Adding more tangs to an establish single tang

[Jacky Siu]

So my tank is currently a 150 gallon tank that is somewhat minimally stocked,

I want to ultimately add a Gem tang, but i am most worried about my small to mid sized purple tang. He has clearly shown aggression before to newly added tangs and had killed them before.

And ive read adding multiple tangs would help disperse aggression. So i have planned on getting two yellow and a gem tang and add them at the same time. Would this be an okay idea?

If so should i add smaller tangs or larger tangs compared to the purple?

Thank you!

 

[Aardvark1134]

Tangs are best added all at the same time. The safest way to add more tangs is to rehome the 1 you have and add all new tangs at the same time. If you or your kid are really attached to your current tang this might not be an option.

 

[revhtree]

I highly recommend acclimating new tangs to aquariums with other tangs using acclimation boxes and allowing them to spend significant time in the boxes. Just make sure they are large enough.

 

[pga7602]

A tricked that has worked for me is to pull the existing tang out for a week and add them all back at the same time.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

A tricked that has worked for me is to pull the existing tang out for a week and add them all back at the same time.

Yes this is a good approach. It will allow for the new tang to get established and more aggressive tang will need to reacquainted with his surroundings, or acclimation box works well too.

 

[WMR]

Zebrasoma tangs are probably the most territorial, with the exception of some Acanthurus tangs. I would rehome the purple tang, omit the yellow tangs, if you want yellow in your tank, get a foxface & longnose butterfly. Add all the tangs simultaneously, or add your gem tang last. Is your tank FOWLR or reef?

 

[Jacky Siu]

Zebrasoma tangs are probably the most territorial, with the exception of some Acanthurus tangs. I would rehome the purple tang, omit the yellow tangs, if you want yellow in your tank, get a foxface & longnose butterfly. Add all the tangs simultaneously, or add your gem tang last. Is your tank FOWLR or reef?

Thanks for the reply, the tank is a reef tank

 

[Jacky Siu]

Yes this is a good approach. It will allow for the new tang to get established and more aggressive tang will need to reacquainted with his surroundings, or acclimation box works well too.

If i pull out the purple tang, should i still get 2-3 new zebrasoma tangs? If so is it better to get larger tangs or smaller?

 

[WMR]

Thanks for the reply, the tank is a reef tank

Ok, omit the longnose butterfly, put canary fang blennies or yellow assessors along with the foxface, there’s your yellow

 

[nanchil]

Or a mirror should work as well. It worked for me... Added a purple tang to an established group of tangs with the mirror and it worked for me.

 

[WMR]

If i pull out the purple tang, should i still get 2-3 new zebrasoma tangs? If so is it better to get larger tangs or smaller?

I wouldn’t, if you do, add them simultaneously. Imo I would add 1 zebrasoma(gem), most zebrasomas get good size, so you might have a territorial issue. Perhaps a ctenochaetus tang along with your gem tang

 

[JayKim]

I added purple tang and yellow tang at the same time, yellow slightly smaller. Purple bullied the yellow, I saw it chewing it's fins. By the time I was able to catch the yellow and relocate it to smaller tank it was already too late and it died. I have 150 gallons. It seems fine with tomini and blue hippo tang. Since gem is similar to purple it's too risky. I agree with others, relocate purple and add them all together later, but watch closely.