Convict Tang

[ox5477]

Anyone have these guys? Saw on Blueplanet on Animal planet and looks awesome schooling together. Wondering if anyone has any experience with them and has any info about them for the future when I may try a large marine tank. I would assume not reef safe? I know can't go with other species of tang but what else might be good tankmates/corals (if reefsafe) to go with these guys?

 

[krosebush]

I do not have one but was thinking about getting one for my reef tank. This species of tang grows to about 10" total length and needs a tank of at least 70 gallons, but probably best to keep it in a tank of at least 5' in length. They are also known for schooling in very large displays. Convicts will most likely be picked on by other tangs that reside in the tank, and if you're going to be putting more than one tang in the tank introduce them at the same time to avoid any troubles. As far as other inhabitants, I would recommend clownfish, reef-safe wrasse, chromis, basslets, dwarf angels (be careful w/ reef), anthias, gobies, blennies, cardinals, etc.

Here are some good sites to look around at:

www.liveaquaria.com

www.marinedepotlive.com

www.vividaquariums.com

www.exoticfish.com

Any questions, just ask.

 

[Lynden]

I do not have one but was thinking about getting one for my reef tank. This species of tang grows to about 10" total length and needs a tank of at least 70 gallons, but probably best to keep it in a tank of at least 5' in length. They are also known for schooling in very large displays. Convicts will most likely be picked on by other tangs that reside in the tank, and if you're going to be putting more than one tang in the tank introduce them at the same time to avoid any troubles. As far as other inhabitants, I would recommend clownfish, reef-safe wrasse, chromis, basslets, dwarf angels (be careful w/ reef), anthias, gobies, blennies, cardinals, etc.

Here are some good sites to look around at:

www.liveaquaria.com

www.marinedepotlive.com

www.vividaquariums.com

www.exoticfish.com

Any questions, just ask.

Now that was helpful

However, if you're going to add more than a Convict, let the Convict get established before adding the second tang, instead of introducing them together.

Convict Tangs are excellent fish for an aquarium, but they must be given plenty of vegetable matter. In the wild (which I have seen... ) they will amass in enormous schools, overwhelming Acanthurus and even Naso tangs as they demolish fields of algae.

In Hawai'i, I observed a Convict that had somehow found it's way into a lightly brackish Koi pond apparently he liked it, too, choosing to stay there instead of swimming through a small channel that led to the ocean. Maybe he liked the lack of competition. There sure is alot of Tangs in Hawai'i.

-Lynden

 

[ox5477]

Thanks for the info guys! I wasn't really sure if I was even gonna get any hits about them as I haven't heard anybody talk aout them on TFF before. I did actually hear that they like to school and yes, adding them together is the best method... and I saw them demolish the algae fields and overwhlem the other tang too on Blueplanet.... quite impressive plus I just like their coloration.

So awesome... maybe one day when I start a reef say maybe 150G I'll put 3 or 4 of these guys and would make an interesting school of tangs that swim around my reef

Thanks again guys