Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[4FordFamily]

I read an earlier thread regarding nori clip and this is one I found to work. It can be purchased on Amazon "Innovative Marine Gourmet Gadget Grazer PRO".

I bought something similar in past I don’t know why it didn’t work I’ll try this. My fangs are large I wonder if they can eat from this. Only one way to find out! Thanks! :)

 

[jaxteller007]

I bought something similar in past I don’t know why it didn’t work I’ll try this. My fangs are large I wonder if they can eat from this. Only one way to find out! Thanks! :)

I just got min in yesterday and tried it for the first time today. They definitely ate out of it, although someone yanked so hard it opened up lol. But the algae stayed in it so it didn't float all over. I don't know who hit it that hard though. I've seen the bigger yellow and the foxface both go after algae sheets hard so I imagine it was one of them.

 

[4FordFamily]

I just got min in yesterday and tried it for the first time today. They definitely ate out of it, although someone yanked so hard it opened up lol. But the algae stayed in it so it didn't float all over. I don't know who hit it that hard though. I've seen the bigger yellow and the foxface both go after algae sheets hard so I imagine it was one of them.

My puffers are enormous and voracious -- I guess we will see what they do LOL

 

[jaxteller007]

My puffers are enormous and voracious -- I guess we will see what they do LOL

I may not have had it closed all the way either. Also I had two pieces already tore so I had them kind of on top of each other instead of just one piece. Let me know how it works for you.

 

[Rudefish]

It happened to me at first because I tried adding too many sheets. I suspect that it opened up because it was not snapped tightly shut. It can only hold one sheet and needs to be cut to fit just the case so it can snap shut.

 

[Rudefish]

It may not be welcomed unless quite large, and still it may not. Naso are quite fragile when new. If you do I’d add with other fish, personally.

I will add it with 4 percula clownfish and that may do the trick for acceptance.

 

[4FordFamily]

I will add it with 4 percula clownfish and that may do the trick for acceptance.

Hopefully, though they’re not very similar... hope for the best!

lights off and add them just before lights go out for best results.

 

[jaxteller007]

Well our two yellow's have managed to not beat each other to death. We're trying to get a 3rd but it's hard right now. We did add a coral beauty and a Lt Tang last week and everyone seems to be doing fine. They chase each other now and then but I haven't seen any marks on any of them from actual damage. Fingers crossed!

 

[Jase4224]

I have read quite a few times that three tangs is a good number to keep peace as opposed to just adding two that can focus on each other.

Does this include the Hippo tang? The reason I ask is because it’s more of an open water feeder than a grazer.

I want to add three tangs to my 170gal and considering a yellow tang, mimic tang (chronix) and a hippo tang. Would this be a suitable mix?

 

[jaxteller007]

I have read quite a few times that three tangs is a good number to keep peace as opposed to just adding two that can focus on each other.

Does this include the Hippo tang? The reason I ask is because it’s more of an open water feeder than a grazer.

I want to add three tangs to my 170gal and considering a yellow tang, mimic tang (chronix) and a hippo tang. Would this be a suitable mix?

We have two yellows and a lt now. We wanted 3 yellows but have had a hard time finding a 3rd one for a good price right now. The two yellows will chase each other every now and then now but we haven't seen them get really aggressive towards each other. It was worse before we added the Lt, coral beauty, and a couple other fish. It definitely seems like they are less aggressive to each other now that there are more fish in the tank that are active swimmers.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have read quite a few times that three tangs is a good number to keep peace as opposed to just adding two that can focus on each other.

Does this include the Hippo tang? The reason I ask is because it’s more of an open water feeder than a grazer.

I want to add three tangs to my 170gal and considering a yellow tang, mimic tang (chronix) and a hippo tang. Would this be a suitable mix?

It is better than 2, and 4 is better than 3 though you need the "real estate" for it. I think the plan is good though Hippo tangs get very large and outgrow 6 foot tanks eventually. :)

 

[Jase4224]

We have two yellows and a lt now. We wanted 3 yellows but have had a hard time finding a 3rd one for a good price right now. The two yellows will chase each other every now and then now but we haven't seen them get really aggressive towards each other. It was worse before we added the Lt, coral beauty, and a couple other fish. It definitely seems like they are less aggressive to each other now that there are more fish in the tank that are active swimmers.

Thanks, I’ll have some other open water swimmers so should be ok. Interesting that you have two yellows that tolerate each other.

 

[Jase4224]

It is better than 2, and 4 is better than 3 though you need the "real estate" for it. I think the plan is good though Hippo tangs get very large and outgrow 6 foot tanks eventually. :)

Yeah I’ve thought about a bristle tooth as well but don’t think my tank is big enough given the other fish I will have. If my hippo outgrows the tank than it will need a new home :)

 

[Kalinina]

What size tank would you recommend for an Achilles and powder brown to coexist long term? (Other large fish would be an emperor angel and hippo tang).

Would a FOWLR 96x30x25 310 work?

Thank you!

 

[4FordFamily]

What size tank would you recommend for an Achilles and powder brown to coexist long term? (Other large fish would be an emperor angel and hippo tang). Thank you!

A 180 at a minimum, but larger is better and with more tangs present...

 

[60diablo]

Hello 4fordfamilly,
Thank you so much for this write up. I'm hoping to get your guidance with stocking Tangs in a new build I have coming. Tank will be 96x30x25 with external overflow. So all tank. I just had to break down my current 225g mixed reef tank because I made a Big mistake in my QT process trying to add a Powder Blue Tang. Sure enough she brought in Ich.
Oh well.. I needed to move that tank anyway & I'm also turning it into fowlr tank. All my fish are out and in QT tanks doing well. Thank God.
I have a Blonde Naso 6", Blue Hippo 6" & the new PBT 7". I want to add another tang so I can put them in at the same time. I was thinking of a Gem,Chevron,Purple or Blue Caribbean? I would really value your advise. Those will be the biggest fish in the tank. The rest will much smaller fish. Reef safe Wrasses,Gobies,Blennies, 2 clowns, 1 Firehawk.
Note: I know the Blonde Naso and the Blue Hippo with grow like monsters & one day might have to re-home to a bigger tank. I hope not... but I've seen some very big ones.
Thanks.

 

[4FordFamily]

Hello 4fordfamilly,
Thank you so much for this write up. I'm hoping to get your guidance with stocking Tangs in a new build I have coming. Tank will be 96x30x25 with external overflow. So all tank. I just had to break down my current 225g mixed reef tank because I made a Big mistake in my QT process trying to add a Powder Blue Tang. Sure enough she brought in Ich.
Oh well.. I needed to move that tank anyway & I'm also turning it into fowlr tank. All my fish are out and in QT tanks doing well. Thank God.
I have a Blonde Naso 6", Blue Hippo 6" & the new PBT 7". I want to add another tang so I can put them in at the same time. I was thinking of a Gem,Chevron,Purple or Blue Caribbean? I would really value your advise. Those will be the biggest fish in the tank. The rest will much smaller fish. Reef safe Wrasses,Gobies,Blennies, 2 clowns, 1 Firehawk.
Note: I know the Blonde Naso and the Blue Hippo with grow like monsters & one day might have to re-home to a bigger tank. I hope not... but I've seen some very big ones.
Thanks.

Any of those would probably work but especially the first three. You could diffuse aggression by adding two, but I would do the chevron and either the purple or gem as they’re from different genus. Purple and Gem are both Zebrasoma.

Good luck. Sorry for the trouble, it’s crazy how fast things can go poorly without QT. Even QT isn’t easy at times. God bless!

 

[60diablo]

Any of those would probably work but especially the first three. You could diffuse aggression by adding two, but I would do the chevron and either the purple or gem as they’re from different genus. Purple and Gem are both Zebrasoma.

Good luck. Sorry for the trouble, it’s crazy how fast things can go poorly without QT. Even QT isn’t easy at times. God bless!

Thank you for quick reply. I was hoping you say I can add 2 more Tangs :) Ok I will definitely go with the Chevron. Have to decide if Gem or Purple. Maybe let my wife make that call :)
Do you recommend I add them all at the same time 5 Tangs? It will be a completely new tank to them.
Specially now that my 3 tangs are in a 40g breeder. Powder blue is a its own 40g breeder with a partition by her self. She is a new fish and a bully. Other fish in the other part of the breeder are small fish.
Yes, when you QT using a 2 tank method and only copper for 14 days you have no room for error! & I know exactly what I did. I added 5 chromis in order to disperse the aggression when adding the PBT in DT but i didn’t re-start the clock when i put them in QT. I got them 3 days after the PBT. I also was traveling so I didn‘t want to leave the fish in copper so I moved them to clean tank in what i thought was 10 days but it was only 7. The entire time i was worried about the potential aggression problem and now look where I’m at. My house looks like an LFS store with 2x40’g breeders 1x10g & 1x5g all running 2.0 copper power. I’m only 2.5 years into this hobby but thank God for you people on this site. I really mean that!!! Thank you!

 

[4FordFamily]

Thank you for quick reply. I was hoping you say I can add 2 more Tangs :) Ok I will definitely go with the Chevron. Have to decide if Gem or Purple. Maybe let my wife make that call :)
Do you recommend I add them all at the same time 5 Tangs? It will be a completely new tank to them.
Specially now that my 3 tangs are in a 40g breeder. Powder blue is a its own 40g breeder with a partition by her self. She is a new fish and a bully. Other fish in the other part of the breeder are small fish.
Yes, when you QT using a 2 tank method and only copper for 14 days you have no room for error! & I know exactly what I did. I added 5 chromis in order to disperse the aggression when adding the PBT in DT but i didn’t re-start the clock when i put them in QT. I got them 3 days after the PBT. I also was traveling so I didn‘t want to leave the fish in copper so I moved them to clean tank in what i thought was 10 days but it was only 7. The entire time i was worried about the potential aggression problem and now look where I’m at. My house looks like an LFS store with 2x40’g breeders 1x10g & 1x5g all running 2.0 copper power. I’m only 2.5 years into this hobby but thank God for you people on this site. I really mean that!!! Thank you!

Yes, add together.

I have had some strains of velvet that 14 day method doesn’t seem to work after several tries. So I’ve moved to 30 days again. This is probably a fluke and not normal but just to let you know.

 

[HighChiefKC]

Working on my fish list for my 225, 72x30x24. Can I keep these tangs together and if so should I add them all together or some kind of order? Tangs on my wishlist are Yellow, orange shoulder, Naso, and maybe kole. Only fish I have currently is a pair of clowns and a royal gramma. Would like a wrasse or anthias too but haven’t researched that much yet. And blue throat trigger is one I’d like to look into as well