Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[DarkReefer]

Hi guys,
Currently have a Blue (hippo) tang and a purple tang in my tank. Been having some troubles with GHA and my LFS suggested adding in a bristletooth tang (like a 2 spot, or tomini) which should help by picking at the rocks all day (once I pull a bunch of it out).
Do you think this will be okay or will I likely see aggression between the tangs?
The purple is the most recent addition added about 5 months ago, the blue has been around for years and seems to tussle or do something with my foxface every now and then (not sure if the fox is kicking that one off though) but otherwise from what I can see no real aggression in the tank currently.

Other inhabitants include;
cleaner wrasse
yellow wrasse
flame hawkfish
foxface rabbitfish
bicolor blenny
clownfish pair

Looking to add around 5ish anthias or so soon too, so could maybe potentially add the bristletooth in with those so theres a bunch of new additions at once to help distract the others if that helps?
Happy to hear other potential better suited suggestions if you have them also.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I’m quarantining a Sailfin that is going to go into a 200 gallon. This will be the first fish. Did I screw up? Should I have done multiple tangs in QT with it?



My eventual plan is a Hippo and Orange Shoulder. I have toyed around with a yellow mimic but I’m not sure.

 

[4FordFamily]

The short answer is that it depends. But if you add them quickly, it probably will work better in your favor. I don’t typically find that zebrasoma tangs, namely sailfin are overly aggressive - but every one is different. If he’s king of the tank and it’s a barren tank otherwise - it admittedly does increase the risk a bit.

Zebrasoma tangs don’t often hold long grudges and get over it within 1-7 days, however.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m quarantining a Sailfin that is going to go into a 200 gallon. This will be the first fish. Did I screw up? Should I have done multiple tangs in QT with it?



My eventual plan is a Hippo and Orange Shoulder. I have toyed around with a yellow mimic but I’m not sure.

If you have multiple new tangs- recommended but not too late to add them in. for 30 days

 

[LiquidSpace]

If you have multiple new tangs- recommended but not too late to add them in. for 30 days

This one has only been in there for 6 days. I guess I’ll be grabbing the Mimic Tang tomorrow.

 

[mdrobc13]

This one has only been in there for 6 days. I guess I’ll be grabbing the Mimic Tang tomorrow.

Best thing to do is to look at which genus you're adding and add them as juveniles at same time yes. I added both my Purple tang and yellow tang at same time and they currently get along fine for now going on 18 mos! Hippo tang was added also as a juvenile shortly after and no issues also. So adding juvenile fish and as a collective is a good idea and will help you be successful.

Other additions have been problematic but currently just added a Naso tang and Bristletooth after a medium clown tang. That was after a few issues/failures with an achilles (ich), Lt Tang (not sure what got him) and an orange shoulder tang and powder blue. Have to know the temperament and when to add them. Some tangs just will NOT tolerate other tangs whether juvenile or as adults while others will do so if fish are smaller than them or added before them. Powder Blue Tangs are well known for being temperamental like that and taking a dislike to a certain fish and holding it to the death of one of them. A powder blue and a powder brown for example will not work unless system is very large or added as juveniles and with some luck of the draw also. While some like Sohal's will be nice for a while but may even turn on fellow friends and become terrors especially as they grow older!

Also take into account sequence of adding the fish...some fish like my Clown Tang or Powder blue tang or the Sohal tang (died in QT) need to be added last and with respect to size and amount of other fish currently in the system. My Clown tang was QTd for 45 day and got a medium size fish as I knew that given my PT is now largest fish in the system...he'd need to have size and temperment to hold his own...which has happened. QT EVERY tang you get and find...ones like Hippo Tang and Achilles and Powder Blue are well KNOWN to have ich and are sensitive to disease and parasites so keeping them in QT for 30-60 days and making sure they are well fed and happy will pay spades to you! Good Luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

This one has only been in there for 6 days. I guess I’ll be grabbing the Mimic Tang tomorrow.

I dont see an issue with adding chocolate and rarely if ever will aggression occur in QT as it will in display. Having 26 tangs and little to no squabbling the only precaution is adding the aggressive ones last but if you dont known aggressive tangs, you will likely fare well
Some known aggressive are :
Sohal
clown although mine is very good an at near 10"
sailfin
Lavender
Powder blue
scopas
purple
Occasionally - Hepatus blue

 

[buruskeee]

I’m planning on adding a Blonde Naso as my last tang. Currently have 3 yellows that are 4”, 4.5”, and 5”, a Purple at 4.5”, and Yellow Belly Blue Regal at just about 6”. Should I wait a bit longer until the fish get a bit bigger or is adding a juvenile Blonde Naso ok? It will be the last Tang I’m adding for a total of 6.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m planning on adding a Blonde Naso as my last tang. Currently have 3 yellows that are 4”, 4.5”, and 5”, a Purple at 4.5”, and Yellow Belly Blue Regal at just about 6”. Should I wait a bit longer until the fish get a bit bigger or is adding a juvenile Blonde Naso ok? It will be the last Tang I’m adding for a total of 6.

Be careful with blonde naso. Thet are more peaceful than you realize as I have a 9" one and is top notch as far as peacefulness but there has been an issue And an influx of these fish are coming from Sri Lanka and it is suspected that a method of capture is contributing to this trend in which the fish appears healthy the first few days and then weakens quickly with loss of appetite and strength and then found laying on its side, thin body and breathing heavy until death. It may be due to cyanide capture but unconfirmed.

 

[buruskeee]

Be careful with blonde naso. Thet are more peaceful than you realize as I have a 9" one and is top notch as far as peacefulness but there has been an issue And an influx of these fish are coming from Sri Lanka and it is suspected that a method of capture is contributing to this trend in which the fish appears healthy the first few days and then weakens quickly with loss of appetite and strength and then found laying on its side, thin body and breathing heavy until death. It may be due to cyanide capture but unconfirmed.

Thank you for the warnings.

If they are more peaceful than I originally assumed, should I get a slightly more mature one over a juvenile? For instance, one that is about the size of my other Tangs?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the warnings.

If they are more peaceful than I originally assumed, should I get a slightly more mature one over a juvenile? For instance, one that is about the size of my other Tangs?

yes or a Pre-owned ( someone selling their fish). Got mine at 6"

 

[0MNSH1ZLLC]

Haven’t had any issues with my big Sohal in a year or so but I always put the mirror up.

Tried to add pretty big blueline trigger and the Sohal wasn’t having it…the randomness of it is very very annoying.

Luckily I got the trigger out in time but damage was done, here’s the aftermath:

 

[TrottingReef]

Thank you for the warnings.

If they are more peaceful than I originally assumed, should I get a slightly more mature one over a juvenile? For instance, one that is about the size of my other Tangs?

Naso's are known for being the least aggressive of most Tangs. Individuals are always individual but generally its a safe bet that a Naso will be the most peaceful of Tangs. I would try to get an older Tang or as @vetteguy53081 said get one that is being rehomed because it go to big.

 

[LiquidSpace]

Well…I picked out an orange shoulder and it was fine in QT since Sunday. Come home today and the orange shoulder is torn to shreds and moribund.

I am really regretting picking the sailfin as my first fish. Pretty though! QT is a 20 gallon long and admittedly there is a size difference, which was probably stupid of me.

I’m in a pickle.

Ultimately I want two spotbreast angelfish, a sailfin, blue tang and orange shoulder. I am guessing what I SHOULD have done is started with the angels and then gotten all three tangs together. So I just ride it out with the sailfin, do the angels in a few months and see what happens? Any thoughts on that?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well…I picked out an orange shoulder and it was fine in QT since Sunday. Come home today and the orange shoulder is torn to shreds and moribund.

I am really regretting picking the sailfin as my first fish. Pretty though! QT is a 20 gallon long and admittedly there is a size difference, which was probably stupid of me.

I’m in a pickle.

Ultimately I want two spotbreast angelfish, a sailfin, blue tang and orange shoulder. I am guessing what I SHOULD have done is started with the angels and then gotten all three tangs together. So I just ride it out with the sailfin, do the angels in a few months and see what happens? Any thoughts on that?

Typical monsters: Soha;, clown, sailfin, purple and scopas

 

[LiquidSpace]

I’m thinking the best thing to do is donate it to the LFS, add some other fish, then add all the tangs together. Would that be the consensus around here?

Keeping a Sailfin in the display for months before introducing anything else is asking for trouble, right? dang, I even read this thread. The plan was always to do the tangs last. I just couldn’t help myself when I saw it.

 

[TrottingReef]

I’m thinking the best thing to do is donate it to the LFS, add some other fish, then add all the tangs together. Would that be the consensus around here?

Keeping a Sailfin in the display for months before introducing anything else is asking for trouble, right? dang, I even read this thread. The plan was always to do the tangs last. I just couldn’t help myself when I saw it.

Yes that sounds like the best plan.

 

[salty joe]

I have a 5 inch lieutenant and a 3 inch purple tang as well as 3 clowns, a 5" foxface and a pair of mature blue ring angels and a handful of little gobies and what not. Size of tank is 4'x'8'x 3'deep, with tons of hiding spots.

Do you guys think a 1" blue hippo would have a reasonable chance if I provided food the others can not get to?

I'm mostly concerned the other two tangs would destroy it right off the bat.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a 5 inch lieutenant and a 3 inch purple tang as well as 3 clowns, a 5" foxface and a pair of mature blue ring angels and a handful of little gobies and what not. Size of tank is 4'x'8'x 3'deep, with tons of hiding spots.

Do you guys think a 1" blue hippo would have a reasonable chance if I provided food the others can not get to?

I'm mostly concerned the other two tangs would destroy it right off the bat.

1" will have an issue with the purple tang, Likely. Go at least 3"

 

[forestsofkelp]

I used to have a scopas, a PBT and a gem in a 180g. They got along great but the scopas would hide. Over the last year my tangs died, and I am trying to rebuild

Due to a chemistry spike the PBT and scopas died, leaving only my big gem. A
Month later I added a PBT (baby) and a white tail bristle tooth. The Gem would bully them.

A month or so later, yesterday. The gem died. I am heartbroken. There is nothing wrong my chemistry, and no illness. Total mystery. I don’t feed much nori because they all look fat and happy

I have a foxface coming today. So I’ll have him, my pbt and my bristletooth in a 180 (with some small wrasses)

Would it be foolish to add a gem back in? Anything I *can* add in? Or just leave it? My gut says leave it but it looked so good with 3 tangs…that being said the foxface will get pretty big and tang-like.

Re: nori: i have hair algae in my tank. I feed 2 sheet of nori once a week. It’s gone in 12 hrs, but also disintegrates after 12 hours too. They ate/eat Rods food as well and pellets . Tangs always looked fat and happy. I assumed they were eating tank algae and supplementing with meat. Any chance I was underrating them and they were eating meat because they had to? I am wracking my brain

I am really bummed these fish passed. I am looking to learn. Thank you tang people