Mixing Tangs

[Perpetual Novice]

Hi all,

I've got about 8 months experience keeping my reef tank. I just upgraded to a 100 gallon from a 20! and I've got a biocube on the side as well. I've decided to add some tangs but I've already hit a snag.

I figure one tang would work, two tangs wouldn't work because of aggression, and three tangs would probably work because aggression is spread around more. Also, preemptively, I have plans for where to rehome the tangs when they get too large. I decided on three tangs with different body shapes. A sailfin, a powder blue, and a blue hippo.

I have a small blue hippo tang in the biocube. he is getting larger and is ready for a bigger tank so he will be moved to the 100 gallon. A week ago I bought the powder blue tang and put him in quarantine. then a few days ago I picked up a larger sailfin tang and added it as well. it may have been the high dose of copper, it may have been shipping stress, it may have already had parasites, but the sailfin tang did not adjust well to the quarantine tank. The powder blue was very aggressive and started pushing it into the corner and waving its tail at the sailfin tang. I didn't see any cuts on the sailfin but its fins were getting nipped. the next day it was breathing heavy and barely swimming. then it died.

I am concerned because it's clear the powder blue is very aggressive. So I need a larger tang to be dominant and keep him in check. there is no way that the hippo tang would do well against the powder blue by himself.

Ideally, I would get another larger zebrasoma tang through quarantine and into the display tank and give it a couple of weeks to establish itself before introducing the hippo and the powder blue. but now im way off schedule and not sure what to do with the powder blue because establishing it first would be a nightmare. I don't want to return this PB because I got a lucky specimen that is active and loves to eat after day one in quarantine and I don't know ill be so lucky on the next try.

What do I do?

 

[nereefpat]

I think the powder blue is going to give you trouble with any similarly shaped fish in a 100 gallon, and it will outgrow a 100 gallon anyway...

I would get a white tail, tomini, kole, or similar for the 100 gallon instead...just my opinion.

 

[Perpetual Novice]

But is it true that more than two tangs will stifle agression?

 

[Dragon52]

No, especially in a smaller tank. I had a convict,hippo,chevron & lemonpeel mimic tang in my 185gl with no aggression but they all went in at the same time & were small. I've since lost the Lemonpeel & Convict. Perfectly healthy one day dead the next. Bodies where in perfect shape when I found them so I can only think something internal. Although I would like to get more tangs I don't because of the possible aggression from the other 2 that have gotten bigger. I would have had to rehome them at some point anyway because they would have gotten to big even for my tank.

Welcome to R2R, you'll get plenty of info here from a lot of experienced people.

 

[MnFish1]

Hi all,

I've got about 8 months experience keeping my reef tank. I just upgraded to a 100 gallon from a 20! and I've got a biocube on the side as well. I've decided to add some tangs but I've already hit a snag.

I figure one tang would work, two tangs wouldn't work because of aggression, and three tangs would probably work because aggression is spread around more. Also, preemptively, I have plans for where to rehome the tangs when they get too large. I decided on three tangs with different body shapes. A sailfin, a powder blue, and a blue hippo.

I have a small blue hippo tang in the biocube. he is getting larger and is ready for a bigger tank so he will be moved to the 100 gallon. A week ago I bought the powder blue tang and put him in quarantine. then a few days ago I picked up a larger sailfin tang and added it as well. it may have been the high dose of copper, it may have been shipping stress, it may have already had parasites, but the sailfin tang did not adjust well to the quarantine tank. The powder blue was very aggressive and started pushing it into the corner and waving its tail at the sailfin tang. I didn't see any cuts on the sailfin but its fins were getting nipped. the next day it was breathing heavy and barely swimming. then it died.

I am concerned because it's clear the powder blue is very aggressive. So I need a larger tang to be dominant and keep him in check. there is no way that the hippo tang would do well against the powder blue by himself.

Ideally, I would get another larger zebrasoma tang through quarantine and into the display tank and give it a couple of weeks to establish itself before introducing the hippo and the powder blue. but now im way off schedule and not sure what to do with the powder blue because establishing it first would be a nightmare. I don't want to return this PB because I got a lucky specimen that is active and loves to eat after day one in quarantine and I don't know ill be so lucky on the next try.

What do I do?

Be patient - watching for aggression (meaning damage - not just chasing). I have 3 tangs 2 yellow - and a purple in my tank the 2 yellows tend to hang on either side the purple that is larger - goes all over - after 2 weeks they all swim together. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HIDING PLACES:)

 

[Mastiffsrule]

#WelcometoR2R

Hopefully they will all get along

 

[OrionN]

In a 100 gal I rec max 2 small size tang. Not PBT or Pacifin blue. Sailfinor Chevron.
Yellow and yellow eye kole tang to Tomini tang.

 

[Soronus]

I would also leave out the Powder Blue. My favorite fish of all time is a lieutenant Tang. Not as pretty but personality and they get more work done than a Power. Two spotted tang is also different and works hard.

 

[Swoody]

Unfortunately as beautiful as the PB is they are well known for aggression.... I’ve just added my 3rd Tang to my 255g (a Blonde Naso)... my Yellow is letting him know who’s boss but not overly so... my White Tail has not paid much attention to him.... I’m hoping that in another day or 2 the Yellow tires of his posturing and things return to normal.... he was really tough on the White Tail when he was placed but they have zero issues now. Hoping the best for you but it’s likely that your PB is going to give any Tang you add a rough time.

 

[DucatiGtr]

There are “no rules” when it comes to tangs.. I’ve had 4 in a 75 perfectly fine... and 18 in my 400 w just one being a bully..

I currently have 2 purple, 2 hippo, naso, vlamingi, des sailfin, 3 yellow, one hybrid yellow, a black spot tang (bariene) absolutely gorgeous.. and I think more.. I have a gem and mimic in qt..

Introduction and food are the most important to take aggression done.. the larger purple did chase a yellow for days out of no where on end.. put the purple in the sump 3 days then returned him to dt.. haven’t had an issue since..

I’ll ad an achillies last and maybe a few more.. I also have a good mix of wrasses and so on..

100
Gallon I would easily put 4 in... ones that don’t get too big.. but introduction and food play a huge role.. if you have tangs and aren’t feeding nori daily you shouldn’t even buy them.

Powder blues can be pretty nasty though.. add him last and see what happens... if he’s still bad you can get him out and if you really love those try a smaller one..

 

[Dirty_Birdy]

Get rid of the PB, they can be very aggressive and can get big, 100gal will not be enough room for it to establish a territory and this will add to the aggression. Best to add all the tangs to the tank at once. I would also say you might be better off getting smaller juvenile tangs. There will be less aggression and they will slowly work out dominance. I was keeping a yellow and sailfin in my 120 with no issues and no serious aggression, so if you want to have just two tangs in the tank you should be fine.
About a year ago I decided to add a Blue Hippo to the tank. I found a very small captive breed one, about the size of a quarter. I added it to the tank with the other two tangs and they didn't pay it any attention. If it's small they will not see it as a threat to there food source or territory. Good Luck

 

[MnFish1]

There are “no rules” when it comes to tangs.. I’ve had 4 in a 75 perfectly fine... and 18 in my 400 w just one being a bully..

I currently have 2 purple, 2 hippo, naso, vlamingi, des sailfin, 3 yellow, one hybrid yellow, a black spot tang (bariene) absolutely gorgeous.. and I think more.. I have a gem and mimic in qt..

Introduction and food are the most important to take aggression done.. the larger purple did chase a yellow for days out of no where on end.. put the purple in the sump 3 days then returned him to dt.. haven’t had an issue since..

I’ll ad an achillies last and maybe a few more.. I also have a good mix of wrasses and so on..

100
Gallon I would easily put 4 in... ones that don’t get too big.. but introduction and food play a huge role.. if you have tangs and aren’t feeding nori daily you shouldn’t even buy them.

Powder blues can be pretty nasty though.. add him last and see what happens... if he’s still bad you can get him out and if you really love those try a smaller one..

My purple tang - about 4.5 inches nose to tail is the boss of the tank in general - that said - he usually bullies any 'new' fish for 1-2 days - then afterwards actively pairs up with one and then another - to swim around the tank - sometimes leading sometimes following. I currently have 2 yellow tangs, (smaller) and a purple in my tank - they are all now getting along great. It sometimes takes patience.

 

[MnFish1]

Get rid of the PB, they can be very aggressive and can get big, 100gal will not be enough room for it to establish a territory and this will add to the aggression. Best to add all the tangs to the tank at once. I would also say you might be better off getting smaller juvenile tangs. There will be less aggression and they will slowly work out dominance. I was keeping a yellow and sailfin in my 120 with no issues and no serious aggression, so if you want to have just two tangs in the tank you should be fine.

Tangs can get quite large. That said - yellow tangs (for example can live for at least 40 years) - and it has been shown in research that growth slows at a certain point - and they only get to the maximum size after decades. So I maybe wouldn't worry about it too much? I have had tangs that were quite docile and others that were 'mean ' at least for a while. Is it the individual species or the individual fish that's to blame. If you buy a small PB it may take 30 years to get to full size - so I wouldn't worry about it (unless you're buying an 8 inch tank for a 100 gallon tank). JMO

 

[Perpetual Novice]

There are “no rules” when it comes to tangs.. I’ve had 4 in a 75 perfectly fine... and 18 in my 400 w just one being a bully..

I currently have 2 purple, 2 hippo, naso, vlamingi, des sailfin, 3 yellow, one hybrid yellow, a black spot tang (bariene) absolutely gorgeous.. and I think more.. I have a gem and mimic in qt..

Introduction and food are the most important to take aggression done.. the larger purple did chase a yellow for days out of no where on end.. put the purple in the sump 3 days then returned him to dt.. haven’t had an issue since..

I’ll ad an achillies last and maybe a few more.. I also have a good mix of wrasses and so on..

100
Gallon I would easily put 4 in... ones that don’t get too big.. but introduction and food play a huge role.. if you have tangs and aren’t feeding nori daily you shouldn’t even buy them.

Powder blues can be pretty nasty though.. add him last and see what happens... if he’s still bad you can get him out and if you really love those try a smaller one..

Ok. So am I right to think that more tangs will actually help with aggression since there’s no one-on-one competition?

Also the tiny hippo tang had to make it in there too.

Here is my plan right now. Let me know what you think:
I get a larger tang that’s generally more peaceful. Like the sailfin that I originally got. Not huge. But definitely bigger than the powder blue. I put the powder blue in observation tank after quarantine and immediately buy the sailfin and add it through quarantine. The sailfin will go straight from quarantine to the tank while the powder blue waits in observation. The small hippo tang will go in at the same time.
I give those two 2 weeks to establish then finally release the powder blue from observation into the display.

Also maybe put a small naso or kole tang through quarantine with the sailfin if that might help?

 

[ca1ore]

There are lots of things that you can do that you probably shouldn’t. There will also always be somebody who says they have 6 tangs in a 75 ..... doesn’t make it a good idea. Remember that fish are individuals, and you might get lucky with mellow individuals, or you might not. Putting social pressure on tangs by keeping them in cramped conditions is just asking for trouble. I have 10 in my tank, but it’s a 450 with plenty of swimming room and space to diffuse aggression. Even so, mine are in a perpetual state of uneasy tolerance.

 

[DucatiGtr]

Ok. So am I right to think that more tangs will actually help with aggression since there’s no one-on-one competition?

Also the tiny hippo tang had to make it in there too.

Here is my plan right now. Let me know what you think:
I get a larger tang that’s generally more peaceful. Like the sailfin that I originally got. Not huge. But definitely bigger than the powder blue. I put the powder blue in observation tank after quarantine and immediately buy the sailfin and add it through quarantine. The sailfin will go straight from quarantine to the tank while the powder blue waits in observation. The small hippo tang will go in at the same time.
I give those two 2 weeks to establish then finally release the powder blue from observation into the display.

Also maybe put a small naso or kole tang through quarantine with the sailfin if that might help?

Sounds like a plan.. no fun if we can’t have the tank like we want.. def get a smaller pb.... u can put all the others in then just add the pb last.. it’s In my experience I’ve never seen those other fish you mention to be aggressive at all.

Nori def lowers aggression, and feed well..
I actually would chase my bully tangs when first introducing w a Kent marine razer holder stick lol.. it worked 99% of the time.. maybe you will get lucky w the pb