2 Tangs - Good idea? Bad idea? Terrible idea?

[beej210]

I have a Tideline 62 AIO tank. It's 48.5" long, 18.5" wide, and 16" high.

Currently I have 2 black ice clowns, 2 PJ cardinals (which I don't like and want to rehome), a watchman goby, and lawnmower blenny. Tank is 2.5 months old and currently going through the ugly phase.

Of course my wants are larger than the tank. I would love some larger fish which just isn't in the cards. I really really want a yellow tang. I was going to settle for a bristletooth because supposedly it's the only one that will "fit" in my tank.

My LFS (they are just a husband and wife and have their store in an office building - they QT all their fish and refuse to sell me things they don't think I can keep) said if I get a very small captive yellow tang from biota and introduce him at the same time as a small bristletooth I'll be fine. Yes the yellow would outgrow the tank, but that would likely be in 3-5 years and by then I may have a larger tank. If I don't then it's an investment because nobody carries large yellow tangs and I could sell it for around $550.

So that made my day that I could get both. They currently have a two-spot or tomini that I actually think is pretty. It's body is a lighter color and not very dark like a lot of the ones I've seen.

So I really want to buy both fish. Of course AI (gpt, gemini, etc) are all saying it's a terrible idea and will be a disaster. They will fight and my tank will wind up with ich and velvet.

So what say the team here? Is this a decent idea? Terrible idea?

 

[christinna77]

My Biota YT almost tripled in size in like 6 months. I fed him really well, very healthy fish overall, but I could see him being unhappy in my 75g. He wanted to swim a lot and started being a butt to my other fish. I'll never put another Zebrasoma tang into such a small tank. So, I don't think you'd have 3 years, and I'd definitely not get two tangs. One Tomini tang could work though...

 

[exnisstech]

I keep a wild yellow and a two spot bristletooth. They were in a 36x22x22" tank for almost 3 years and got along great. The only other fish are a sixline and an electric blue damsel. I did try adding a coral beauty once and the two spot was having no part of it so I haven't tried adding anything other fish. I recently moved into a 48x22x22" tank.

You never know how things will work out tho so it's good to have an exit plan if you decide to give it try. I keep 9 tangs in another tank but I've never kept a tomini, I've read some get mean.

 

[mfinn]

I think you could get away with keeping the 2 tangs in your tank. I have not kept a bristletooth with a yellow before, so researching that part is up to you.
Like you said, maybe just the 1.
One thing I think you need to reconsider is your plan to sell a large yellow tang and expect to get $550.
With the captive bred tangs in abundance, yellow tangs are much cheaper than they were a few years ago.
Sometimes thinking you can sell a fish when it gets larger, for more than you paid for it when it was small can come back and bite you in the butt.

 

[Marco_99]

That $550 dollar pipe dream of selling a Biota yellow is going off rare wild Hawaiian yellow tang prices and in no way says that’s the market. Any day of the week anybody, anywhere, can get their hands on a Biota captive bred yellow for $185-$200

 

[Uncle99]

That’s fine, the yellow and the Bristletooth, they go good together. I have these plus a copperband in a 65g.

My Biota is 3 years old and has changed much lately holding at 4” he grew fast from 1-1/2” but has definitely slowed down.

Never a guarantee in this hobby, but has worked years for me so clearly possible.

Enjoy…good luck…..both in at once.

 

[beej210]

Thanks everyone! And to clarify about the $550 comment..... I know anyone can get their hands on a captive Biota yellow for much much less. But the LFS comment was specifically that there are people out there who don't want to wait years for a small captive bred tang to grow. And you're not going to get a captive biota tang that's already 5-6". Either way - personally I don't care if I have to give the fish away.... if I can get 3-5 years out of having him, I'm happy. If it's just 6 months before he outgrows the tank, I'm really not happy.

Next question - the LFS has had the bristletooth for a while now. At least a month in their display tank after spending at least 2 weeks in quarantine. So I'm sure he's healthy. The Biota Yellow's are being shipped as we speak. Do I make them medicate and wait 2 weeks before I pickup the yellow tang? LFS and from what I've read here - anything that's a captive bred Biota has an almost 0% chance of being sick. Is that right?

 

[braaap]

4 or 5 tangs is the correct answer. More the better.

 

[christinna77]

I just wanna say that I tried to rehome my YT for almost two months... I was extremely surprised nobody wanted to pay $250, which is what I originally paid for him. No way to make any profit there, I actually lost $$ rehoming him and I even had to ship him, even though I live in a very large city...

Just something to keep in mind. You may not be able to find someone willing to pay that much, so be ready to account for that loss ahead of time - do not keep an unhappy fish in your tank just because you can't make the $$ back.

Also, I'd never trust an LFS to QT properly (unless it's one of the vendors that quarantines fish, like Dr. Reef or Marine Collectors), and always do your own. And make sure to add those tangs as last fish to your tank.

 

[Marco_99]

Biota prefers you float temp acclimate the bag and put the fish in the tank minus the bag water. They aren’t big fans of harsh chemicals or medications on their fish right out of the bag. You do you

 

[Marco_99]

I just wanna say that I tried to rehome my YT for almost two months... I was extremely surprised nobody wanted to pay $250, which is what I originally paid for him. No way to make any profit there, I actually lost $$ rehoming him and I even had to ship him, even though I live in a very large city...

Just something to keep in mind. You may not be able to find someone willing to pay that much, so be ready to account for that loss ahead of time - do not keep an unhappy fish in your tank just because you can't make the $$ back.

Also, I'd never trust an LFS to QT properly (unless it's one of the vendors that quarantines fish, like Dr. Reef or Marine Collectors), and always do your own. And make sure to add those tangs as last fish to your tank.

That’s because most people want a baby fish because they’re putting them in these types of situations. A big mature fish either needs a big tank or it’s going in with other big fish so it can hang and not get wrecked.

 

[christinna77]

That’s because most people want a baby fish because they’re putting them in these types of situations. A big mature fish either needs a big tank or it’s going in with other big fish so it can hang and not get wrecked.

You're spot on! There were lots of people who weren't willing to pay more than $100 and who actually wanted to put him in the same size tank I had or even a smaller one. I had an impossible time finding anyone with a 120g+ tank.

 

[christinna77]

Here's a comparison for anyone interested to see how quickly they change size when well fed.

November 2025:


March 2026:

 

[beej210]

I appreciate all the comments and warnings around rehoming the fish, but that is not my primary concern.

My questions really are:
1. Will a bristletooth and a yellow tank get along if I add them at the same time?
2. Do we think initially it is a bad idea to add both of these to a 62 gallon tank - though it’s over 4’ long?
3. Any idea how long the yellow tank would flourish in the tank before outgrowing it?

Again, I’m not looking to stress out the fish and make them sick but if I can get 3 to 5 years with the yellow tank, I think it’s a win for me

 

[fish_collector]

A zebrasoma and a bristletooth would be fine together most of the time.

A reefing buddy of mine broke his tank down and offered me one of his 2 Hawaiian yellows for $100, I passed on the offer.

 

[BubbleBuddy]

I appreciate all the comments and warnings around rehoming the fish, but that is not my primary concern.

My questions really are:
1. Will a bristletooth and a yellow tank get along if I add them at the same time?
2. Do we think initially it is a bad idea to add both of these to a 62 gallon tank - though it’s over 4’ long?
3. Any idea how long the yellow tank would flourish in the tank before outgrowing it?

Again, I’m not looking to stress out the fish and make them sick but if I can get 3 to 5 years with the yellow tank, I think it’s a win for me

My recommendation is no but it looks like you’ve already decided so I’ll provide input.

1. Will a bristletooth and a yellow tank get along if I add them at the same time?

- It depends. They may be besties forever or mortal enemies within minutes, days, weeks, etc. I would recommend you have plenty of hiding spots and setup the aquascape to breakup the fish’s line of sight.

Tang aggression is the worst when they feel food is scarce. Lots of feedings and separate nori stations may help taper the aggression.

2. Do we think initially it is a bad idea to add both of these to a 62 gallon tank - though it’s over 4’ long?

- Bad idea but may work short term. How long depends on how the fish interact.

3. Any idea how long the yellow tank would flourish in the tank before outgrowing it?
- see response to first question

 

[christinna77]

I just don't think the two tangs are going to have enough natural grazing opportunities in a 2 month old 60g tank. If it were me, I'd get a single Tomini tang and wait to add more until I can upgrade, but it seems like I'm in the minority here and you really want that yellow tang.