Originally Posted by naesco (Post 845340)

You are dead wrong.
Yes a tang will not grow to its adult size in a 45 gallon tank. The reasons are two (at least)

I might add that I am really disappointed. We have a new reefer here who unknowingly is making the typical mistakes. Instead of confirming Myka's adivice which you know is right, you post this nonsense which makes new reefers think that it is ok to put tangs and rabbitfish in 45 gallon tanks.
You know Myka is right so let the OP know you agree with her.

Originally Posted by albert_dao (Post 845336)

MOST fish grow to the size of their tank. Tangs and rabbitfish are inclusive rather than exclusive to this rule. There are exceptions to like Elasmobranchs, remoras and other pelagic species.

Originally Posted by Myka (Post 845384)

Please do some research on the impact that stunted growth has on lifespan. You will have to hunt around, the information is mostly hidden in scholarly articles and most of the articles refer to freshwater fish which information may or may not also be true for saltwater fish. The trouble is, there aren't really any studies or published articles out there directly relating to this question, more that they have comments within their studies. Good luck!

Originally Posted by naesco (Post 845340)

You are dead wrong.
Yes a tang will not grow to its adult size in a 45 gallon tank. The reasons are two (at least)

1.You stunt the fish which means that you cause it stress which is multiplied if there are other fish in the the tank. It is our responsibility as hobbyists to provide optimum conditions for the fish that we choose to remove from the ocean. We can provide a suitable sized tank.
2. You cannot reasonably feed a tang in a 45 gallon tank as you would pollute it with ammonia far too quickly. What some keepers of SPC and other fragile coral do is cut back on the food which reduces the ammonia and provides minimum food for the fish. That is the second reason they do not grow.

I might add that I am really disappointed. We have a new reefer here who unknowingly is making the typical mistakes. Instead of confirming Myka's adivice which you know is right, you post this nonsense which makes new reefers think that it is ok to put tangs and rabbitfish in 45 gallon tanks.
You know Myka is right so let the OP know you agree with her.

Originally Posted by albert_dao (Post 845400)

I am not morally obligated to keep them alive for the entire "possible" duration of their lifespan no more than I am morally obligated to leave them in the ocean.

Again, how many dinner plate sized powder blues/yellow tangs are sitting in people's tanks?

Originally Posted by Myka (Post 845403)

Oh you're very right, most people don't keep them alive long enough for them to be "dinner plate-sized". :wink:

I didn't say anything about moral obligation.

Originally Posted by Vancity (Post 844935)

I have 3 Glass Cardinals. They school together, eat together and have perhaps problems together?

Fins:
1. pieces of their fins go missing... then grow back
2. pieces of their fins go white... then it disappears
3. Pieces of their fins look like they're eroding... then grow back
4. the soft tissue between the tiny bones in their fins separates... then they grow back together

Skin:
1. sometimes white fleshy sores appear on their sides... then next week they're healed and fine

And finally, one of them in particular over the last month has developed a LARGE CHIN. The first time it happened for 3 days, then again it happend for 4 days. During this large chin phase it doesn't eat, it chases food like its going to eat it but then just watches it fall??? The other 2 eat just fine.

An ideas or advice? Discuss? I keep thinking about posting as i haven't found any info searching

Originally Posted by Rice Reef (Post 845348)

I would like to apologize to the OP for having to read his comments. Most people on Can Reef do not throw their authoritarian attitudes around here and are infact, very friendly and helpful.

This is a hobby and we are all here to inform and learn but when someone throws their opinion out in such a bullish manner I do not tolerate it regardless who is right and who is wrong. Something like this could have been discussed privately and if you are going to make it public at least be considerate of others.

Reading this makes me sick and it really takes the fun and interest out of the hobby. You are probably right but to call someone out like that in a public is just down right mean.