yeah they arent to bad i wouldnt mind one


>>>----> <----<<<

pnh

If you don't mind a feisty fish, and one that will place restrictions on future inmates, Dottybacks could be the answer. Small, hardy, VERY colourful, but ... the BIG but is aggression. In a 55, you'd only be able to have one, and from that point on you'd be stuck with a restricted range of companions that could live with the Dottyback. Which is a shame, because in other respects they're good fishes - tough and in some cases, will spawn in captivity.

Now here's another alternative to look up that you probably weren't expecting, and like most other Serranids (other than the Anthias of course), it's pretty hardy. Hypoplectrus gemma, the Blue Hamlet, is that much treasured rarity, a grouper that stays small! Reaching just 11 cm SL, it's a shimmering blue gem of a fish, and one that will probably prove very adaptable to your setup. However, 11 cm is still a fair amount of marine fish in your setup, so you might find your fish numbers are reduced if you go with the Blue Hamlet, even if it doesn't place too many restrictions on which species you keep with it. Look this one up - it may be the answer you're looking for ... ?


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

thanks but i found a fish for me, a long nose hawk fish (oxycirrhites typus)

>>>----> <----<<<

pnh