Northern Lights Aquatics Fish Keepers Forum

Fish are so much fun! It can be relaxing to watch them swim and play - unless you get some of the more aggresive species, and it's great to see the circle of life in your own living room.

This is a picture of our Yellow Tang, conveniently named Tang (she was named Tain, and her tank mate was named Puddin - as in "What's your name?" "Puddintain, ask me again and I'll tell you the same." but no one in MN had heard about that so they called her Tang)

Tang came with our saltwater set up, and I'm really glad that she did, because we probably wouldn't have gotten a yellow tang otherwise.

Most people suggest that you not get a Tang unless you have a 75 gallon tank, and we bought her in a 55 gallon.

We bought Tang home in a 5 gallon bucket, and when we got home we did not think that she was going to survive long because she was lying on her side.

Fortunatley after we got her old tank set up in her new home and transferred her into the aquarium everything she was fine.

We found out that Yellow Tangs are also called Surgeonfish.

Why, you ask?

There is a little white spike on either end of their tails.

When they are threatened the will lie on their sides, and flip their tail and their spike up.

Rumor has it that they can do some damage, fortunately I've never experienced that myself, and I hope I never do.

Tangs are known as the canaries in the coal mines of the sea - if your Tang is acting up you can bet that there is something going on in the fish tank, even if the other fish haven't been affected yet.

Tang loves to hide in a little cave that's made of live rock, and we know that if she starts hiding more than usual we've been slacking in the water change department.

As soon as we get her some fresh water she's back to her old self in no time.