You could easily add a clownfish or blue tang to a tiny 30-gallon tank set up on your study table. As the clock ticks away, you’d be captivated by their adventures and antics for hours.
Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? Is this possible? Are there more stars than wishes?
Let’s see what happens.
Can You Keep Clownfish And Blue Tang Together?
Technically speaking, it is possible to keep blue tang and clownfish together, as their geographic distributions in the wild overlap. They are able to live in the same water conditions. It’s not possible to replicate Pixar’s Nemo and Dory worlds in your aquarium.
Let’s not disappoint you anymore. First, let us see if their needs are compatible.
| Common Name | Ocellaris Clownfish | Blue Tang |
| Family | Pomacentridae | Acanthuridae |
| Temperature | 72.0 – 78.0 F | 72.0 – 78.0 F |
| pH Range | 8.10 – 8.40 | 8.10 – 8.40 |
| Alkalinity | dKN 8.00 – 12.00 | dKN 8.00 – 12.00 |
| Specific Gravity | sg 1.020- 1.025 | sg 1.020- 1.025 |
| Minimum Tank Size | 135 liters | 820 liters |
| Care Level | Moderate | Difficult |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
| Reef Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Water Flow | Moderate | Moderate |
As you can see, they both require the same water. Both fish are from the Indo-Pacific region, which is why their water requirements are identical.
Take a look at this video. It looks like something straight from a movie. It is, of course. But note that the clip was taken from a public aquarium. You know how large those things are.
Let’s now get to the reason why having clownfish and bluetang in one tank is a bad idea.
1996 was the year that I was born. This was also the year 101 Dalmatians was released. According to what I have heard, people literally ran to their local pet shop in a mad rush to purchase Lucky, Rolly and Patch.
There was one problem. Before purchasing a dog, people often forget to consider the unique temperament and needs of the breed.
You know what happened next? In the years that followed, thousands of dalmatians were placed in foster homes and shelters across the state. It was a tragic story.
But nope, we didn’t learn our lessons.
Similar events occurred to turtles during Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and to owls during Harry Potter.
As you may already know, the clownfish was the first to be featured in the marine fishkeeping hobby.
Over 40% more Nemos were ordered in orange and white stripes, which led to a decline in their numbers in the Philippines as well as Indonesia.
If you are thinking about buying blue Tangs, you have probably just seen Finding Dory.
Please don’t. The ecosystem, fish and you will all suffer.
We’re done with the blaming. Let’s get straight to the point.
It’s Not Ethically Right
Scientists quickly discovered the secrets to keeping them captive when Finding Nemo was first published. A good number of clownfish that are available today in the market were bred and born in captivity.
To this day, however, it has not been possible to successfully breed blue tangs in captivity. All Dorys in today’s trade were captured in the wild.
Experts warned that more than a quarter-million bluetangs were being caught every year from their homes on the reefs since Finding Dory was first released.
How are they caught? The fish is stunned when the fishermen spray cyanide on it or pump it into water.
According to some reports, juveniles are the most targeted because they flock to stony corals and can be caught in large groups.
It’s not just blue tangs who are affected. All other creatures that come in contact with this chemical are at risk of suffering organ failure and death.
Ocean acidification is also affecting coral reefs. You can see that no one wins in this situation.
Coral Reefs Need Blue Tangs
Blue tangs eat a lot of algae. It eats the wild coral reef algae. They are able to effectively nip and remove algae with their small, sharp teeth.
Blue tangs and other fish are vital cogs in the larger ecosystem. Without them, corals would become overgrown, choked, and eventually die. We can therefore conclude that blue Tangs are essential cogs in the larger ecosystem.
Coral reefs can be destroyed and have a lasting impact on civilization and our livelihood.
You Will Need A Very Big Tank
For clownfish, a tank of 30 gallons should be sufficient. These fish are tiny. Blue tangs require a much larger number. The minimum required volume is 180 gallons.
It measures 6 feet in length, 2 feet in width, and 2 feet high. It weighs over 1 ton when it is filled with water. It is so big!
These fish grow fast and large. In just two years, they can grow to almost one foot in length. They are also active swimmers. They need to be active all day.
Imagine yourself managing a 200-gallon saltwater aquarium every day. This is no easy task.
If you are still unsure, I will scare you. Blue tangs are more comfortable living in pairs or groups. To keep them happy, you’ll need a large tank.
Maintenance Will Be Difficult And Expensive
Although it may seem easy to mimic the ideal parameters for clownfish, maintaining a coral reef aquarium for blue tang fish can be difficult, especially if you are just starting out.
Blue tangs, like all fish, should be kept in environments that closely mimic their natural habitat. It means that you need to set up a 180-gallon coral tank.
It’s not necessary to tell you how difficult it is to maintain coral reef tanks. It will take you at least six months to cycle your tank before you can add your Dory.
Raising blue tangs, or salting the wound, is a costly hobby. You can purchase the fish for as low as $60 or even $250. This may not seem like much but it is important.
John Nixon, Captain Nemo’s Aquarium Superstore Pennsylvania says that setting up a blue-tang tank takes anywhere from $3000 to $10,000.
High-capacity equipment is required for large tanks. Upkeep will require more effort, time and money. These fish must be fed three times a day. Flake food is not enough. They require a meaty diet.
It’s going to be difficult to raise the tangs, both financially and in terms of maintenance.
If you are a beginner, I strongly suggest you drop the idea. You can instead try to raise saltwater fish like bluetangs by using a freshwater model.
Blue Tang May Transmit Ich
You would expect that the bluetang fish, for all the money that you will spend on it, would be as healthy as a horse. It is a beautiful and hardy fish.
Blue tangs are extremely vulnerable to marine ich, cryptocaryon irritations. Marine ich is a deadly parasite that has a complicated life cycle, making it difficult to eradicate.
The store can use all kinds of tricks, including copper and UV-based treatment to delay the inevitable. However, when the fish is moved into a new environment (aka the tank), it will contract ich 9/10 times.
You spent thousands of dollars buying a fish. The last thing you want is for it transmit deadly parasites on your other fish.
Once the parasite has burrowed into your fish’s skin you will be using a copper-based treatment. You can then say goodbye to your tank’s corals.
Blue Tang May Sting Your Clownfish
Clownfish can be considered semi-aggressive fish. Blue tangs are angry. They also have a weapon at their disposal.
An aquarium will be difficult for a wild-caught bluetang to adapt to. Due to its territorial and aggressive nature, it will be naturally frustrated, agitated and stressed.
There’s a good chance it will inflict an injury on your clownfish, with its razor-sharp spines.
Bottom line: A closed system such as a small aquarium will make clownfish frightened. The latter will live a poor and unhonorable life.
Final Words: Clownfish And Blue Tang
In 2016, Dory went from being a sidekick and became a protagonist. The lack of captive-bred options led collectors to purchase scores of blue Tangs from the wild, in a destructive and unregulated harvest.
To imitate the famous duo, it would be great to have clownfish and bluetang in the same tank. Blue tangs are not good pets for clownfish, but they make great pet fish.
Blue Tangs are not recommended for saltwater tank hobbyists who are willing to invest a lot of time, effort and money in raising them.
A beginner will find facts such as the fish’s need to have ample space, a voracious appetite and poisonous stings more than enough to make a U turn.