I GOT A GEM TANG!!!

[i cant think]

Thank you for the information.. I appreciate it. Hair algae might be a problem for me in the future. The tank he is in now is going to be a sps reef.. I must keep nutrients low as possible. So this is going to be a challenge. I'm completely aware. I definitely will use nori. I've had purple tangs and a big healthy chevron tang in My sps reef and they did fine. But a gem tang.. I always thought they were more delicate. I have cheato in my fuge.. is it true I can feed the gem tang cheato right out of my sump? Will all tangs ear cheato? Do you have any other advice for feeding.. also I plan on adding a wrasse or two and a watchman goby.. maybe a tail spot blenny..

I would add the last few fish as soon as possible, gem tangs get aggressive when they’re established. Also yes you can feed chaeto straight out of the sump just as long as you have gone through it and checked for no unwanted animals. Not all tangs will eat chaeto unless they’re specialised to eat it though, I find that Zebrasomas are definitely more suited to eating macro algaes though, that’s because of the elongated snouts (Often more profound in the rare Z. rostratum). My Ctenochaetus binotatus doesn’t seem to go for macroalgae but that may just be because the foxface gets to it first. I would say as long as it’s got some form of algae to feed from during the day it’ll be just fine. It’s funny because the price is hefty for these fish but their care is the same as the other Zebrasoma tangs. Same with the true rostratums.

 

[ELChingonsReef]

I would add the last few fish as soon as possible, gem tangs get aggressive when they’re established. Also yes you can feed chaeto straight out of the sump just as long as you have gone through it and checked for no unwanted animals. Not all tangs will eat chaeto unless they’re specialised to eat it though, I find that Zebrasomas are definitely more suited to eating macro algaes though, that’s because of the elongated snouts (Often more profound in the rare Z. rostratum). My Ctenochaetus binotatus doesn’t seem to go for macroalgae but that may just be because the foxface gets to it first. I would say as long as it’s got some form of algae to feed from during the day it’ll be just fine. It’s funny because the price is hefty for these fish but their care is the same as the other Zebrasoma tangs. Same with the true rostratums.

So I got the gem tang last Saturday.. its already Wednesday today. I'm picking up a African mcoscars fairy wrasse . Hope I spelled that right.. im picking up that fish Friday Christmas eve . But I noticed last night the gem tank does show aggressive behavior. He chases around that small 6line wrasse I added with him. ..will that fairy wrasse survive? Or is this gem tang going to be my only fish from now on? What's your best advice?

 

[ELChingonsReef]

So I got the gem tang last Saturday.. its already Wednesday today. I'm picking up a African mcoscars fairy wrasse . Hope I spelled that right.. im picking up that fish Friday Christmas eve . But I noticed last night the gem tank does show aggressive behavior. He chases around that small 6line wrasse I added with him. ..will that fairy wrasse survive? Or is this gem tang going to be my only fish from now on? What's your best advice?

Fairy wrasse

 

[i cant think]

So I got the gem tang last Saturday.. its already Wednesday today. I'm picking up a African mcoscars fairy wrasse . Hope I spelled that right.. im picking up that fish Friday Christmas eve . But I noticed last night the gem tank does show aggressive behavior. He chases around that small 6line wrasse I added with him. ..will that fairy wrasse survive? Or is this gem tang going to be my only fish from now on? What's your best advice?

What I would do it get an acclimation box if possible and put the wrasse in that box, leave it a few days (1 week max I would say). Then I would add a mirror to one end of the tank (Preferably the end opposite to the wrasse) and then introduce the wrasse and feed the fish to minimise aggression. You may see minor chasing for the next few days but that’s the tang asserting dominance. I would make sure no fins get nipped or torn, also make sure there’s minimal tail slapping. Also if possible add multiple fish at the same time (2-3) to disperse aggression so instead of it being 1v1 it’s 1v2, meaning the tang won’t be able to put just one fish in line but will also make sure the tang doesn’t just throw all of its aggression on one fish. That should give the wrasse a calm introduction.

Mccoskers flashers are certainly some of the most beautiful wrasses out there aren’t they! I hope you do try the wrasse with the tang. Also if the tang gets too aggressive, try and move the rockscape around or if you can do that then just try rearrange the rocks where the tang hides, that should get rid of the tangs established territory.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

i've tried to figure out why so many angelfish and tangs are being shipped in with HLLE. It's very common to see these days. is it copper or carbon tearing these fish up?

3 of the 5 gems that were imported in the same batch when I chose my gem Had various showings of HLLE already.

 

[Jeffcb]

Congratulations. Beautiful fish!! I enjoy mine , have had it for about 6 months.

 

[albano]

So I got the gem tang last Saturday.. its already Wednesday today. I'm picking up a African mcoscars fairy wrasse . Hope I spelled that right.. im picking up that fish Friday Christmas eve . But I noticed last night the gem tank does show aggressive behavior. He chases around that small 6line wrasse I added with him. ..will that fairy wrasse survive? Or is this gem tang going to be my only fish from now on? What's your best advice?

I think that when that 6 lines grows, he’ll be more of a problem than the Gem!

 

[i cant think]

I think that when that 6 lines grows, he’ll be more of a problem than the Gem!

Not always, if there’s a big enough tank and plenty of rock six lines are the dream fish, the gem will also keep the sixline in its place. I was warned about my Jade and radiant aswell as the two Lubbock’s but the tang constantly keeps them in line. Yes the pecking order changes every so often but really they behave quite well unless a snail is flipped.

 

[Goaway]

3 of the 5 gems that were imported in the same batch when I chose my gem Had various showings of HLLE already.

Thats sad. Every tang and angelfish in the fish stores here, have hlle. They just show up that way sadly.

I will never get another 6line, unless i know 90% for certainty.. That is the last fish!

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Thats sad. Every tang and angelfish in the fish stores here, have hlle. They just show up that way sadly.

I will never get another 6line, unless i know 90% for certainty.. That is the last fish!

I wasn't super worried about it personally. I don't run carbon unless needed, and feed a lot of varied foods.

 

[ELChingonsReef]

What I would do it get an acclimation box if possible and put the wrasse in that box, leave it a few days (1 week max I would say). Then I would add a mirror to one end of the tank (Preferably the end opposite to the wrasse) and then introduce the wrasse and feed the fish to minimise aggression. You may see minor chasing for the next few days but that’s the tang asserting dominance. I would make sure no fins get nipped or torn, also make sure there’s minimal tail slapping. Also if possible add multiple fish at the same time (2-3) to disperse aggression so instead of it being 1v1 it’s 1v2, meaning the tang won’t be able to put just one fish in line but will also make sure the tang doesn’t just throw all of its aggression on one fish. That should give the wrasse a calm introduction.

Mccoskers flashers are certainly some of the most beautiful wrasses out there aren’t they! I hope you do try the wrasse with the tang. Also if the tang gets too aggressive, try and move the rockscape around or if you can do that then just try rearrange the rocks where the tang hides, that should get rid of the tangs established territory.

I will definitely take your advice and do exactly as you said. Moving the rocks around may be a little bit of a problem because it's a negative space aquascape custom built all glued together to make it one huge structure. But if something does go wrong I have a frag / quarantine tank I can put the wrasse in worst case. I do have a small acclamation box and a mirror. I'll give it a shot.. thank you so much for taking the time to explain all this to me and giving me good information.. happy holidays to you and your family..

 

[i cant think]

I will definitely take your advice and do exactly as you said. Moving the rocks around may be a little bit of a problem because it's a negative space aquascape custom built all glued together to make it one huge structure. But if something does go wrong I have a frag / quarantine tank I can put the wrasse in worst case. I do have a small acclamation box and a mirror. I'll give it a shot.. thank you so much for taking the time to explain all this to me and giving me good information.. happy holidays to you and your family..

Happy holidays to you and your family too!! It’s my pleasure, I love helping other reefers with my own experiences and tactics that have worked for me. Also, if possible try and add the fish in just before lights come on or just before/after lights out. Often the other fish wake up and think it’s a normal day