Small Acanthurus tangs

[zwalter38]

I’m looking to add a tang gang to my tank. I’ve made a post about it before but I wanted to get a little more specific with this post. I have a 6’ 135g mixed reef. I’m looking to add a group of three tangs. From what I read as long as I add them together and choose smaller species I should be good with the three. I want a yellow and Tomini for sure. I’m just trying to figure out which Acanthurus species to add to these two. Any suggestions? Id love a blue in color fish but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Most of them seem too big.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I’m looking to add a tang gang to my tank. I’ve made a post about it before but I wanted to get a little more specific with this post. I have a 6’ 135g mixed reef. I’m looking to add a group of three tangs. From what I read as long as I add them together and choose smaller species I should be good with the three. I want a yellow and Tomini for sure. I’m just trying to figure out which Acanthurus species to add to these two. Any suggestions? Id love a blue in color fish but I don’t think that’s going to happen. Most of them seem too big.

I currently have a 6' 125 and house 4 tangs - D.sailfin, hippo, powder brown and a purple.
All were added at different times. Sailfin is the oldest and biggest. He can be a bully at times but with enough rock they all do fine.

A powder blue would fit in your tank with the other two you mention, but they can be hard to sucessfully keep. if you are lucky and get a good one they are stunning and very lively swimmers using up the whole 6'

 

[littlefoxx]

Powder browns are super cool or chocolates! Powder blues are just nasty

 

[zwalter38]

I currently have a 6' 125 and house 4 tangs - D.sailfin, hippo, powder brown and a purple.
All were added at different times. Sailfin is the oldest and biggest. He can be a bully at times but with enough rock they all do fine.

A powder blue would fit in your tank with the other two you mention, but they can be hard to sucessfully keep. if you are lucky and get a good one they are stunning and very lively swimmers using up the whole 6'

A powder blue has crossed my mind many times. But I’ve just read so many posts about them being ick magnets and being super aggressive. I love them but I don’t think they are right for my tank sadly.

 

[zwalter38]

Powder browns are super cool or chocolates! Powder blues are just nasty

I have been really considering a chocolate. It seems there are so many different adult colorations. Is that the case?

 

[PPBlimpy]

a blue hippo may be a better option over the powder blue. They are pretty docile, lots of movement. not as prone to disease.

 

[BryanM]

My hippo tang is skittish, but doesn't bother anyone in the tank.

 

[Kasrift]

a blue hippo may be a better option over the powder blue. They are pretty docile, lots of movement. not as prone to disease.

They are ick magnets too from what I hear.

I'd quarantine regardless. I have a blue hippo that finished QT last week and is in observation mode and a Hybrid Powder Blue that finished QT and observation that I'm just waiting for a eDNA test result on.

Hybrid Powder Blues are supposedly much more peaceful since they are a hybrid with gold rim tangs which are one of the most peaceful acanthurus tangs.

 

[PPBlimpy]

In reality all tangs seem to have a high probability to getting ick. My powder brown is the only one that ever gets it in my tank. Whenever I introduce a new fish spots show up on it. I feed heavier for a couple days enticing him and the new fish to eat, vary their diet more to find what food each fish likes more.

i just manage it, I don't have the patience for a QT tank, or going fallow to get rid of it. slapped a big UV sterilizer and manage ick

I actually have documented what each of my fish seem to like most, and will feed that more heavily if signs of ick show up.

 

[areefer01]

I don't understand the "ick magnet" mindset. Properly taken care of the display tank along with source of animal resolves the problem. If the hobbyist is not able to properly QT then pay to have it done. So this shouldn't be a problem.

With regards to a blue hippo mentioned that isn't in the genus they are asking about. While it does resolve a blue color it is too large for the display in question. Or can be. They reach upwards to 12" in size when properly cared for.

 

[zwalter38]

I don't understand the "ick magnet" mindset. Properly taken care of the display tank along with source of animal resolves the problem. If the hobbyist is not able to properly QT then pay to have it done. So this shouldn't be a problem.

With regards to a blue hippo mentioned that isn't in the genus they are asking about. While it does resolve a blue color it is too large for the display in question. Or can be. They reach upwards to 12" in size when properly cared for.

I agree. I’m not too worried about diseases since I plan on quarantining. It’s obviously something to be concerned about but not overly worried. As for the size of the hippo, I also agree. It’s too big for my tank.

I originally wanted a yellow and Tomini. But I am starting to really like the chocolate tangs. Since they have a yellow coloration I’m considering doing a Tomini, purple, and chocolate.

 

[littlefoxx]

I have been really considering a chocolate. It seems there are so many different adult colorations. Is that the case?

Seems so, I see them in my LFS a lot and they all seem to have different colors. I want one but I think between my sailfin, sohal, and purple that tang would be murdered

 

[zwalter38]

Seems so, I see them in my LFS a lot and they all seem to have different colors. I want one but I think between my sailfin, sohal, and purple that tang would be murdered

Do you think if I added them all at the same time, a purple, chocolate, and Tomini would work together in my tank?

 

[Uncle99]

Do you think if I added them all at the same time, a purple, chocolate, and Tomini would work together in my tank?

I think that would have good prospects but I’m not a fan of purples, I went yellow tang instead.

 

[zwalter38]

I think that would have good prospects but I’m not a fan of purples, I went yellow tang instead.

I really like the yellows. My concern is based on my stocking I have a bunch of yellow, and a bunch of orange. If I got the chocolate tang, that’s adding to the yellow. Plus then a yellow tang would be a bunch of the same color.

What dont you like about Purples?

 

[Uncle99]

I really like the yellows. My concern is based on my stocking I have a bunch of yellow, and a bunch of orange. If I got the chocolate tang, that’s adding to the yellow. Plus then a yellow tang would be a bunch of the same color.

What dont you like about Purples?

My goals are always peaceful stuff that is social with others. Purple many times, has too much attitude for me. When I rehomed him, all probs ceased.

That’s not to say it won’t work. I put a yellow with a Desjardins and they are friends….(very similar shape and size) so to some extent…you gotta roll the dice sometimes.

Enjoy

 

[zwalter38]

My goals are always peaceful stuff that is social with others. Purple many times, has too much attitude for me. When I rehomed him, all probs ceased.

That’s not to say it won’t work. I put a yellow with a Desjardins and they are friends….(very similar shape and size) so to some extent…you gotta roll the dice sometimes.

Enjoy

Understood. Thank you!

 

[littlefoxx]

Do you think if I added them all at the same time, a purple, chocolate, and Tomini would work together in my tank?

Yeah just be ready for that purple to be a butthole!! Mine is lol but the other two can hold their own especially if added together.

 

[zwalter38]

Yeah just be ready for that purple to be a butthole!! Mine is lol but the other two can hold their own especially if added together.

Yea that’s what I’m afraid of. Id rather the Yellow but I don’t want three tangs with all the same colors. Maybe a different bristle tooth than a Tomini? Something like a blue eyed kole?

 

[littlefoxx]

Yea that’s what I’m afraid of. Id rather the Yellow but I don’t want three tangs with all the same colors. Maybe a different bristle tooth than a Tomini? Something like a blue eyed kole?

That works too