Asking the tang police

[waltersizzle]

I have a 125 gallon tank and was planning on adding a few tangs to it. I just received a purple tang in the mail from live aquaria. My plan was to quarantine it and then move it into my sump. Then order a yellow tang and blue tang from biota. Quarantine them and introduce everyone at the same time. The tank currently has a flame angel, melanarus, flame hawk, clownfish, valentini puffer.

Problem is the purple tang from live aquaria was supposed to be 1-2 inches but he is probably about 3.5 inches. He will be twice the size of the other 2 tangs coming from biota. Is there any chance they can still get along if I introduce them at the same time or is the size discrepancy going to be an issue?

 

[bluemon]

I would try the mirror trick.

The blue tang will probably play nice but the purple might bully the yellow a bit.

I would skip the QT for the Biota CBs, and just observe them for a day or two.

Then introduce the Biota fish first, and then add in the purple in an acclimation tank, and use the mirror trick as well

 

[Jrhunter0000]

Get some PVC Ts and elbows for them to hide in when you introduce. This helped me alot when i added all mine!

 

[landlubber]

As you mentioned, dropping them at the same time can help but so can an acclimation boxes, mirrors and printed and cutout images of Tangs.
I personally haven't had great luck with mismatched sizes of Tangs using all of those but fish are all individual creatures and what didn't work for me could go seamlessly for you.

 

[Hishman]

If your QT is big enough you can place all three in clear dividers for a couple weeks. Introduce them all at the same time and observe. You might need to place the yellow tang in an acclamation box in the display for a bit

 

[waltersizzle]

I’m

As you mentioned, dropping them at the same time can help but so can an acclimation boxes, mirrors and printed and cutout images of Tangs.
I personally haven't had great luck with mismatched sizes of Tangs using all of those but fish are all individual creatures and what didn't work for me could go seamlessly for you.

I am also considering growing out the yellow tang in my sump. And feeding him a bunch until he can get closer in size to the purple tang, but i figure the purple tang will keep growing too. I designed the sump to grow out fish so the fish would have the front half of a 40 gallon tank for space to grow. A 36x9 foot print with about 17 g of water. I could also put the yellow in the display tank and keep the purple in the sump until the yellow grows a bit. Or I could acclimate them side by side in the sump with a divider. Do you think any of those are good ideas? As for the blue tang I may just buy a bigger one from the somewhere else

 

[littlefoxx]

I have a 125 gallon tank and was planning on adding a few tangs to it. I just received a purple tang in the mail from live aquaria. My plan was to quarantine it and then move it into my sump. Then order a yellow tang and blue tang from biota. Quarantine them and introduce everyone at the same time. The tank currently has a flame angel, melanarus, flame hawk, clownfish, valentini puffer.

Problem is the purple tang from live aquaria was supposed to be 1-2 inches but he is probably about 3.5 inches. He will be twice the size of the other 2 tangs coming from biota. Is there any chance they can still get along if I introduce them at the same time or is the size discrepancy going to be an issue?

Mirror as mentioned is your best bet or maybe add the to small dudes and then add the purple after and week and use an acclimation box for another week then release

 

[Freenow54]

I have a 125 gallon tank and was planning on adding a few tangs to it. I just received a purple tang in the mail from live aquaria. My plan was to quarantine it and then move it into my sump. Then order a yellow tang and blue tang from biota. Quarantine them and introduce everyone at the same time. The tank currently has a flame angel, melanarus, flame hawk, clownfish, valentini puffer.

Problem is the purple tang from live aquaria was supposed to be 1-2 inches but he is probably about 3.5 inches. He will be twice the size of the other 2 tangs coming from biota. Is there any chance they can still get along if I introduce them at the same time or is the size discrepancy going to be an issue?

You are making a huge mistake way over stocking your tank. I have one and I am regretting that

 

[BryanM]

I doubt trying to grow out the yellow is going to work, as you stated the purple will grow as well.