Tang Growth

[don.ald]

Same here, my yellow tangs seem to stay the same size.
I have kole tangs and one was quite small but it's growth has been very minimal...hardly noticeable.
Years ago I purchased a Juvie shoulder tang and it grew no more than two inches, if that, as it matured and grew the shoulder stripe.

[Myka]

Most of the "smallish" tangs grow fairly slow. The bigger ones I've seen many grow real fast, like Hippos, Unicorns, Sohols, Vlamingis, Clowns, Nasos, Sailfins, Achilles. I have seen a 10 year old Hippo tang that was only 5" or so, but it was not in good condition. It does seem that (dare I say it) fish kept in smaller tanks tend to grow slower.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

Sailfins, Achilles.

I've got both of these, no growth in 3 years.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've got both of these, no growth in 3 years.

I have a Milli frag with no growth in 2 1/2 years. That doesn't mean Millis don't grow.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

I have a Milli frag with no growth in 2 1/2 years. That doesn't mean Millis don't grow.

Is that one of those things where if I twist my head just right it might make sense??

Having owned dozens of tangs over 15 years, in various size tanks, and not a single one has grown in length tells me there may be a pattern to this. And while some report some tangs growing, most mirror my experiences. In fact, other than clowns and a couple damsels, I've never had a fish grow in length.

My point to all this is the speculation that a tang will outgrow a given tank. IME, if you buy a 3 inch YT and put it a 75g, it isn't going to outgrow it, usually.

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

My point to all this is the speculation that a tang will outgrow a given tank. IME, if you buy a 3 inch YT and put it a 75g, it isn't going to outgrow it, usually.

My 3" sailfin did fine in that 75g for something close to 8 or 9 years. Towards the end maybe there was a size issue but he never seemed distressed or uncomfortable to me. I wouldn't have purchased him at that larger size and put him in the 75g, but having grown up into the tank seems to have made a difference maybe.

Thing is though I think there is a time that a fish does stop if not significantly slowdown its growth. If you purchase after that point then conceivably that's going to be their size permanently. It would be interesting to observe if a change in environment can trigger a new growth phase though (ie., transferring to a much larger tank).

There must be something that influences growth rates though, there is just no comparison to the sizes of fish in the wild (and large public aquaria) versus those in the hobby.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

It would be interesting to observe if a change in environment can trigger a new growth phase though (ie., transferring to a much larger tank).

Moving my YT from a 75 to a 90 then a 180 had no impact. I do think they grow in the first couple years then stop, regardless of environment. Although I've bought very small yellows and still nothing. Maybe I release FGI from my skin??

[reefme]

Me too. Max. I see is 4"-5". I buy small tangs 2" max. and see they grow.
If you have small tank they will stay small. If you have big tank they will grow big.

[MarkoD]

After 2 years my Achilles is still the same size as the day I got him. And he's in a large tank and constantly grazing

[marie]

I have a yellow tang that might have grown an inch in 7 yrs and had an achilles tang that grew from 3" to 10 " in less then 3 yrs.

Right now I have a Naso that has grown approx 4" in less then a year, a powder blue that has barely grown half an inch and a bristlemouth that started out smaller then the powderblue and is now easily twice the size......in my experience there is no rhyme or reason to fish growth