Keeping multiple tangs in same quarantine tank???

[marinepolice]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the site, but have been in the hobby for a couple years with a nano tank, but have recently made the leap to a large tank. I love surgeon fish but have never kept them. All of my research shows them to be somewhat disease prone, due to the lack of slime coat, and stress/aggression issues. Nonetheless, I would like to give them a try, but firmly believe in doing my research and not jumping into something and making a mistake. After all, they are living creatures and deserve the best we can give them at all times. That being said, below in my post is my question.

This conversation may get several opinions, which I think is good and I value everyone's input as we all have different experiences and knowledge levels.

What is everyone's opinion on keeping multiple tangs in the same quarantine tank? With months of research and consideration, I understand that in order to be relatively successful in keeping multiple tangs in the same tank, it is recommended to introduce them all at the same time, and attempt to keep them as different species of surgeon fish. I plan on buying all of the tangs as the smallest juveniles I can find, and want to introduce them all simultaneously to my large (6 ft) tank. I am thinking about 4 different tangs to be housed in this tank. My question is this: Can 4 different small juvenile (1-2 inch) tangs be kept in the same quarantine tank while monitoring them before moving them into the large permanent tank? Space is not something I have the luxury of, and only have one 29 gallon quarantine tank, and no space for any more quarantine tanks. If I provide them with plenty of flow, good water conditions, and plenty of hiding places, is this something that can even be possible? I believe in the health, and happiness of all the marine life, and would never want to create an environment of stress or poor conditions for them. What is everyone's advice, experience, and opinion on this? Thanks for all the responses in advance!

 

[Robb1414]

following....

 

[DarkSky]

I QTed a purple, hippo, and a yellow eye kole together in a 40g.

I got them as small as possible and they had no signs of aggression towards one another while doing so.

 

[NinnJinn]

Not sure what specific tangs you're wanting to quarantine together, but on two different occasions I have had small blue tang and small yellow tangs in the same quarantine with no signs of aggression at all.

@4FordFamily is obsessed with tangs and has multiple tangs in his set up. he should be here sometime to fill you in.

while you're waiting for him to respond you might check his thread out.

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

 

[dwest]

Agree. There’s a good chance of it working. However, have an egg crate divider or two ready to go to place in between them if bad things happen.

 

[4FordFamily]

Depending on the tang you will be fine, but smaller is better since tangs are dirty. Smaller tangs will be more disease prone but if you treat them prophylactically and you’ve done so with your other fish your chances are higher.

Keep biospira on hand and use it to keep ammonia at bay.

What size tank?

 

[marinepolice]

Agree. There’s a good chance of it working. However, have an egg crate divider or two ready to go to place in between them if bad things happen.

That’s a great idea. I hadn’t thought of using egg crates for dividers. Thanks for the info!

 

[marinepolice]

Depending on the tang you will be fine, but smaller is better since tangs are dirty. Smaller tangs will be more disease prone but if you treat them prophylactically and you’ve done so with your other fish your chances are higher.

Keep biospira on hand and use it to keep ammonia at bay.

What size tank?

Thanks for the info. I have a new 180 gallon reef ready setup. I plan on treating prophylactically with copper to reduce disease in the quarantine tank. I also have some safety stop that I have never used and considered dosing them in that before placing into QT as well. I’ve never tried safety stop before, so anyone’s opinion on that would be appreciated as well. I also plan on using biospira to keep the ammonia down and frequent water changes. How long do you typically quarantine your tangs since they are more ick and marine velvet prone? I’ve typically only quarantined 14 days on other types of fish.

 

[marinepolice]

Not sure what specific tangs you're wanting to quarantine together, but on two different occasions I have had small blue tang and small yellow tangs in the same quarantine with no signs of aggression at all.

@4FordFamily is obsessed with tangs and has multiple tangs in his set up. he should be here sometime to fill you in.

while you're waiting for him to respond you might check his thread out.

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

Thanks for the info! I’m excited to give this a try but never want to jump into anything and cause stress or issues for the fish. I’ve seen too many people do that without fully researching and understanding the livestock and ending in disaster. Thanks again!

 

[marinepolice]

I QTed a purple, hippo, and a yellow eye kole together in a 40g.

I got them as small as possible and they had no signs of aggression towards one another while doing so.

Thanks for the response! That’s encouraging you had success!

 

[Thomashtom]

Put an eggcrate divider while you qt so they could see each other. It worked for me.

 

[justmee]

I quarantined 4 tangs in a 20 gallon tank (PBT, Yellow, Kole, and Blue, each was about 3" big) for about 30 days. Before the quarantine, I did a tank transfer method with two 10 gallon tanks because of ich -- IMO tank transfer method is best way to cure ich, all natural, I don't like copper cause for some reason copper makes the fish act a little dffierent/weird after the copper treatment. All the tangs are doing great in my 125 gallon DT, and they are like family, and all are mellow.

 

[marinepolice]

Put an eggcrate divider while you qt so they could see each other. It worked for me.

Thanks for the suggestion. Someone else suggested that also. Thanks, I will try that!

 

[dwest]

Thanks for the info. I have a new 180 gallon reef ready setup. I plan on treating prophylactically with copper to reduce disease in the quarantine tank. I also have some safety stop that I have never used and considered dosing them in that before placing into QT as well. I’ve never tried safety stop before, so anyone’s opinion on that would be appreciated as well. I also plan on using biospira to keep the ammonia down and frequent water changes. How long do you typically quarantine your tangs since they are more ick and marine velvet prone? I’ve typically only quarantined 14 days on other types of fish.

I now use this procedure when I quarantine. I have significantly increased my success rate using it.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks for the info! I’m excited to give this a try but never want to jump into anything and cause stress or issues for the fish. I’ve seen too many people do that without fully researching and understanding the livestock and ending in disaster. Thanks again!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-current-qt-process.483371/

30 days of no sterile QT to transfer after 14. :)

 

[dwest]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-current-qt-process.483371/

30 days of no sterile QT to transfer after 14. :)

Thanks!

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks!

No problem. We’ve discovered that some velvet strains can survive 1.75 PPM copper so I’d increase it to 2.0. @HotRocks and I were shocked but will be updating stickies.

 

[HotRocks]

There is actually less of a chance of aggression in a QT IMO. The fish can't really establish their own territory in tight quarters. Once they are in a 6ft tank you will find out if they are going to get along.

What tangs are you thinking?

I do keep 8 in my 180 sized tank.
3 acanthurus, 3 zebrasoma, a kole and a yellow belly blue hippo.

I would use no less than a 40b for QT and a 55 is even more ideal for the acanthurus genus so they have more swimming room. I would only add dividers if there is aggression that is serious enough that damage will occur. The more interaction they have together the better off it will be when introduced to DT.

 

[ca1ore]

Ok, so I will take the contrarian view (shocker, I know). You certainly CAN put multiple, small tangs in a QT tank at the same time; I'm just not sure you SHOULD. With the incidence of disease so high in the ornamental fish supply chain, I much prefer to QT fish individually - smaller fish like chromis or damsels excepted. OK, perhaps you will treat prophylactically, but even then I think the chances of losing one or more to disease are higher with multiples in a single QT tank - particularly with small juveniles. I also think the idea of needing to introduce all tangs simultaneously is mostly overblow (with a few exceptions).