I don’t get yellow tangs…

[Slocke]

Instant regret posting this. But since I can’t take it down. What would people pay for a yellow tang out of curiosity?



Personally there are a lot of yellow fish I see that are a tiny margin of the price. And similar tangs. So why pay hundreds or even thousands?? That’s my confusion I guess.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

 

[knockout]

I don't really see the point here, you don't like Yellow Tangs, I don't like Ferraris

 

[Bj’s Reef]

I agree, we all like different fish for different reasons. After all our tanks belong to us. So we get to like and keep what we like.

 

[TehBrainz]

I see your point for their current price point, but if they were at OG pricing (right before the ban) then I would've gotten one for a pop of yellow.

I do now have a Foxface that I much prefer, but as others said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I realllly enjoyed my tomini tang, even though their bodies are just gray with a couple white spots and their orange/white fins. As long as my tank has a diversity of colors and different shaped fish, I'm a happy camper

 

[Slocke]

I don't really see the point here, you don't like Yellow Tangs, I don't like Ferraris

beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Yeah you’re both right of course….

 

[Northern Flicker]

I just struggle with having them in a home aquarium for our own enjoyment - they seem very active and curious in videos I see of them in the wild. Some of these marathon swimmers just seem cramped in almost any tank!

 

[TehBrainz]

Yeah you’re both right of course….

We're all right in this discussion

 

[Slocke]

This all came from me seeing that thread about what Hawaiian fish would you get if they reopened and there are so many you can’t get at all. Not my photos

 

[sc50964]

Instant regret posting this. But since I can’t take it down. What would people pay for a yellow tang out of curiosity?



Personally there are a lot of yellow fish I see that are a tiny margin of the price. And similar tangs. So why pay hundreds or even thousands?? That’s my confusion I guess.

I agree. Never own a yellow tang & I also don’t get why purple & black tangs are popular. Maybe a little on the purple bc of its yellow tail but not the price.

 

[areefer01]

I just struggle with having them in a home aquarium for our own enjoyment - they seem very active and curious in videos I see of them in the wild. Some of these marathon swimmers just seem cramped in almost any tank!

Some question our hobby as it relates to keeping fish inside a confined box. Same people probably look the other way with cat or dog owners. The onus is on the hobbyist to do some homework and provide something comfortable as you know. So nothing new I am posting here I guess.

Below is the link to the Hawaii live stream for MEGA Lab. I'll throw it up on the set while I do some cleaning in that area of the house. Lots of fun to see the shoal of fish pass by. Every once in a while catch a turtle, moray, or octopus. My point, I guess if any, is that when looking at this in real time you see the movement of Yellow tangs. Always foraging.

No GPS trackers so not sure how far they roam...

Edit: I am only replying to the personal struggle comment and what crossed my mind - not saying anything else about it as we all do our best with our stocking list.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

A related question is why so many people choose a fish based largely on its color. That's barely a good reason to choose socks, even less so a living thing.

 

[TehBrainz]

A related question is why so many people choose a fish based largely on its color. That's barely a good reason to choose socks, even less so a living thing.

People have preferences on all aspects in their lives. If they're able to control it even to the most minute degree, a lot will. Coloration of cats and dogs can be a similar focus for some. I went with a lap cat, but if there are multiple lap cats at the shelter I would've gone on coloration

 

[UMALUM]

I think the point is valid...

20 years ago they were $19 and 3 for $49 on payday. If you had one or even multiples you were laughed at as a beginner or for just simply taking up valuable space in your reef. Now your lucky to get a faded inbred for a buck and a half. News break.. it's still the same old yellow tang no matter how much you paid for it. I understand that some people love them and that's perfectly fine. It's just the validation in some I find hilarious.

 

[Tamberav]

Instant regret posting this. But since I can’t take it down. What would people pay for a yellow tang out of curiosity?



Personally there are a lot of yellow fish I see that are a tiny margin of the price. And similar tangs. So why pay hundreds or even thousands?? That’s my confusion I guess.

Last I checked my LFS, they were around $100 for a biota captive one which is pretty average fish cost these days.

Saw some large ones local around $125-150 on Facebook.

I have a wild one I paid $60 for. Great algae eater and hasn’t been aggressive so I will keep it. Ate up my bryopis and dictyota so it’s pretty invaluable at this point.

Not a Tang person but went and bought him the day they said Hawaii closed because if I can’t have it, then I certainly want it! Bought a Kole too but he was a jerk and had to get the boot.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

I went with a lap cat, but if there are multiple lap cats at the shelter I would've gone on coloration

Not analogous. That's one species, and what's more a subset of that species (lap cat, vs show cat or mouser). That's a case in which there are multiple options that differ only in color (as in multiple examples of the same model and trim level and options list of new car, that differ only in paint and maybe interior color).

The choice between fish involves (should involve, anyway) temperament, CB/WC status, feeding needs, size, availability, overall hardiness, habitat usage, and so on. The issue of color ought to be at the end of a very long list of criteria, but way too often it is not, as exemplified by this comment that looks perfectly familiar:

Personally there are a lot of yellow fish I see that are a tiny margin of the price.

Basically: if what you want is a splash of yellow in the tank, why spend so much?

 

[Tamberav]

Forget the fact it is yellow, it is a zebrasoma that can fit in a smaller foot print than something like a Sailfin and it is generally less aggressive than a purple and costs less than a gem.

So even on paper not factoring in color, it seems like an attractive choice if a person wants a zebrasoma Tang.

 

[i cant think]

now this wrasse is one I would have even if their price went up to the yellow tang’s price (and I am aware they were once only just hitting the 100 mark). It’s one I’ll be after almost instantly if this Hawaii ban is finished.

Forget the fact it is yellow, it is a zebrasoma that can fit in a smaller foot print than something like a Sailfin and it is generally less aggressive than a purple and costs less than a gem.

So even on paper not factoring in color, it seems like an attractive choice if a person wants a zebrasoma Tang.

I guess I’m just not a fan of Tangs, I’ve found Yellows to be the problem in most tanks I’ve had them in at LFSs. And since having 3 tangs in my personal tanks I probably won’t own one unless it’s an Achilles or one of the other 3 I like - Achilles Hybrid, Powder Blue Hybrid and Gold Rim. They’re worth the aggression they come with, the others I’ve yet to find why their aggression is worth it.

 

[Borat]

You don't get the yellow tang just because you like it - you add it (possibly multiple tangs) because neighbor Bob has none and he would feel inferior when confronted with your superior tank..

 

[Paul B]

When the hobby started yellow tangs were one of the most common fish. Pretty cheap also. They are very common on the reefs but I was never a big fan of them.