Oh for sure. I agree that in general any of our tanks are way too small. I meant more like, can they be content. Can they feel secure and enjoy their existence. I know neither of us can say yes or no to that question. Some folks are only content traveling the world and every crevice of every cave imaginable. Others are content sitting at home playing games inside a bedroom. The human emotion side of me is curious if they too can feel content as well in a different environment.
Totally agree with you! It's that weird section of my brain that wants to humanize our pets that makes me curious if they can express gratitude or appreciation. Can they become calmer than is typically experienced because of factors within our control? Maybe specific environments in our setups can help them feel safer and allow for more harmony.
I have zero experience with tangs, so I'm just learning. But I definitely have seen some gut wrenching tank setups where it just made me sad. So my approach is to try and make them "happy" as best as I can tell from my observations.
6' 180gal currently with 3 acanthurus

(Lieutenant, Orange Shoulder, and a Convict) and a Scopus. They came from the tank breakdown as a group where they all got along. They were introduced together from previous owner and came with me together, where they continue to get along great from what I have observed. I have a blue-eyed Kole that has been hanging out in a much too small of a holding tank. I've tried to sell him because I got nervous about adding it to this group. But I was thibking it is the only genus not represented in this tank. So I was thinking about adding him. I also have a couple smaller koles (2-3" juveniles) inside other tanks with the hopes of growing them out and introducing them into other tanks.
Here is another observation I have seen. Using larger tangs in frag systems as utility fish? Seeing kole tangs or other species in 50-60 gallon frag tanks? I would have assumed that is quite frowned upon, but yet I see it. We just accept it because they're just workers and not display fish? Would it be ok to put a 4-5" kole into a 50gal frag tank to put in some work? IDK...