Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[4FordFamily]

Hi,

I had ruled out the idea, but my wife really wants a Powder Blue Tang for our 250-gallon tank. My concern is that I’m planning to add an Emperor Angelfish and a Flame Angelfish once our SPS corals have grown out. I might also add a Yellow Tang if their prices ever drop here in Europe.
How difficult would it be to introduce those fish into a tank where a Powder Blue Tang is already established?

Thanks.

On one hand, the angelfish may not be an issue as they are not tangs. On the other hand tangs are so aggressive, especially powder blue - that they can target just about any herbivore or any fish.

Everything is high risk with powder blues. I would add them last. That said, there is at least a chance this would work. If the powder blue is the sole tang of the tank, It is most likely to be very nasty.

 

[Pseudodiego]

Well, against my better judgment, I just bought a PBT. Let’s hope this one behaves as the single tang of my tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well, against my better judgment, I just bought a PBT. Let’s hope this one behaves as the single tang of my tank.

Best of luck

 

[mdrobc13]

On one hand, the angelfish may not be an issue as they are not tangs. On the other hand tangs are so aggressive, especially powder blue - that they can target just about any herbivore or any fish.

Everything is high risk with powder blues. I would add them last. That said, there is at least a chance this would work. If the powder blue is the sole tang of the tank, It is most likely to be very nasty.

I've added Powder Blues to a tank with tangs successfully by ensuring 1) its the last fish added as far as tangs 2) its bigger than any other tangs 3) tank is big enough and 4) lots of feeding and nori 5) it IS quarantined thoroughly. PBTs ALL have ich even when they look like they don't and when stressed (like introducing into a new environment/tank) they show it! Put one in with a powder brown and the battled until I added one larger than the current inhabitant. Then success. Bigger tank and temperament meant it could hold its own. Good luck.

 

[mdrobc13]

Looking at restocking and LFS has a small like 4" Sohal tang...love this fish and always have wanted one but have a Gold Rim Tang that I am about to stock in my DT with a small purple tang, small hippo tank, small sailfin tang currently in my 55 gal QT. Yes they all get along). Tank is 300gal. Last tangs on my list would be Sohal, Clown, or Powder Blue Tang...only ONE of them and have had all but the Sohal before successfully. Any thoughts or leave the last tang addition alone....or start a new tank! HA. wife would love that. NOT LOL

 

[mdrobc13]

Well tried it and the Gold Rim and Sohal combo did not work. Guess who came out on top and who ended up stressed and deceased and showing ICH and signs of damage. :(. Sohal for the win.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looking at restocking and LFS has a small like 4" Sohal tang...love this fish and always have wanted one but have a Gold Rim Tang that I am about to stock in my DT with a small purple tang, small hippo tank, small sailfin tang currently in my 55 gal QT. Yes they all get along). Tank is 300gal. Last tangs on my list would be Sohal, Clown, or Powder Blue Tang...only ONE of them and have had all but the Sohal before successfully. Any thoughts or leave the last tang addition alone....or start a new tank! HA. wife would love that. NOT LOL

Powder Blue and Sohal will be your nightmare in time especially Powder blue

 

[Borat]

One shoild never break a Golden Rule of Tangs - no more than 1 (one) tang per gallon of water!

 

[4FordFamily]

Well tried it and the Gold Rim and Sohal combo did not work. Guess who came out on top and who ended up stressed and deceased and showing ICH and signs of damage. :(. Sohal for the win.

Sorry, tangs can be tough but definitely most acanthurus need to be in a parasite-free environment.

 

[GillMeister]

One shoild never break a Golden Rule of Tangs - no more than 1 (one) tang per gallon of watwater.

NOT!

 

[Pseudodiego]

I’m curious what typically triggers aggression in tangs. Yesterday I added three new fish to my 250-gallon tank that already has a Powder Blue Tang: a Diamond Goby, a small clownfish, and a Yellow Coris Wrasse. The tang completely ignores the clownfish and the goby, but it really seems to dislike the wrasse. As soon as the wrasse comes out from the rocks, the tang chases it super aggresively.

I guess the luxury sump resort will soon have a new guest. Might leave him there until I add the remaining planned fish.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m curious what typically triggers aggression in tangs. Yesterday I added three new fish to my 250-gallon tank that already has a Powder Blue Tang: a Diamond Goby, a small clownfish, and a Yellow Coris Wrasse. The tang completely ignores the clownfish and the goby, but it really seems to dislike the wrasse. As soon as the wrasse comes out from the rocks, the tang chases it super aggresively.

I guess the luxury sump resort will soon have a new guest. Might leave him there until I add the remaining planned fish.

Having as of today 31 tangs, they are often territorial and aggressive in nature. Mirror trick rarely works and best to introduce any when tank is dark. Do I get an occasional battle, yes but no damage to the fish

 

[Pseudodiego]

Glad to say that everything has calmed down. The wrasse hid in the sand for nearly a week, and when it finally emerged, the PBT didn’t bother it at all.

 

[litsoh]

Completely anecdotal, but the mirror trick has worked wonders for me when adding fish in with my existing tang. My yellow eye kole was the first tang in the tank and got along well enough with the existing fish. When I added my milletseed butterfly in via an acclimation box he left it alone, but once I let him out a few days later the chasing began right up until I added a mirror. The tang then focused all his attention to his own reflection and left the butterfly alone. After a couple days of that I removed the mirror and everything was okay. Mirror worked again when I added in a hippo tang and most recently when I added two flame angels and two exquisite firefish.

I’m sure it probably helps that it was a kole tang instead of a powder blue or brown but there was still an aggression issue that was solved with the mirror

 

[Nerdist Aquarist]

I introduced a Yellow Tang and it did not go well at all. Purple tang had the Yellow like a ragdoll and did some major damage. Purple tang acted like it was possessed by pure evil! I wasn't sure the pure guy would make it, but it recovered after a few weeks in my sump/refugium.

I've reintroduced it, this time with an acrylic sheet dividing the tank. Hopefully they'll get used to each other over time and I can remove the separator.

 

[kboogie]

Having as of today 31 tangs, they are often territorial and aggressive in nature. Mirror trick rarely works and best to introduce any when tank is dark. Do I get an occasional battle, yes but no damage to the fish

I'm with you. People need to understand what " bad aggression " is. If a fish briefly chases another fish away and immediately returns to its normal behavior, then that is not an issue so long as it is not constant. If it happens several times per day, that is fine. I don't want to derail this good conversation by bringing up pathogen eradication vs pathogen management; I do find the root of the concern comes from having environments where pathogen management is practiced, so slight stressors are a problem.

I also feel you are doing something more people need to understand and copy, which is that when you have territorial fish you need to have large numbers of them and not just a few.

 

[4FordFamily]

I introduced a Yellow Tang and it did not go well at all. Purple tang had the Yellow like a ragdoll and did some major damage. Purple tang acted like it was possessed by pure evil! I wasn't sure the pure guy would make it, but it recovered after a few weeks in my sump/refugium.

I've reintroduced it, this time with an acrylic sheet dividing the tank. Hopefully they'll get used to each other over time and I can remove the separator.

I hope it works but unfortunately there is a high risk especially if the only two tangs. Zebrasoma do best added in trios or 4 if you have the real estate. Hopefully it works this time but keep a close eye!

I introduced a Yellow Tang and it did not go well at all. Purple tang had the Yellow like a ragdoll and did some major damage. Purple tang acted like it was possessed by pure evil! I wasn't sure the pure guy would make it, but it recovered after a few weeks in my sump/refugium.

I've reintroduced it, this time with an acrylic sheet dividing the tank. Hopefully they'll get used to each other over time and I can remove the separator.

I hope it works but unfortunately there is a high risk especially if the only two tangs. Zebrasoma do best added in trios or 4 if you have the real estate. Hopefully it works this time but keep a close eye!

 

[AmateurAlchemist]

I've got a 180g display / 72x26x26 coming. LPS dominant. Lots of live rock. This is my current 4ft/100g livestock, all will be moved to the 6ft tank.

• Gem tang
• Flame angel
• Copperband
• Mystery wrasse
• 2x Picasso Clownfish
• Foxface
• Banggai cardinal
• Clown goby
• Peppermint shrimp

I plan to add-

• Firefish
• Yellow watchman + pistol shrimp
• Smaller, peaceful wrasse and/or yellow dottyback
• Small school of Chromis OR Anthias and/or a royal gramma

Currently have the ~6" gem tang and ~7" foxface in the 4ft. Gem is getting to be a bit of a bully, almost entirely towards the foxface. I suspect that's at least partially due to it being 1:1 in a relatively small tank.

For the 6ft tank I'm torn between two options-

1. Three Zebrasoma- gem, yellow and black
2. Gem, tomini, small acanthurus (probably tristis) + moorish idol

My plan is to add everyone but these food competitors to the 6ft in advance, then add tangs / Foxface / Moorish Idol together.

I'm aiming for a relatively peaceful, long term home for everyone. A bigger tank isn't on the cards for the foreseeable future.

I'd ultimately love to have the three zebrasoma together but I'm worried about aggression, especially in the long term.

Is there any way I can make 3 Zebrasoma work with confidence?

If yes, would you add a small black and yellow so they're less of a threat, or the biggest possible so they can defend themselves? Would adding additional, small tangs (for example, tomini and mimic) help diffuse aggression?

I've been reading every thread I can but the jury is still out!

Just to follow up here- I went with the large gem, medium/large black and a medium yellow. All started well, then, over the course of a year or so, the yellow became increasingly more unhappy with not being tank boss. It kept sparring with the black and then eventually even the gem (who was an absolute unit by comparison). It was all for show, but culminated with my regal angel being sliced. I didn’t see the injury occur but there’s no doubt in my mind that it was simply caught in the cross fire. It’s since made a full recovery, thankfully.

So I decided to re-home the yellow. To say it didn’t come willingly would be an understatement. I basically destroyed the tank in the process. The black and gem were largely fine together but knowing I had a chevron en route, at this point decided to pull the gem too, rather than risk having to pull the tank apart a second time to get it out.

On the plus side, the chevron has been with the black for a few months now; they coexist with absolutely 0 issues (so far, knock on wood!) All’s well the ends well, eh?

 

[4FordFamily]

Just to follow up here- I went with the large gem, medium/large black and a medium yellow. All started well, then, over the course of a year or so, the yellow became increasingly more unhappy with not being tank boss. It kept sparring with the black and then eventually even the gem (who was an absolute unit by comparison). It was all for show, but culminated with my regal angel being sliced. I didn’t see the injury occur but there’s no doubt in my mind that it was simply caught in the cross fire. It’s since made a full recovery, thankfully.

So I decided to re-home the yellow. To say it didn’t come willingly would be an understatement. I basically destroyed the tank in the process. The black and gem were largely fine together but knowing I had a chevron en route, at this point decided to pull the gem too, rather than risk having to pull the tank apart a second time to get it out.

On the plus side, the chevron has been with the black for a few months now; they coexist with absolutely 0 issues (so far, knock on wood!) All’s well the ends well, eh?

Sorry it didn’t work out perfectly but glad it’s mostly worked out and wow what a bit fun setup!