Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[mjreefs]

It's going to be hit or miss. Naso might be a good choice, although mine beats on/harasses (no damage yet) my 7" Blonde Naso male with streamers. Not a good idea, as a naso has two scalpels on each side... mine will likely calm down when the tank becomes more crowded. I have a GIANT achilles tang (probably 9-10 inches) that will be going in if he makes it through quarantine, I have a feeling this Sohal won't be tank boss much longer...



I've seen juveniles available on stocklists at some suppliers recently. I will say that a Passer angel is scared of nothing, so that doesn't surprise me. I've just not witnessed them "starting fights", just finishing them. Mine haven't gone looking for trouble or picking on anyone but have no problem defending themselves in the event trouble finds them.

I'll share my experience with them once I get one next year. My goal this year is to have a good-sized established pair of scribbled angelfish so that when the passer comes in, it wouldn't be much of an issue (hopefully)

 

[RazorD]

@4FordFamily
When you introduce batches of tangs, do you QT them all together? I’m going fallow and figured this may be the best time for me to get any last tangs I want together. The tank layout is rather open because I’m running copper for ~ 30 days but will have some PVC hiding spots.

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily
When you introduce batches of tangs, do you QT them all together? I’m going fallow and figured this may be the best time for me to get any last tangs I want together. The tank layout is rather open because I’m running copper for ~ 30 days but will have some PVC hiding spots.

Yes indeed I do :)

 

[Tajaba]

hey @4FordFamily just wanted to drop by and say thanks for all of the tips and tricks on keeping tangs together!

In the end, I managed to keep 10 tangs together and they are now happily a #tanggang ! (they swim and graze together)

I got
2 X Tomini tangs (one of them was a rescue)
2 X Pacific Blue tangs (again, 1 of them was a rescue)
1 X Indian ocean Striated Tang (I honestly got him for 10$ because he was getting killed in the LFS tank and no one knew what he was)
1 X Orange Shoulder tang (an actual tang that I wanted)
1 X Mimic lemon peel tang (also 1 that I wanted)
1 X Yellow Tang
1 X Naso Tang
1 X Powder Brown Tang (This one was a mistake because I wanted powder blues and gold rimmed as well but thought it would be easier to put in a powder brown first cus I thought they were the least aggressive.......guess what!)
1 X Normal fox face

They have been living together pretty happily now for the past 4 months without incident in a 4000 litre tank.

my question to you is whether it is still possible for me to add a new comer tang to the tank to spice up the color a bit? I love my fishes but I really actually wanted a bit more flashy colors from the tang gang. If anyone is reading this, let my mistake be a lesson, Powder browns are also really aggressive and they will harass all newcomers to your tank!

 

[TheHarold]

Going well I think! The sailfin and sohal are slightly aggressive with eachother occasionally, but no real damage is visible. More as the lights go down.

And yeah.... the wrasse eats algae. what the heck

 

[Huff747]

Question on combining/upgrading tanks.

I have placed my order with my LFS for a 750XXL. I currently have a 125 with a PBT, Purple, and Desjardin that all get along (it was supposed to be a trio of Zebrasoma as suggested but I apparently cannot keep a Yellow Tang alive through QT). I have a 40 breeder that has a Kole. The plan is to combine the two tanks into the 750 and just have 1 tank to maintain.

My main question is should I or could I add another Zebrasoma tang when I do the transfer to the new tank? I originally was shooting for 3 Zebrasomas but had 2 yellows die in QT. One looked awful, ate well and then died, the other looked amazing, never ate a thing and died. But that's a story for another day. So I gave up on trying to QT 3 Zebrasomas together and the PBT kind of fell in my lap from a local reefer so I ended up with the current combo.

If the combo I have now is getting along should I leave it alone as it goes to the new tank or will it be better going forward if there were 3 Zebrasomas. I do have a Yellow Scopas in QT now because I got a good deal on it but I could take him back to the LFS if I should leave well enough alone.

Do you think there will be any issue adding the Kole to the group? He's smaller than all the others.

Edit: Would really like a gem tang. When I saw pictures online I wasn't impressed, but once our LFS got one in they look much better in person. Not sure I can bring myself to pay that much for one fish though.

 

[DoobDob]

I've got a tomini tang in a 90g that seems to get along with everyone but 1 tank mate, my diamond watchman goby. For the first year, they got along great, then something changed, I don't know. I've tried removing the tang and putting him in another tank for a few months to see if his aggression went away, that did not work. My goby just hides all day now any tips? thanks.

 

[Huff747]

Bump. Any input on my tang question above @4FordFamily ?

 

[4FordFamily]

Hey all, for some reason notifications stopped for this thread again. Tagging me helps a lot, thank you! Sorry for the delay!

 

[4FordFamily]

hey @4FordFamily just wanted to drop by and say thanks for all of the tips and tricks on keeping tangs together!

In the end, I managed to keep 10 tangs together and they are now happily a #tanggang ! (they swim and graze together)

I got
2 X Tomini tangs (one of them was a rescue)
2 X Pacific Blue tangs (again, 1 of them was a rescue)
1 X Indian ocean Striated Tang (I honestly got him for 10$ because he was getting killed in the LFS tank and no one knew what he was)
1 X Orange Shoulder tang (an actual tang that I wanted)
1 X Mimic lemon peel tang (also 1 that I wanted)
1 X Yellow Tang
1 X Naso Tang
1 X Powder Brown Tang (This one was a mistake because I wanted powder blues and gold rimmed as well but thought it would be easier to put in a powder brown first cus I thought they were the least aggressive.......guess what!)
1 X Normal fox face

They have been living together pretty happily now for the past 4 months without incident in a 4000 litre tank.

my question to you is whether it is still possible for me to add a new comer tang to the tank to spice up the color a bit? I love my fishes but I really actually wanted a bit more flashy colors from the tang gang. If anyone is reading this, let my mistake be a lesson, Powder browns are also really aggressive and they will harass all newcomers to your tank!

How large is the tank again? That's a lot of tangs. With so many you can add more without a fish being singled out perhaps -- but the tank boss may not enjoy it and they may reject any newcomers. Adding one could go very badly, it depends on so many factors. Busy tanks have better chances, I do recommend a social acclimation box.

Question on combining/upgrading tanks.

I have placed my order with my LFS for a 750XXL. I currently have a 125 with a PBT, Purple, and Desjardin that all get along (it was supposed to be a trio of Zebrasoma as suggested but I apparently cannot keep a Yellow Tang alive through QT). I have a 40 breeder that has a Kole. The plan is to combine the two tanks into the 750 and just have 1 tank to maintain.

My main question is should I or could I add another Zebrasoma tang when I do the transfer to the new tank? I originally was shooting for 3 Zebrasomas but had 2 yellows die in QT. One looked awful, ate well and then died, the other looked amazing, never ate a thing and died. But that's a story for another day. So I gave up on trying to QT 3 Zebrasomas together and the PBT kind of fell in my lap from a local reefer so I ended up with the current combo.

If the combo I have now is getting along should I leave it alone as it goes to the new tank or will it be better going forward if there were 3 Zebrasomas. I do have a Yellow Scopas in QT now because I got a good deal on it but I could take him back to the LFS if I should leave well enough alone.

Do you think there will be any issue adding the Kole to the group? He's smaller than all the others.

Edit: Would really like a gem tang. When I saw pictures online I wasn't impressed, but once our LFS got one in they look much better in person. Not sure I can bring myself to pay that much for one fish though.

I think you can add the Kole. A trio is more ideal of zebrasoma as far as aggression, but that's a lot of tangs in a 6 foot tank. If you have the nutrient export where it needs to be, it can be done. @HotRocks has a LOT of tangs/fish in his, it just requires heavy skimming, lots of water changes, and some luck!

I've got a tomini tang in a 90g that seems to get along with everyone but 1 tank mate, my diamond watchman goby. For the first year, they got along great, then something changed, I don't know. I've tried removing the tang and putting him in another tank for a few months to see if his aggression went away, that did not work. My goby just hides all day now any tips? thanks.

This is abnormal, but I am guessing that the 90G is lightly stocked? The fewer fish with a sole tang, the more ornery it is likely to be. It must see the goby as a threat to its' food source(s). Or, it acts in an intimidated manner and as such it gets pounded. This happens in the wild, weak fish can killed or chased off. Survival of the fittest -- if any animal shows weakness, other animals (even of same species for species that stick together for protection) will reject it. Biologically it makes more sense to kill of weak fish and feed predators so they don't hunt you.

 

[Huff747]

I think you can add the Kole. A trio is more ideal of zebrasoma as far as aggression, but that's a lot of tangs in a 6 foot tank. If you have the nutrient export where it needs to be, it can be done. @HotRocks has a LOT of tangs/fish in his, it just requires heavy skimming, lots of water changes, and some luck!

Thanks. I was kind of comparing my list to his. I'll definitely have fewer fish as well as fewer tangs. And several of my fish are smaller (2 rollands and 3 azure damsels) so I would think I'll have a lower bioload than his. I have auto water changes set up on the current tank that'll be moving to the new tank, I also have an oversized skimmer and currently have a refugium but that may change to a ATS on the new tank (or both) just because I'm sure how I want to set up the sump yet.

 

[RazorD]

So after a few months of reading this thread over and over again and planning, I have finally combined all my tangs (new and old). My biggest concern was getting he trio of zebrasoma to get along (purple, yellow, desjardini). Some minor tail slapping at first amongst the trio as well as my other tangs, but everything (as best I can tell) is fairly calm now. How long before I can tell for sure that I’m reasonably in the clear?

(Thanks again @4FordFamily starting and keeping up this thread. It’s been so helpful)

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks. I was kind of comparing my list to his. I'll definitely have fewer fish as well as fewer tangs. And several of my fish are smaller (2 rollands and 3 azure damsels) so I would think I'll have a lower bioload than his. I have auto water changes set up on the current tank that'll be moving to the new tank, I also have an oversized skimmer and currently have a refugium but that may change to a ATS on the new tank (or both) just because I'm sure how I want to set up the sump yet.

Everyone has a lower bioload than his tank! :D

 

[4FordFamily]

So after a few months of reading this thread over and over again and planning, I have finally combined all my tangs (new and old). My biggest concern was getting he trio of zebrasoma to get along (purple, yellow, desjardini). Some minor tail slapping at first amongst the trio as well as my other tangs, but everything (as best I can tell) is fairly calm now. How long before I can tell for sure that I’m reasonably in the clear?

(Thanks again @4FordFamily starting and keeping up this thread. It’s been so helpful)

I’m glad you found it helpful!

With tangs, you’re never out of the woods. Dynamics can change and as fish grow aggression can worsen. That said, this isn’t overly common. Most of the time after the first week or so if things are harmonious you’re about as out of the woods as you will get! :)

 

[George81]

@4FordFamily i have a powder brown going through quarantine, I would like to add a yellow tang next or in the near future. I would have bought 2 together but I only have a 30 gallon qt and I was worried about water quality with 2 tangs in there. I prefer to keep 1 fish in qt at a time unless they are small like my clowns.
Is this a safe plan. Display is a 120 g 60” tank. My dt has 2 clowns. Nothing else.

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily i have a powder brown going through quarantine, I would like to add a yellow tang next or in the near future. I would have bought 2 together but I only have a 30 gallon qt and I was worried about water quality with 2 tangs in there. I prefer to keep 1 fish in qt at a time unless they are small like my clowns.
Is this a safe plan. Display is a 120 g 60” tank. My dt has 2 clowns. Nothing else.

You can do them together IMO, if you use biospira for beneficial bacteria. Adding later will be tough, IMO powder brown need 6 foot tanks and they are aggressive and territorial enough even in larger tanks.

 

[jsvand5]

I currently have an achillies, powder blue, mimic, and convict doing well in a 210. Do you think adding a small purple would be a disaster? The current tangs have been in the tank for a few months

 

[4FordFamily]

I currently have an achillies, powder blue, mimic, and convict doing well in a 210. Do you think adding a small purple would be a disaster? The current tangs have been in the tank for a few months

I don’t see that many resident aggressive tangs tolerating a newcomer. Primarily the powder blue and achilles. I think it would be a death match it would likely lose. A social acclimation box may help but that’s a high risk endeavor.

 

[jsvand5]

I don’t see that many resident aggressive tangs tolerating a newcomer. Primarily the powder blue and achilles. I think it would be a death match it would likely lose. A social acclimation box may help but that’s a high risk endeavor.

Probably not going to risk it. I was hoping a very small purple might fly under the radar but not worth the risk. Surprisingly though, the mimic is the most aggressive of the tangs I currently have and is about half the size of the achillies and the powder blue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The definition of tang should say something. English definition states:

Tang: The projection on the blade of a tool such as a knife, by which the blade is held firmly in the handle.
Tang: A strong taste, flavour, or smell. ‘the clean salty tang of the sea


They are graceful yet territorial and at times evil but makes up the grace of the reef aquarium !!