Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[Perpetual Novice]

I would just leave the Yellow tang by himself. 70 gal is small. Yellow tang will not reach his full size but by himself, he will not be stressed by another tang. He will be small but can have a happy life, and get fat. Most likely, neither him or the new tang will be happy. That is why tang often get Ich, stressed when crowded.

I agree. I have three tangs in my 320. A Powder blue, Yellow and Purple. They are doing well but the Yellow and Purple does get on each other nerve. Something about the same shape. :)

Desjardini is a huge tang. IMO, even too big for my 320. There is no way anybody should put a Sailfin in a 70 gal tank.

she's not a permanent resident. its 100 gallons but she will have to move on to bigger and better tanks in the future. I already have plans for all my tangs with friends and my LFS since none can live in my tank indefinitely. But I hope to keep her as long as she isn't stressed since she's such a good influence on the community.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have a large friendly foxface, but no tangs other than the bristletooth. The bristletooth is fairly new. I think I let her out of quarantine less than a month ago. I could probably catch her and put her back in the quarantine if you think it would help make introductions easier. The Scopas is 2-3x as big and I was asked to take him because he was an aggressive eater keeping her docile fish from eating. I do have an acclimation box and a tank full of semi-aggressive fish thanks to my murderous clowns.

The size difference may help you here. Removal may help but it may not. This is one of those things where you go with your gut and hope for the best. Not really useful I know, but I’d personally do an acclamation box for a few days then release about 10-15 minutes before lights out.

Quick Tang question. I have a Yellow in my 75 and would like to get another tang. What would your suggestion be if I can add another one. I had a 180 gallon years ago and had several types but more room for them.
I also have a Clown, blue damsel and a Flame angel. The clown and damsel are aggressive and killed a firefish I had bought. So I need larger fish to be able to defend themselves until they get used to. Id even get other dwarf angles but hear they would fight. Maybe anyway.

TIA

You could do a tomini or something small as mentioned but adding one tang to an existing is one of the worst case scenarios. Easy to fixate on each other.

dwarf angels can be mixed when they’re not conspecifics and multiple are added at the same time, generally speaking.

 

[Taxman20]

I hear ya and knew it would most likely be an issue but wanted to ask, The tank just needs more fish but if I get something too small it will be bullied and maybe killed. The clown and Damsel literally attack and bite. Hell they both bite my arm when Im working in the tank and even attack the siphon when doing water changes. Id love to get rid of them but they are the only fish that wont go into the trap.

 

[Perpetual Novice]

I hear ya and knew it would most likely be an issue but wanted to ask, The tank just needs more fish but if I get something too small it will be bullied and maybe killed. The clown and Damsel literally attack and bite. Hell they both bite my arm when Im working in the tank and even attack the siphon when doing water changes. Id love to get rid of them but they are the only fish that wont go into the trap.

I'm not sure if this will work but I have had pesky aggressive fish that were put in check when I added a larger dominant fish. the large fish could care less about small new additions but will sometimes intervene to stifle aggression from the other fish in its territory. So far I have observed this behavior in a few tangs and one wrasse. But maybe all of them were anomalies. Regardless, it will probably help to dethrone your aggressive fish as the rulers of your tank. More experienced reefers probably have better solutions but that's my first thought.

 

[4FordFamily]

I hear ya and knew it would most likely be an issue but wanted to ask, The tank just needs more fish but if I get something too small it will be bullied and maybe killed. The clown and Damsel literally attack and bite. Hell they both bite my arm when Im working in the tank and even attack the siphon when doing water changes. Id love to get rid of them but they are the only fish that wont go into the trap.

I’ve removed rocks, coral, and water to remove fish like that before. Not fun at all.

 

[TARHEEL78]

@4FordFamily Anything I can do about an unruly Desjardini? He has been a real bully the last few days and seems to have set his sites on my magnificent foxface. It's a beautiful fish and I would hate to have to rehome him but I think that might be my only option. I've been trying to catch him so I can sump him for a few days but that is easier said than done.

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily Anything I can do about an unruly Desjardini? He has been a real bully the last few days and seems to have set his sites on my magnificent foxface. It's a beautiful fish and I would hate to have to rehome him but I think that might be my only option. I've been trying to catch him so I can sump him for a few days but that is easier said than done.

Unfortunately I don’t know there’s much you can do. My sohal picks on my Maggie foxface... but honestly as soon as he’s stung he will figure it out I’m sure. No damage has been done. If yours is losing weight or taking damage it’s time to rehome because I doubt you can curb that any other way :(

 

[TARHEEL78]

Unfortunately I don’t know there’s much you can do. My sohal picks on my Maggie foxface... but honestly as soon as he’s stung he will figure it out I’m sure. No damage has been done. If yours is losing weight or taking damage it’s time to rehome because I doubt you can curb that any other way :(

No damage yet but I don't want it to come to that. I see the foxface flare but the tang hasn't been stung yet as far as I can tell.

 

[4FordFamily]

No damage yet but I don't want it to come to that. I see the foxface flare but the tang hasn't been stung yet as far as I can tell.

You’ll know it’ll stun it for a good while and dissuade further encounters!

 

[TARHEEL78]

You’ll know it’ll stun it for a good while and dissuade further encounters!

I hope it just takes a sting to knock all this off. I was in there with my pvs-14 trying to catch the sailfin while he was sleeping and still didn't get him.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I curbed my desjardini...and my achilies...by putting a 10" sohal in the tank :)

The achilies took ONE swipe at him and swam away with a nasty gash. You know that Clint Eastwood movie where he is a preacher and cleans up the town of misfits? That is my sohal.

 

[TARHEEL78]

I curbed my desjardini...and my achilies...by putting a 10" sohal in the tank :)

The achilies took ONE swipe at him and swam away with a nasty gash. You know that Clint Eastwood movie where he is a preacher and cleans up the town of misfits? That is my sohal.

I don't think that's going to work for me. I'm going to try to rehome the desjardini and get a smaller fish, I just have to catch him first.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

That will work as well. Desjardini gets really big pretty quickly anyways.

 

[mcbdz]

@4FordFamily I have a 240gal DT. Have 2 clowns, 1 bicolor blenny, 1 diamond goby, 1 royal gramma, 1redline wrasse, 1redheaded wrasse and 1 foxface in now. I have 1 Naso tang, 1 yellow tang and a sailfin tang being added tomorrow from QT. All are small except foxface. Still trying to decide what would work for next group of fish. We know we want yellow eyed kole tang and a hippo tang. The ones available are a 3 in hippo and a 6 in kole. Will they be ok in QT together being such different sizes. QT is 55gal. Also would like a trio but not sure which would round out my tang gang. LOL. Like the Caribbean blue tang or maybe a powder brown? Would love a trio of yellows but lost a yellow in QT this round and afraid I missed the chance. What is your opinion on next tang or should I just go with an angel or butterfly this round?

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily I have a 240gal DT. Have 2 clowns, 1 bicolor blenny, 1 diamond goby, 1 royal gramma, 1redline wrasse, 1redheaded wrasse and 1 foxface in now. I have 1 Naso tang, 1 yellow tang and a sailfin tang being added tomorrow from QT. All are small except foxface. Still trying to decide what would work for next group of fish. We know we want yellow eyed kole tang and a hippo tang. The ones available are a 3 in hippo and a 6 in kole. Will they be ok in QT together being such different sizes. QT is 55gal. Also would like a trio but not sure which would round out my tang gang. LOL. Like the Caribbean blue tang or maybe a powder brown? Would love a trio of yellows but lost a yellow in QT this round and afraid I missed the chance. What is your opinion on next tang or should I just go with an angel or butterfly this round?

Next tang could be just about anything, it’s a good time for an acanthurus addition. Hippo tangs are generally left alone by other tangs for some reason. Kole are typically aggressive, I wouldn’t generally want them as the largest in the tank but temperaments do vary!

Butterflies are often good added with tangs, and I usually do angels together.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a cure that has worked everytime !!!

 

[OrionN]

@mcbdz
That is a lot of fish for a 210 reef. Is it a FO tank?

 

[mcbdz]

Next tang could be just about anything, it’s a good time for an acanthurus addition. Hippo tangs are generally left alone by other tangs for some reason. Kole are typically aggressive, I wouldn’t generally want them as the largest in the tank but temperaments do vary!

Butterflies are often good added with tangs, and I usually do angels together.

@mcbdz
That is a lot of fish for a 210 reef. Is it a FO tank?

It's a240gal 8ft×
2ft × 2ft. They are all small except fox face now and Tank looks pretty bare actually. I do realize when all are full grown it will be full. I will move any if needed but feel they will work. I am home most of the time and tank is always in site so if something doesn't work I will adjust.. How many do you think are a
Appropriate for this size?

 

[mcbdz]

Next tang could be just about anything, it’s a good time for an acanthurus addition. Hippo tangs are generally left alone by other tangs for some reason. Kole are typically aggressive, I wouldn’t generally want them as the largest in the tank butacantemperaments do vary!

Butterflies are often good added with tangs, and I usually do angels together.

With the

Next tang could be just about anything, it’s a good time for an acanthurus addition. Hippo tangs are generally left alone by other tangs for some reason. Kole are typically aggressive, I wouldn’t generally want them as the largest in the tank but temperaments do vary!

Butterflies are often good added with tangs, and I usually do angels together.

With an acanthus are they mostly just suppose to be the last tang or last fish of all?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It's a240gal 8ft×
2ft × 2ft. They are all small except fox face now and Tank looks pretty bare actually. I do realize when all are full grown it will be full. I will move any if needed but feel they will work. I am home most of the time and tank is always in site so if something doesn't work I will adjust.. How many do you think are a
Appropriate for this size?

Love the whitewash effect of the wood