Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[cdnco2004]

2 Days ago I added a Majestic Angel and Queen Angel to my 220g with 5 Tangs, one of them a Powder Blue Tang infamous for their aggression to new tank mates they see as competition. I was concerned about the PBT and how it would act toward the two new Angels. Sure enough it was very aggressive towards them. I had them in acclimation boxes and the PBT was trying to go at them in the boxes. I have used mirrors with very good results in the past. I could not find my 2 hand mirrors that I would affix them to the tank to distract the Tangs. I went to Walmart to get some new ones. I found a 16"x16" mirror for $5.99 and decided to give it a try. It was MUCH bigger than the 5 and 6" mirrors I had before. In the past it would take me 4-7 days to get the PBT to calm down and leave the new additions alone. I put the mirror up on the right side panel and boy did that mirror cause a distraction. Over half the tanks inhabitants spent the next 24 hours glued to the right side of the tank inspecting them selves in the mirror with the PBT trying to kill its reflection. I released the two Angels and they were completely ignored. Today would have been day 3 of having the mirror up. I decided to see how the PBT would react if I took it down and sure enough, the PBT has ignored the two Angels since I took it down. This was the first time with any of the additions since I got the PBT that it ignored the newcomers in less than 4 days. I think the larger mirror was what did the trick.

Link to mirror below, not sure why it says Robot or Human.
Mainstays 16 x 16 Black Mirror:

Robot or human?

 

[Lostoften]

Planning for restocking my RS 625 attempt 2. Unfortunately, lost all the fish due to a disease outbreak. Prior to outbreak, I had a blue hippo, gem tang, purple tang, white tail bristle tooth and a tomini tang. The blue hippo was added first, and was extremely small. All the other tangs were added together couple months after the blue hippo. Reading through these post, it seems I was on borrowed time with the hippo in a 5ft tank. Would the other tangs be likely to succeed in a ~130ish gallon 5’ tank? Or better to stick to 3 tangs.

 

[nick0206]

Hi. I'll share my experience with tangs first, and then ask a question.
My first tank had a Hippo tang and a Yellow tang. I had no idea that tangs could be aggressive. Then I added a blue powder to them and didn't see any aggression.
When I started the second tank, I was told about their aggression at LFS, and was advised to start Blue Powder first because of his tendency to stress and illness as a result.
A couple of months later, Yellow and Sailfin were added. I thought he would kill them, because he immediately attacked them. In the morning, all three swam like friends, but it was clear that they pronounced it as a dominant.
Moving to another city and another tank was a heavy price for me. Apart from sailfin, no one survived (it's a long story).
A Purple tang was added to the new tank. At first, there was some aggression, but it passed quickly enough. Next was Foxface, but he was able to fight off both thangs, so they still don't like him, but they don't bully him too much.

Now the question.
I want to add more surgeons. I have a list of those I like. Yellow and Achilles I am not considering yet because they are expensive. Of what I am considering
Blue Powder
Naso
Sohal
Clown
Should I add two thangs at the same time?
What size?
I don't have QT, so I think it is better to buy them not in LFS.
Thanks

 

[cdnco2004]

Hi. I'll share my experience with tangs first, and then ask a question.
My first tank had a Hippo tang and a Yellow tang. I had no idea that tangs could be aggressive. Then I added a blue powder to them and didn't see any aggression.
When I started the second tank, I was told about their aggression at LFS, and was advised to start Blue Powder first because of his tendency to stress and illness as a result.
A couple of months later, Yellow and Sailfin were added. I thought he would kill them, because he immediately attacked them. In the morning, all three swam like friends, but it was clear that they pronounced it as a dominant.
Moving to another city and another tank was a heavy price for me. Apart from sailfin, no one survived (it's a long story).
A Purple tang was added to the new tank. At first, there was some aggression, but it passed quickly enough. Next was Foxface, but he was able to fight off both thangs, so they still don't like him, but they don't bully him too much.

Now the question.
I want to add more surgeons. I have a list of those I like. Yellow and Achilles I am not considering yet because they are expensive. Of what I am considering
Blue Powder
Naso
Sohal
Clown
Should I add two thangs at the same time?
What size?
I don't have QT, so I think it is better to buy them not in LFS.
Thanks

The LFS had it completely backwards. The PBT should have been the last to add. They are tied in the top three most aggressive tangs. Purples are also in the top 10 aggressive tangs. Naso's tend to be among the most docile of Tangs. For the last year Naso tangs having been having a very poor survival rate for some reason. I would add Naso first and PBT last. I am not sure between the Sohal and Clown. Maybe add them both at the same time. You are better off trying to get them all the same size. I would say start with them young and SMALL. Also since you can't do QT purchase them from a QT fish vendor like Fish Hotel, Dr Reefs and Marine Collectors. They will be much more likely to survive and thrive.

 

[barrybaok]

I had 2 X 1.5" clowns, 1 X 2.5" blue tang, 1 X 3.5" gem tang in my Red Sea 300xl with a 65g display tank
It was a nightmare after adding 2 x 1.5" clowns
1 of the new clown died, 1 of the old female clown died, gem tang was bullying the blue tang and ick occurred and blue tang died soon after. The gem tang, 1 old male clown, and 1 new clown survived after treatment. The gem tang will scare the 2 clowns away during feeding, and it bite the rainbow hammer torch and bothers others during coral feeding. I'm gonna trade/sell it or transfer to the 20g tank after new tank cycle. I love how tangs eat algae on rocks but this gem tang is annoying. Planning on adding 2-3 blue tang or 1 of each blue/gem/yellow tang after

 

[cdnco2004]

Tangs are going to feel extremely cramped in a 65g tank and that leads to very aggressive behavior. Clowns are also very territorial. Even young tangs lash out and attack other fish when they are in tanks too small.

 

[125mph]

I have a 3.5" purple tang that is the boss of the tank... also have a yellow belly blue tang about 3" and he is pretty chill and just runs away from purple tang if chased..

Those tangs are existing in the DT... I just finished QT a 4" whitetail tang and a 3" achilles tang.. Introduced them together to the DT.. To my surprise, the whitetail is trying to be the boss, and chases every fish. Immediately the purple and the whitetail were sparring and both got injured. Fins are separated on the purple and the whitetail has some body gashes.. Now it seems they are laying off each other a bit with the occasional chase.

The achilles is doing best with no blemish on him though he does hold his grown when the purple or whitetail tries to bully him..

I'm hoping tthe whitetail and purple find their spot and stop sparring. However, it seems like the whitetail is so busy trying to defend his favorite rock from any fish that gets near it, he has stopped eating. I give lots of food and every fish eats and the whitetail is holding the rock position rather than eating.. How do I get him to eat or it will happen on its own? He ate fine in QT.

Also I gave the tank nori multiple times but none of the tangs are interested. I tied it to a small rock and the wrasse eat it but the tangs dont care for it. Tried regular nori and tried purple nori. After a while it starts flying around in the water column, the purple gave it a try and then spit it out lol. I know feeding nori suppose to help with the aggression but none of them care for it.

 

[cdnco2004]

What size of tank you putting them all in.

 

[125mph]

What size of tank you putting them all in.

It's a 180G (64x29x22).

Finally got the whitetail to eat.. Threw in a few pinches of Formula Two Pellets and he chased it, ate pellets, and went back to his rock to hold it again lol.

 

[OnePuffMan]

I'm looking to add a Scopas tang with either an Orange Stripe or Blue Eye Spotted Kole Tang. Would this be OK if added at the same time? Would one be better than the other?