Delightful Nano Tang

[bonbon]

I don't have any questions,

I would just like to pay a tribute to the Nano Tang that I have in my tank.

He is so full of life, a beautiful fish, very bold and not shy,

He has given life to my tank and I think my Foxface likes him as well, they swim together all the time

[Ninong]

What's a "nano tang?"

[Ninong]

Advice you probably don't want to hear:

If we're talking about your new 55-gal tank, it's too small for any of the tangs and it's really too small for a Foxface Rabbitfish, too.

Many sources claim that a 75-gal tank is an acceptable minimum size for a Foxface Rabbitfish but I think this is too small. I have one in a 120-gal tank and, to be honest, I have to admit that it really should have a larger tank than that, probably 180 gallons would be a better minimum size for this fish. Mine is about 7.5" TL and I have had him for 2 years and 8 months now. He was a 3" TL juvenile when I got him.

Some people say that a 75-gal tank is an acceptable minimum size for a Yellow Tang. That's a close call but it might be OK for that one species. Personally, I haven't tried to keep any tangs in my 120-gal tank because I think something on the order of a standard sized, 6-ft long, 135-gal tank is a better minimum size for even the smaller species, like the Yellow Tang.

If your "nano" tang is really a "Naso" tang, then you're really in for a surprise. This species (usually Naso lituratus) requires a BIG tank. Anything less than 180 gallons is really too small by a country mile. Personally, I think they require at least a 240-gal tank but a 300-gal or larger tank would be better. All of the Naso tangs get big. In the wild they can get very big (2-ft or more). The maximum size for a N. lituratus in the wild is about 18". In most home aquaria, it rarely exceeds 10" but it still requires A LOT of open swimming space. That length is excluding the streamers.

[bonbon]

yes, it is a Naso Tang.
I went in to my LFS for a butterfly fish and came out with a Naso Tang.
Under my son's influence,
The LFS guy new what size tank it was to be housed in.
That is not an excuse, just what happened.
I came home to research him, and found out my 55 was WAY to small.
I won't be purchasing any more fish.
I do however plan on upgrading my tank next year when I move,
I will be getting the biggest I can get.
I'm thinking about 180 - 300.
I hope he will be o.k. until then?

[Ninong]

Yes, the Naso tang will probably be OK for another year or so. It all depends on how fast it grows and whether it starts to get too uptight about the small quarters. How big is it right now?

Good luck!



P.S. -- There are probably no butterflyfish that are suitable for a 55-gal tank.