Convict tang very agressive

[Max93]

Hello,

my convict tang is incredibly aggressive towards my powder blue and yellow tang. They don’t want anything to do with him, but he constantly chases them and nips at the yellow tang.

I’m surprised really.
There is tons of food, convict tang is super fat. Not sure what to do… add more rock?

 

[Max93]

I turned off the lights.
The yellow tang is new just got him today. But he has been agressive to the powder blue before this.

other fish that he does not bother:

Kole tang
Foxface
3 wrasses
2 gobies
3 anthias

he only goes after powder blue and yellow tang. He’s tearing up the fins of the yellow tang.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

You very may have to choose what's more important. You can try hanging a mirror, sump timeout for a few days and all the other tricks, but convicts can be ruthless.

 

[Max93]

You very may have to choose what's more important. You can try hanging a mirror, sump timeout for a few days and all the other tricks, but convicts can be ruthless.

That’s crazy, all the research I’ve done shows zero aggression with convicts. To introduce them first to the aquarium and yellow tangs last.

 

[areefer01]

Healthy convict is rare...

New yellow? Biota or from a fellow hobbyist? If Biota then it is the size, they are small to medium. Convict is probably larger, yes?

 

[areefer01]

That’s crazy, all the research I’ve done shows zero aggression with convicts. To introduce them first to the aquarium and yellow tangs last.

Slow down - you are the one asking for help...no need to be aggressive towards the poster.

 

[Billldg]

How big is the tank?

 

[Shooter6]

My convict was the last to go in a total of 12 tangs , 11 acanthurus ans 1 yellow tang. He became a bully to ALL the fish except the larger acanthurus, they would instantly return the aggression and it would flee.
The yellow, damsels, wrasse, gobies ect were all targeted though. The yellow getting the worst of it. It now lives in my 300g sump with a foxface ,aptasia file fish and a bunch of baby mollies. No sign of aggression now lol

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Slow down - you are the one asking for help...no need to be aggressive towards the poster.

I don't see Any aggression in this tank....

 

[Max93]

Slow down - you are the one asking for help...no need to be aggressive towards the poster.

Sorry did not know my tone came across as rude! Just concerned :(

 

[Max93]

Healthy convict is rare...

New yellow? Biota or from a fellow hobbyist? If Biota then it is the size, they are small to medium. Convict is probably larger, yes?

Biota yes, 3” and convict is about 3.5”

 

[Max93]

How big is the tank?

6 foot, 180g. Waterbox 220.6

 

[Max93]

My convict was the last to go in a total of 12 tangs , 11 acanthurus ans 1 yellow tang. He became a bully to ALL the fish except the larger acanthurus, they would instantly return the aggression and it would flee.
The yellow, damsels, wrasse, gobies ect were all targeted though. The yellow getting the worst of it. It now lives in my 300g sump with a foxface ,aptasia file fish and a bunch of baby mollies. No sign of aggression now lol

That’s so crazy, before purchasing my convict tang I was unable to find anything online regarding aggression and was told they are the least aggressive tang you can have . I don’t know what to do, guess I’ll try mirror and more rocks.

 

[Billldg]

6 foot, 180g. Waterbox 220.6

K, size should be fine. I would have introduced all the tangs at one time. I have 6 in my 225 gal tank. I would start by trying what @4FordFamily did.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.215698/

 

[4FordFamily]

That’s so crazy, before purchasing my convict tang I was unable to find anything online regarding aggression and was told they are the least aggressive tang you can have . I don’t know what to do, guess I’ll try mirror and more rocks.

Convict tang are "less aggressive" by Acanthurus tang standards, but still aggressive compared with other types of tangs. Of course, individuals have individual personalities. Mixing Acanthurus tangs is a bit of a risk always. The link above "Tang Aggression..." I discuss more in-depth. :)

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Sorry did not know my tone came across as rude! Just concerned :(

It didn't in any way.

I would know, I'm normally the rude one ;)

 

[Max93]

Thanks everyone for the support/sources.

I’m going to try a combination of:

lights off (I have no coral right now)
Adding more rock to create more territory
Adding a mirror

if that doesn’t work, I’ve noticed that leaving a net in the tank makes everyone calm down (lol).

so far though, seems like the convict tang wants to keep the yellow on the left side of the tank. I’m hoping this stops, but he is scary agressive to the little guy.

 

[Shooter6]

Mirror is a good option, just need to use it long enough for it to wear itself out of tick and vinegar lol. Mine would calm down for a few days but then start messing with the other fish, so I put a 1ftx1ft square mirror on the side of the tank and kept the glass clean there. That kept it distracted for the most part.

 

[Max93]

Thank you! I just got one of those circle mirrors at Walgreens, standard desktop mirror it’s about 6” across hopefully this works.

 

[Max93]

Ok so the mirror has ticked off all my wrasses and anthias. I mean they’re flashing which is cool but isn’t that stressful to them?