Adding purple tang

[Ling_Thing]

I’ve done a lot of research on tangs, aggression etc. I know I should have just bought my tangs together when I first started and added them all at once but that is then and here we are now. I have a reefer 450 been going for about 5 months now with great success. Current fish list are, 2 false clowns, orchid dotty back, pajama cardinal, yellow tang and hippo tang. I’m an extreme QT guy so well aware about that aspect, but I was curious on everyone’s thoughts about adding a small purple tang to this tank. I currently have 6 green chromis, six line wrasse and shark nose goby in QT now waiting to add this group to the tank next month sometime. Would it be possible to get a small purple tang and get it in QT now and then add all those fish to my DT without the yellow and purple killing each other? I would say the yellow is small/medium he was small when I got him and he’s grown to about 3 inch and been stationary there for past few months. When I got my hippo in May he was the size of a quarter and now he’s about 4 inches and definitely is the boss in the tank no doubt. As the hippo has grown he has turned into the boss. The purple I’m looking at is about 1-1/2 to 2 inches pretty small. Anyways just wanted your guys thoughts on my situation. Thanks

 

[ScooterV]

Two zebrasoma will be a challenge. The purple being last sounds good though. Adding all at once, for those of us who QT, makes that difficult too. I think I'd get the purple just slightly smaller than the yellow. The yellow can't beat it up too bad, even if the purple ends up in charge in the end. It will tangle with the hippo too though.

I have a purple, hippo, and PBT to add yet. I added a kole alone because all I ever had were docile, but I think I got one with an attitude and will be an issue when the others arrive too :(

 

[Mrx7899]

Once they get bigger you might have problems with them in a 90 gallon tank.

 

[dwest]

I’ve done a lot of research on tangs, aggression etc. I know I should have just bought my tangs together when I first started and added them all at once but that is then and here we are now. I have a reefer 450 been going for about 5 months now with great success. Current fish list are, 2 false clowns, orchid dotty back, pajama cardinal, yellow tang and hippo tang. I’m an extreme QT guy so well aware about that aspect, but I was curious on everyone’s thoughts about adding a small purple tang to this tank. I currently have 6 green chromis, six line wrasse and shark nose goby in QT now waiting to add this group to the tank next month sometime. Would it be possible to get a small purple tang and get it in QT now and then add all those fish to my DT without the yellow and purple killing each other? I would say the yellow is small/medium he was small when I got him and he’s grown to about 3 inch and been stationary there for past few months. When I got my hippo in May he was the size of a quarter and now he’s about 4 inches and definitely is the boss in the tank no doubt. As the hippo has grown he has turned into the boss. The purple I’m looking at is about 1-1/2 to 2 inches pretty small. Anyways just wanted your guys thoughts on my situation. Thanks

If you do it, and if you have read anything you know there are risks, place a mirror flush against the outside of the tank to take some of the aggression. There are other methods of introduction too. Just read up.

 

[Slyler]

If you are just looking for experiences, I wouldn't recommend it. I tried adding a purple to an already established yellow in a 120, and the yellow went after him once the purple was out of the social acclimatization box. From what I have seen, I wouldn't recommend more then one zebrasoma in a tank unless the tank is quite a bit bigger then 4 feet.

But like you mentioned, it is at your own risk, and it could work out, maybe I just had fish in bad moods.

 

[ScooterV]

I didn't want to get into tank size. Others can do that :) But, you will have more issues, at the least. In my own 7ft long 270 my plan is only ONE each from Zebrasoma, Ctenochaetus, Acanthurus, and Paracanthurus. However, I have kept more, in smaller, in years past. It just never seemed to work well. I also really want a purple, but my wife wanted a yellow. I didn't like that, so she got a Foxface to provide "yellow" so I can get the purple tang :)

 

[Ling_Thing]

Thanks for all your help guys, I kinda knew what the answer was gonna be but just glad I got gone life experiences from you guys. I’m not a risk taker and especially with my reef tanks so I guess there will only be two tangs in my DT for me. Thanks again

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I’m not saying it’s right for all. I have a purple, sailfin and hippo together without any problems the purple was added last I used an acc box kept him in there for about two weeks.

 

[4FordFamily]

It’s risky to add a zebrasoma to an existing zebrasoma. Odds are it doesn’t go well. An acclimation box may help your case but the two will likely go after each other as they’re two zebrasoma in a relatively small tank.

 

[bhuyett]

Take everything with a grain of salt... If you really want to do this being a 90 gallon it will be difficult. You will need to take the Yellow Tang out of his element and change your scape to help remove the Yellow Tangs Territory. This means change rock work around. Again being a 90 you aren't going to have many options. Add your purple first and let him get acclimated to the tank. Then add back in the yellow after a couple days, by doing this you are potentially changing the hierarchy and will allow them to work it out on a more equal playing field.

 

[Brian1f1]

You will certainly have aggression. You’ll be tempted to wait it out, but it’s hard to tell when it’s gone to far and when it might relent with time... I was able to add a tiny true black tang to a five foot 125 gallon with a purple and a hippo years ago. There was occasional aggression and some minor ick outbreaks. Was very rough at first. I didn’t qt back then, and went way to crowded. Ultimately I got velvet and it wiped me out and I quit for a decade.

Currently, I QT and I’m more conservative with crowding. That said, I managed to create a “pair” of purple fangs in my 525. They started off the same small size. Almost killed each other in the acclimation bucket! Had to be separated with a divider in a 46g qt at two inches each! Bleeding slashes. Vicious. One would turn almost white and just beat the divider all day long. I wasn’t feeling hopeful about release into the 525. There was some aggression at first, moderate to severe. Lots of rock and cave work helped a lot. This aggression moderated until currently there is basically none. They typically swim together. What’s interesting is it’s been about five months, and the dominate one has become substantially larger than they submissive one. I don’t know if it’s a gender difference, related to stress, or what. The larger one is willing to eat dry foods like flake and pellet and the smaller one only eats frozen and nori, but with gusto, and I feed them everyday.

That allll said, my situation appears sustainable, but I know with two purples it could flip on its head one day. Only time will tell. It’ll be the same for a purple and a yellow, except there is no chance their will be a reduction in aggression due to being a lucky male female combo.

I wouldn’t do it in a 90. Especially with an established fish. If you do I’d buy a tiny purple and watch it super closely.

I also wouldn’t advise to do what I did, but it’s working.

 

[Jesterrace]

Once they get bigger you might have problems with them in a 90 gallon tank.

No kidding. My Yellow Tang turned into a butthead despite a lightly stocked 90 gallon and had to be removed after a month. He wasn't even 40% full sized. I can't imagine keeping one with a Blue Hippo and another known aggressive Zebrasoma in the same size tank. Personally I will never touch another Zebrasoma. I might give one of the bristletooth varieties a shot though.

 

[Brian1f1]

No kidding. My Yellow Tang turned into a butthead despite a lightly stocked 90 gallon and had to be removed after a month. He wasn't even 40% full sized. I can't imagine keeping one with a Blue Hippo and another known aggressive Zebrasoma in the same size tank. Personally I will never touch another Zebrasoma. I might give one of the bristletooth varieties a shot though.

It’s not always that bad man. In fact, what you describe is very unusually bad. My tank is barely bigger than yours and I’ve had two purples at peace with each other and all else for six months and counting In the past I had a purple and black for years. Really depends on the fish but also your scape and how and when you introduce.

 

[vanpire]

I am not sure about a 90 gallon as my smallest tank was about a 170. I have done this three times and it has worked all those three times, but I am not saying that this can work for everyone but I have been lucky.

I think the secret to zebs and tang in general is to add many. 2 or 3 might be problematic, but more seems to be better. I currently have 5 zebs and they are doing great in a 300 gallon. Added 3 yellows together first. Added a sailfin that was bigger than all three yellows 6 months later. Then, added a purple that was slightly smaller than the yellows a year after that. No issues after the first few days.

I also added a powder blue, 2 blues and a yellow eyed kole in between adding the zebs with no issues. I also learned that broadcasting food including nori helps as there is no territory to defend.

This is just my experiences though. Love tangs. My favorite type of fish.

 

[vanpire]

BTW, I love yellow tangs. They are one of the most underrated fish, IMO. They are inexpensive, very brightly colored, eats anything/everything, readily available, hardy and helps eat nuisance algae. My yellow tangs get noticed more than any other tangs.