Tangs, also known as Surgeonfish, are consistently one of the favourite fish kept by hobbyists. In this brief blog post let's quickly talk about Tangs and their care requirements.
Tangs are one of typical reef fish which people think of when they think of coral reefs, for us that often translates into a fish which is a must have for our aquariums. They also offer a lot of personality, colour and movement to our reef tanks which just increases their desirability too however we should be aware of some of the critical care requirements which accompany this fish. Let's talk through some of the main considerations to make when thinking about keeping Tangs.
Swimming Space.
I resisted the urge to simply write aquarium size here because whilst having an aquarium large enough to house a Tang is itself a fundamental care requirement, what is critically important here is the swimming space available to the fish. We often describe minimum aquarium sizes in litres/gallons or length but really an aquarium with lots of volume in the sump and little in the display is no good, nor is lots of volume but little space due to maybe the rockscape or the aquarium being tall and thin. We should therefore use these metrics as guidelines and look at our aquariums whilst asking ourselves, is there enough space for a fully grown Tang to swim freely and display its natural behaviours? If the answer is anything other than yes then we should maybe consider whether a Tang is appropriate.
Tang on Tang aggression.
Tangs can be known to be bullies, especially if they are housed in aquaria which restricts their movement or territory. Tangs can show particularly strong aggressive behaviour to other Tangs of the same species. This is also extended to fish of the same shape and colour. Sometimes, if a Tang is well established it can be aggressive to any species of Tang newly added to an aquarium. How do we deal with this? Careful stocking is always important. Choosing fish which are different enough from each other to diffuse aggression and a carefully considered order of introducing the fish will help reduce any conflicts. Introducing the most aggressive dominating fish last will give more timid fish the chance to establish themselves and find territories of their own.
Feeding.
Tangs are algae grazers in the wild and require a proportion of their diet to be 'greens' in order to stay healthy. This can be great for us because they can help us to keep on top of nuisance algae growing in the display but this should be augmented with sea weed offerings such as Nori. There are also pellet options for algae grazers which can certainly be incorporated into the feeding plan however there really is nothing better than providing a food source which promotes natural feeding like seaweed.
Big eaters, Big waste.
Tangs are often fondly referred to as pigs of the reef on account of their insatiable appetite for algae. Tangs with fat bellys.. like pigs.. are not uncommon and a fat Tang in a hobbyists reef tank is indicative of a well looked after fish. A result of heavy eating however is a heavy amount of waste. If we want to keep Tangs then we need to consider whether or not our filtration system can handle it. Good circulation to stop waste settling on the sand bed and good skimming is probably essential for keeping good water clarity with Tangs.
Ich magnets.
Due to their small scales and thin slime coat, Tangs are magnets for parasite infections and other afflictions. Water clarity is therefore really important and managing stress levels by keeping fish aggression to a minimum will all help towards keeping your fish parasite free. There is always a risk with Tangs though that when you introduce them to your aquarium or when you introduce a new fish to your aquarium with a pre-existing Tang that your fish may contract a parasite or infection. Good feeding, low stress levels and good water conditions all help to reduce this risk so it's important to stay on top of those factors when keeping Tangs.
All in all, the points above may seem doom and gloom but really they are key points for us as hobbyists to be aware of in order to provide a safe and happy environment for our fish friends to live happily. If you have the space and setup to keep a Tang then they are a great addition to a reef tank, with many colours and great personalities they really do become pets sooner than you think! Have a browse through the Tangs on the site here or pop into store to see them in the displays, coral tables and fish system.. we love them too!