3rd Tang

[kingfisherfleshy]

Hey guys, I am looking into getting a third tang to go with my paracanthurus and my zebrasoma.

The issue is, can I keep an acanthurus with a paracanthurus? I ask because of the similarity in body shape.

The first two tangs are a blue hippo and a purple tang. Now looking to possibly add a lieutenant, powder blue, naso, achilles, chevron, orange shoulder, clown, or a sohal.

Obviously only one of the above.

I am straying away from the naso and the sohal due to size, but just want to hear what the tang police has to say on the matter.

I am an experienced tang keeper, and my tank/feeding/filtration are up to the job for no matter which fish is selected. So lets keep those comments out of this thread, and have a discussion about inter-genus aggression in tangs.

 

[thisissimple]

Ha! Another forum we are both on.

Obviously We have both seen it done in big enough tanks bro. Powder and achillies are pretty aggressive, but at least they are a different body style than the para. The clown and the sohal are pretty close to the para, and can be uber aggressive. I think you are up to the challenge of keeping the clown. New foods and filtration systems make them significantly easier than they used to be. My only concern with them is aggression. At least they would be the last tang in the tank. Idk much about the orange shoulder or lieutenants.

The Chevy won't bother anything, the question is whether it will get bothered.

I am the Tang police, and my Blonde Naso is my favorite fish. Rodman is easily the smartest fish in my new tank, I bet that thing speaks latin. Vilamengi's (sp) are the same. The problem isn't that people get nasos, its that they do it without knowing what will happen, how big they will get, and how much it will cost to keep them happy in the long run, so they don't. If someone knows this well and keeps it in mind, The Naso should be fine. They are pretty chilled out. I saw a massive tank last week with 5 or 6 of them in it. You're only issue there is moving when you are done with school.

 

[sohal tang]

sohal or powder blue

if your tank is over 150 gallons I would go sohal

if it is under 150 gallons I would go powder blue...knowing that the powder blue
is likely the 3rd hardest tang to aclimate and not have ick etc!

I think achillies is hardest and clown is 2nd hardest...again..opinions may vary.

Once you have aclimated a powder blue and they are comfortable in your reef
they are gorgeous fish......

Sohal is my favorite but can get very aggressive..needs 150 minimum tank in my opinion...

So does the powder blue but I think you can get away with powder blue in smaller
but I would not suggest it for sohal.

Clowns...I have not seen many keep one for any serious length of time over 6 months....I think they are still a challenge.....


Good luck

Tim

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Agreed. But...its not like the tank will stay together when I leave, it will most likely get sold at a unbelievable price, or pieced out to LFS's in madison and milwaukee.

If this thread ends up as a discussion between my brother and I, it will make me feel incredibly stupid. I was going to call you later today about this, but...it turns out you got yourself an R2R account. Oh boy! :D

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

if your tank is over 150 gallons I would go sohal

if it is under 150 gallons I would go powder blue...knowing that the powder blue
is likely the 3rd hardest tang to aclimate and not have ick etc!

I think achillies is hardest and clown is 2nd hardest...again..opinions may vary.

Once you have aclimated a powder blue and they are comfortable in your reef
they are gorgeous fish......

Sohal is my favorite but can get very aggressive..needs 150 minimum tank in my opinion...

So does the powder blue but I think you can get away with powder blue in smaller
but I would not suggest it for sohal.

Clowns...I have not seen many keep one for any serious length of time over 6 months....I think they are still a challenge.....


Good luck

Tim

Im tempted to stay away from the sohal just because it is a larger fish, and because they are so similar to the blue hippo.

Sohals are great, I had one when I was 14 or so...very cool fish. Wish I had the tank I have now back then, I would have had a chance at keeping him alive.

Im very interested in the clown tang, but there is the size issue, and the similarity to the hippo as well. In addition, there are the clown tang horror stories. Guess it would be best to venture away from them as well.

That leaves the chevron, achilles, lieutenant. Orange shoulder is not really for me.

I am open for debates on the other fish, but it will take some convincing.

 

[FishLipz]

I've always liked the orange shoulder because most people don't keep it. I keep a naso, purple, yellow, and regal in my 180. I love tangs.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Your purple and your yellow dont go at it?

Same question regarding your naso and your regal?

 

[mizzoumed02]

I'd go with either a PBT, achilles, or Orange Shoulder. I just added a PBT with my yellow and Hippo. So far he is being very submissive, but I'm sure that will change in the next few weeks. The Yellow and Hippo are kind of keeping him in his place for the time being. I wish I had a bigger tank because I'm with some of the other guys, you don't see many Orange shoulder tangs and I think they are a very good looking tang. I'd have one if I could right now.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

At this point I am thinking PBT or an achilles...they dont get as big as some of the others and can stand up to the aggression of my bigger hippo and supposedly aggressive purple tang.

Most likely going to get an achilles just because its color will stand out more in my reef.

 

[jestr]

powder blue imo is easier to keep then an archilies... my pbt i had adapted better to aquarium like then my archilies but also my archilies could have been bullied by my purple tang. so i just put in an order for a bigger archilies tang and hopes my lfs can get one about 5-6 inches. also from other hobbiest the archilies is harder to get to eat prepared food. mine only liked rods food which i was told by a local lfs it can cause cyano which i did not want so i didnt feed it to him on a reg basis

 

[FishLipz]

Only very occasional mild pushing and posturing. They've never left a mark on eachother. I put them all in my new tank at the same time though. That makes a big diffrence. I doubt it would have worked if I added one later than the others.

Your purple and your yellow dont go at it?

Same question regarding your naso and your regal?

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Heres the situation...purple tang (2-3") is already in the tank.

Has been for a week or two. In the next couple weeks I will be selling a 75g reef, and keeping my blue hippo tang that is in there (4"-5").

The fish I get will be hand picked before being shipped to me. I have several sources including my own wholesaler for which I can get a fish of any size, coloration, etc etc. Feeding...healthy the whole works. So no worries like that.

If I have to take down the whole tank again to get out the purple...so be it, but let me know what you guys think now. Thanks

 

[pickupman66]

If they go into a new tank at the same time, you should be OK. Here is my experience with the tangs. I love them. I have always had a trio for the last several years. In my previous 75 gal, I had a purple, then added a powder brown, then a tomini. while the powder brown was high strung, the purple was really the enforcer. as time went on, they all got along well. I sold them all and the purple and the tomini are still together. in my 180, I now have a Large sohal (8"+) a Naso (7"+) and a Purple (6"+). the Naso and Sohal went in at the same time. they came from another 180 so they get along really well. Naso's are very very laid back in my opinion. when I added the purple, my Sohal did alot of posturing but really didnt care too much. the purple was much more high strung and for the first few weeks constantly picked a fight with the Sohal. the first one left a good sore on both. the second only the purple had the scar. now they get along fairly well. the purple is still very hard on any new comers into the tank no matter what they are. Anthias, a tiny cherub angel etc...all around jerk of a fish. but the colors... WHEW!

what size tank is your purple in now? that will make alot of it. out of all the tangs, I loved that powder brown I had. Really good fish and once established, really good colors. The sohal I have now is a magnificant specimen. very docile, hand fed and actually chews on my finders when i am cleaning the tank. all around a great fish. my Naso could care less so long as there is nori in the tank.
here is my Purple

and the Sohal

and a clickable video showing all three of them.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Cant see your images, my internet might just be being a bugger though.

My tank is a 125g, (6ft long variety). I should have just gotten a 180 (its like the 55g to 75g comparison...everyone wishes they would have gotten the other to start with) but this tank was free so no complaining.

The tank already has a small purple in it, and I will be adding a slightly larger blue hippo soon.

I am basically at this point thinking sohal, chevron, or achilles. Any thoughts on that?

 

[aalvarado87]

i had a powder blue with my yellow tang and didnt have any problems. They were added at the same time. I think the fact that they are two completely different shapes you would be okay. but yeah that is pushing it in a 125. I would probably hold off on what you got before adding another big fish and starting problems.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

My only concern size wise would be the sohal.

Im not worried very much in a 6' long tank. I wish it was a little wider, but it will do.

Like I said, I know what I can do in this tank...size is not to be the discussion here. Im a member of the tang police, and keep tangs better than a lot of people that are on it.

Im just bumpin heads with people over aggression/stocking issues.

 

[pickupman66]

between the three, go with the chevron. completely different type and awesome looking fish. very passive and you should be good... I was considering adding back a tomini to mine but the deal didnt work out.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

This is the conclusion I came to in my mind last night as well.

Do you think that because of the small size of the purple, and the fact that he will be the smallest fish (Chevron might be small as well, but I will try to get him at a slightly larger size.) will mean that I can just add the others?

Heres hoping so.

 

[pickupman66]

If you can, put the blue and the chevy in at the same time. if the purple is established, this would be your best bet. they are pretty tough fish. mine is a PITA but he is a good 6 inches. came from a 90 by himself in to a 180 with a large sohal and naso.

any way you go, be prepared for a few days of posturing and tail slapping. keep them well fed and you should be good in a week or two.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Feeding and h2o quality are my two staple things I go over with other people when it comes to tang issues. I plan on having multiple feeding clips to ease aggression, but have kept multiple triggers together as well, and I am familiar with the issues that might arise.

Thanks everyone, I will add the hipp and the other tang at the same time, and Ill post pictures hopefully too, thanks for the advice.