Killer Tang

Freenow54 · 2026-07-16T15:44:46-0400

Well That is it the Evil Tang Killed all of the other fish, and I am fighting not to snuff it , and start over . How long can they Live ?

Dread Pirate Dave · 2026-07-16T16:01:48-0400

Decades, given the right conditions. Why would you kill it?

BryanM · 2026-07-16T16:02:58-0400

Freenow54 said:
Well That is it the Evil Tang Killed all of the other fish, and I am fighting not to snuff it , and start over . How long can they Live ?

What kind of Tang?

KrisReef · 2026-07-16T16:17:11-0400

Freenow54 said:
Well That is it the Evil Tang Killed all of the other fish, and I am fighting not to snuff it , and start over . How long can they Live ?

Years ago when I was working at a LFS a nice person returned a butterfly fish claiming that it killed a trigger fish. We gave them credit and let the butterfly go free in our trigger tank. It was amazing that it could hold it's own against those armored aggressive fishes. Someone else bought it (rather quickly) to put in their home tank that was populated with triggers, eels, lionfish, or something similar? I would trade in a killer fish or give it to someone who has a "gangster fish" tank near me.

Otherwise, it will always be demon possessed, so cast it out.

The Ugly Phase · 2026-07-16T16:23:45-0400

what type of tang?

Dread Pirate Dave · 2026-07-16T16:26:04-0400

The Ugly Phase said:
what type of tang?

Also, what size tank? Small tanks will make a big fish ornery. lol

Freenow54 · 2026-07-16T16:45:06-0400

BryanM said:
What kind of Tang?

Blue valingmi

Freenow54 · 2026-07-16T16:45:25-0400

Dread Pirate Dave said:
Also, what size tank? Small tanks will make a big fish ornery. lol

100

Freenow54 · 2026-07-16T16:50:31-0400

Dread Pirate Dave said:
Decades, given the right conditions. Why would you kill it?

I won't kill it. I just want a tank of fish maybe 7 who get along. I have a third tank in progress the other two now both have singular aggressive fish living alone. The one other is a female clown who I dare not try to put new fi as h in with it . It's over 30

BryanM · 2026-07-16T17:00:29-0400

Freenow54 said:
I won't kill it. I just want a tank of fish maybe 7 who get along. I have a third tank in progress the other two now both have singular aggressive fish living alone. The one other is a female clown who I dare not try to put new fi as h in with it . It's over 30

It seems this is usually a fairly peaceful fish.

But in a 100 gallon tank, not so much. That's a pretty small tank for a fish that can grow to 24 inches :o

If it was already big, then I suspect tank size has a lot to do for its mood.

Freenow54 · 2026-07-16T17:40:25-0400

BryanM said:
It seems this is usually a fairly peaceful fish.

But in a 100 gallon tank, not so much. That's a pretty small tank for a fish that can grow to 24 inches :o

If it was already big, then I suspect tank size has a lot to do for its mood.

I had no idea or never have bought it. Most fish will only grow to its environment

BryanM · 2026-07-16T17:51:42-0400

Freenow54 said:
I had no idea or never have bought it. Most fish will only grow to its environment

This is a myth, sadly.

What really happens is that the outside of the fish stops or stunts growth but the internals of the fish do not. This is why you'll see deformed hippo tangs saved from Nano tanks.

winxp_man · 2026-07-16T19:23:51-0400

I think fish growing to the size of the tank is a funny myth. The fish might not grow as fast to its full size, but it will get close to what they do in the wild. This fish is a fish made for at least a 96”x30x24 tank, and that to is on the smaller size for these fish. Just my two cents in this matter.

As for aggression. Yes you can rank fish. BUT at the end of the day. They are all fish with their own personalities. And they will do what they feel is right for them. Sometimes that is means going on a murder spree.

A short story. A buddy of mine built a 600g system. Then proceeds to put fish in the tank. One of the fish he put in was a 4.5-5” purple. He got it from another tank that had plenty of other fish in it. The minute he put it in the darn dude, same thing like yours did, decided to go on a murder spree!! Even took out a Blue Face Angle that was bigger than it!

In conclusion, hard to say what can tick off a fish to do such things. What we do know is that they can and will at times do what you posted. No two fish are alike and just a fact of reefing and everything else in life. Get as much rocks as you can in a tank, give them hiding spots, get algae going yes it’s in nature let it grow in the tank. Feed good food. Feed life if you have access to it. And you might end up with a good set of fish. Introducing new fish also does not help. After a tank hierarchy is set, breaking that with a new addition can make the boss of the tank snap. At then for the day who knows, but change does trigger (not to be confused with trigger fish haha) some towards evil if you will.