Tang Compatability

kingfisherfleshy · Jun 15, 2010

The compatibility chart is cool and all...but it doesn't get into specific specie to specie compatibility which is the issue here. Generally speaking, all the fish I have listed are compatible with one another, the real question is: how have people introduced multiple tangs into a system...and will my specific mix of fish be successful together.

condor · Jun 15, 2010

it is best to add them all at once, or small to large if you dont want to break the bank. but they are all wild animals and in this hobby you have to expect there will be quarls. and in my experience no fish is safe with a powder blue swimming around

kingfisherfleshy · Jun 16, 2010

So you think it would be okay if I added a 1-2 inch chevron...and then put the hippo (4" maybe 5" by this time) in later? Once the chevy was established and QT'ed essentially?

MikeB · Jun 16, 2010

Another way to acclimate the new fish would be to put it in an acrylic box in the tank so the other fish get used to it and he gets used to the other fish. You can by Acclimation boxes from online vendors. I have never done this but I have seen it.

MikeB · Jun 16, 2010

MikeB said:
Another way to acclimate the new fish would be to put it in an acrylic box in the tank so the other fish get used to it and he gets used to the other fish. You can by Acclimation boxes from online vendors. I have never done this but I have seen it.

condor · Jun 16, 2010

kingfisherfleshy said:
So you think it would be okay if I added a 1-2 inch chevron...and then put the hippo (4" maybe 5" by this time) in later? Once the chevy was established and QT'ed essentially?

yes that would be ok

kingfisherfleshy · Jun 17, 2010

Thats probably what I will do. Chevy...hippo...midas...mystery wrasse...clown pair...and then...dither (basically filler in this case) fish. Whatever I like...since I have no idea. Still liking the fat head anthias but they are super expensive ha

condor · Jun 20, 2010

and the fatheads also have a high death rate.... but with tangs i maintain a tank where i put in a naso,yellow,purple, dussumieri,hippo,BLACK, and a chevron and they all get along fine. granted this is a 500g tank but if you add them all in a short amount of time your chance of success is much higher

nixer · Jun 20, 2010

do you guys think a purple tang and a powder blue would get along?

kingfisherfleshy · Jun 23, 2010

Powder blues are beautiful, but notorious for being bullies, especially as they get older. A large tank is recommended. So whether or not they would get along would depend on what size tank..ect.

I would love to have a black tang. An LFS in milwaukee has one that is simply stunning.

kingfisherfleshy · Jul 13, 2010

New and final fish list for the 125g L ... Lets see what you guys think.

Blue Tang Paracanthurus hepatus
Chevron Tang Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
Lieutenant Tang Acanthurus tennenti
2x Clarkii Clown Amphirion clarkii
Mystery Wrasse Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas

Thats it...anyone foresee any problems? Tang-wise the plan is to get the chevy and the lieutenant at the same time from liveaquaria...they would be introduced to the tank first and at the same time. Then once acclimated and QT'ed essentially I would add the blue hippo...followed by the clowns...and then whenever I get the midas and the mystery. Thanks again

jmaneyapanda · Jul 13, 2010

Those tangs will QUICKLY outgrow your 125.

kingfisherfleshy said:
New and final fish list for the 125g L ... Lets see what you guys think.

Blue Tang Paracanthurus hepatus
Chevron Tang Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis
Lieutenant Tang Acanthurus tennenti
2x Clarkii Clown Amphirion clarkii
Mystery Wrasse Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
Midas Blenny Ecsenius midas

Thats it...anyone foresee any problems? Tang-wise the plan is to get the chevy and the lieutenant at the same time from liveaquaria...they would be introduced to the tank first and at the same time. Then once acclimated and QT'ed essentially I would add the blue hippo...followed by the clowns...and then whenever I get the midas and the mystery. Thanks again

jaytizzle · Jul 13, 2010

jmaneyapanda beat me to it. Those fish do not belong in a 125. They are much more suited to 300+g tanks. I would not use any of them, quite honestly. There are much better selections for your size tank.

kingfisherfleshy · Jul 14, 2010

Hmm...this thread has been about these fish from the beginning. Glad that this came up though.

What makes you think that these tangs will outgrow this tank? The largest of them is the hippo...and I already own that. He was purchased as a gift for me, and is the reason that the upgrade is happening. I already have the tank, and everything else...there is no chance of me getting a bigger tank. He is doing very well in the 75g that he is in now, and has grown a little over an inch since I have had him (Christmas this past year.)

What I am wondering is how in a six foot long aquarium, thats 18" wide, and 21" tall....can I not have three fish that will probably get no bigger than 10" if even that?

That basically means that no one can keep anything other than convicts, yellows, and scopas' in anything equal to or less than a 125g. I am a member of the tang police as these animals are so often abused, and my brother and I gave a fish back to the LFS that outgrew our last 125...but this doesnt seem to make any sense.

Many saltwater and freshwater fish keepers keep larger animals in smaller tanks...without complaint...so whats wrong with housing these fish?

jaytizzle · Jul 14, 2010

I apologize. I didn't go back and re-read the thread before I posted that. I just looked at the fish list and that was my immediate reaction. The tennentii grows up to 12", the hawaiiensis up to 8", and the hepatus up to 10". I was all for your stocking list when the two big guys were the hawaiiensis and the hepatus. Once you tossed in the tennentii is when my red flag went up. That is just too big of a fish to put into that mix IMHO. If you went with one of the smaller Acanthurus tangs it would be a better choice than the tennentii.

Heck, I have a 120 that is pretty heavily stocked with fish. The vast majority of my fish won't reach more than 4-5", though. The only ones that will get to any substantial size are a powder brown tang, a female bellus angel, and a copperband butterfly. I'm not saying don't push the envelope. I clearly do it. I'm just suggesting that you do it with a group of fish that are more likely to be successful. If you feel that your husbandry skills are up to a level that you can deal with it then give it a shot. Honestly, though, the vast majority of people really shouldn't fool with fish that get above 8".

kingfisherfleshy · Jul 19, 2010

Not to float my own boat, but I am a pretty experienced tang keeper. The rest of the tank is pretty minimally stocked, and with the way I do h2o changes I think I can do this. I am going to have vigorous skimming on this tank, I have already established some macro in it, and will have more macro to supplement in the sump that I will probably use as filtration. All this plus huge water changes.

My experience with blues is that they can get up to 1'...but I have never seen one that big in captivity. I have never kept a chevron, but I have read they can get up to 11", once again dubious that it would in captivity. Lastly the lieutenant is supposed to top off at 11"...so they are all about the same size. If any of them actually got as big as that I would be surprised. I would figure the blue at about 10" the tennetti at 9-10" and the chevy at about 8...other than that I just want a wrasse and clowns...oh, and the midas. I would say that might be a little overstocked, but...not that bad? Plus its a six foot tank, plenty of room for swimming. :D

kingfisherfleshy · Jul 19, 2010

But as long as we are looking at other acanturus's...how about a achilles? I know that they have aggression problems, but they max out at 8 1/2" small...recommended tank size by many is a 100g, which doesnt have nearly the swimming room of a 125g L. I also like the lemon peel mimic acanthurus...and it stays smaller, but once again aggression is a concern. I also like the black tang (fat chance, I know) and powder blues and browns...aggression again. Seems like I am in a box. But without the third my tank will probably look a little scarce.

jmaneyapanda · Jul 20, 2010

kingfisherfleshy said:
Hmm...this thread has been about these fish from the beginning. Glad that this came up though.

What makes you think that these tangs will outgrow this tank? The largest of them is the hippo...and I already own that. He was purchased as a gift for me, and is the reason that the upgrade is happening. I already have the tank, and everything else...there is no chance of me getting a bigger tank. He is doing very well in the 75g that he is in now, and has grown a little over an inch since I have had him (Christmas this past year.)

What I am wondering is how in a six foot long aquarium, thats 18" wide, and 21" tall....can I not have three fish that will probably get no bigger than 10" if even that?

That basically means that no one can keep anything other than convicts, yellows, and scopas' in anything equal to or less than a 125g. I am a member of the tang police as these animals are so often abused, and my brother and I gave a fish back to the LFS that outgrew our last 125...but this doesnt seem to make any sense.

Many saltwater and freshwater fish keepers keep larger animals in smaller tanks...without complaint...so whats wrong with housing these fish?

Fish of that size and that activity will frantically pace and patrol the tank. While a 125 may SOUND big, it is not. Hippos grow FAST. And if it doesnt, it isnt healthy. That is a brass tacks bottom line. Tennettis get huge. All of those love to swima lot. It sounds as if youre going to do it anyway, so good luck. But, IMO and IME, it is doing the fish disservice and will impede their overall health.

jmaneyapanda · Jul 20, 2010

kingfisherfleshy said:
But as long as we are looking at other acanturus's...how about a achilles? I know that they have aggression problems, but they max out at 8 1/2" small...recommended tank size by many is a 100g, which doesnt have nearly the swimming room of a 125g L. I also like the lemon peel mimic acanthurus...and it stays smaller, but once again aggression is a concern. I also like the black tang (fat chance, I know) and powder blues and browns...aggression again. Seems like I am in a box. But without the third my tank will probably look a little scarce.

NO on the achilles. IMO.