Ctenochaetus tangs? are they good in reef tanks

shane 1111 · #1 09/08/2005, 08:44 AM

i have manly LPS corals and i love tangs.
are Ctenochaetus tangs safer than Zebrasoma tangs?
i want to put one in my 75g tank.
should i try one. i don't want to take a large chance.

dirtyreefer · #2 09/08/2005, 10:41 AM

Zebra tangs are very good reef fishes, why wouldn't you add one of those?

Kole tangs are a good choice as well for Ctenochaetus tangs.

shane 1111 · #3 09/08/2005, 11:02 AM

Zebrasoma are known to eat lps corals. many people see them eat there prized corals. or nip them.

ozadars · #4 09/08/2005, 11:02 AM

They are both reef safe. Tangs can pick on corals rarely and they usually just pick on one type of coral in the tank.

shane 1111 · #5 09/08/2005, 11:07 AM

I don't want them nipping any thing

dirtyreefer · #6 09/08/2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shane 1111
Zebrasoma are known to eat lps corals. many people see them eat there prized corals. or nip them.

I think this is an extremely rare case. They may try to sample the coral [b]once[/], but they are herbivores and should not constantly try to ravage the coral.

Angels on the other hand, pick on LPS corals and can eventually kill them. Zebras 99% of the time won't.

shane 1111 · #7 09/08/2005, 12:40 PM

it is actually common in LPS tanks

jda · #8 09/08/2005, 02:47 PM

You can find somebody who will tell you that they had this or that fish nip on a coral. The only way that you can avoid it is by not having fish... or maybe just damsels.

Zebra and Bristletooth tangs are good choices. Sailfins, PBT and Hippo go bad more than the others do when they grow.

Kahuna Tuna · #9 09/08/2005, 06:07 PM

A kole tang is the best bet for a 75 reef, they stay smaller than just about any tang and are among the best algae eaters. They are beautiful, peaceful for a tang and pretty hardy as well. I've not heard many stories of a bristletooth nipping corals. HTH

dirtyreefer · #10 09/08/2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shane 1111
it is actually common in LPS tanks

How do you know? Personal experience?

My personal experience is no, it is not common

emerald chondro · #11 09/08/2005, 11:02 PM

never seen a Zebrasoma bother any LPS...I work in a fish store. I have seen a blue regal tang that ate Xenia, which they typically don't do. I would say that you are pretty safe with a Zebrasoma in any reef, though apparently there can be the one fish that doesn't do what it is supposed to.

shane 1111 · #12 09/09/2005, 06:48 AM

all my friends have had a $20 tang eat a $200 coral.

utah024 · #13 09/09/2005, 11:22 AM

corals probably died of something else and the tangs fed on algae growing over them or on the dead tissue..honestly there might be a few tangs out there who will take a nip here or there, but none that I've ever seen are like butterflies or large angels, which can cause enough trouble to kill an entire colony. I have worked in a fish store for three years and have never seen a Zebrasoma tang bother anything in a reef. Just my experience...I would not hesitate to put either a Zebrasoma or a Ctenochaetus in a reef...that being said, a Ctenochaetus would probably be better for your 75, because they tend to stay smaller and need less swimming room because they are constantly grazing.

dirtyreefer · #14 09/09/2005, 12:10 PM

Don't bother with any fish then, since no fish is really "reef safe" then.

shane 1111 · #15 09/09/2005, 02:40 PM

jaw fish are
gobys are
cardinals are
gramas are.
i have see them bite into the tissue and eat it. the people would know if it was dead lps are very fleshy corals
store exp does not count. if that is true than gonopora is easy to keep because it lives for 6 months and the place that sells it does not know when it dies after that 6.
do all your tangs at the store live with corals?

dirtyreefer · #16 09/09/2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shane 1111
jaw fish are
gobys are
cardinals are
gramas are.

I'm not sure why you're asking whether you can keep certain tangs when you are pretty sure that they all nip at corals. You seem to know all about what fish you can keep and what you can't, so why bother asking people then and just get one of the fish you listed above?

emerald chondro · #17 09/09/2005, 05:44 PM

yea stores have display tanks that have corals and fish in them long term...as in for years. We have had yellows, purples, scopas, you name it, all with softies, LPS and SPS...no nipping

shane 1111 · #18 09/09/2005, 06:10 PM

i keep corals like this.
and i have all the fish i listed.
i am asking because all the things i have herded were tangs from the Zebrasoma genus.

GovtCheese · #19 09/10/2005, 01:53 AM

some of my tangs (Sohal, Hippo, Purple, Yellow) will take an occasional nip at my corals...

my resolution was to place the coral in inaccessible areas to the fish (ex. close to the surface, or surround coral w/ tall rocks)