Tang gang question

[N11morales]

All my tangs are pretty decent size no serious aggression with each other.

Tank dimensions: 72.3" x 30" x 26"

I have 6 tangs: maculiceps, Powder blue, orange shoulder, purple, desjardini, gem tang. Would it be possible to add a bristletooth species? If so which would y'all recommend. I ask this cause I noticed none of my current tangs really graze on my rocks. I'm not trying to use them as a main source of algae control. I would like to just keep a fish that would graze on my rocks as another source of algae control.

 

[MiltonMMLN]

You’ve got the space — main challenge is adding to an established tang group. Bristletooth species (Ctenochaetus) fill a different niche and graze film algae/detritus instead of macro.

Good options: White Tail Bristletooth, Tomini Tang, Chevron Tang. Use an acclimation box, add under low light after feeding, and rearrange some rockwork to reduce territory aggression.

 

[N11morales]

You’ve got the space — main challenge is adding to an established tang group. Bristletooth species (Ctenochaetus) fill a different niche and graze film algae/detritus instead of macro.

Good options: White Tail Bristletooth, Tomini Tang, Chevron Tang. Use an acclimation box, add under low light after feeding, and rearrange some rockwork to reduce territory aggression.

I was thinking about white tail, but with it having little dots on its face. I figured maculiceps wouldnt get along with him.

Also I have a tomini tang in my 4ft reef tank him and small scopas. I have never seen him graze. Very shy fish. Is it cause its a smaller system?

 

[MiltonMMLN]

I was thinking about white tail, but with it having little dots on its face. I figured maculiceps wouldnt get along with him.

Also I have a tomini tang in my 4ft reef tank him and small scopas. I have never seen him graze. Very shy fish. Is it cause its a smaller system?

The white tail (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) and maculiceps (Acanthurus maculiceps) aren’t the same genus, so you don’t have the direct “same species” conflict, but there is always some risk with tangs — especially in an established group. The small facial spots on the white tail shouldn’t cause a recognition/aggression issue; size and introduction method will matter much more. Adding with an acclimation box and after a big feeding under low light is still the safest route.

As for your Tomini, they can definitely be shy in smaller or more crowded systems. In a 4-ft tank, a Tomini may not feel fully comfortable displaying normal grazing behavior, especially if there’s another tang (like a scopas) with a similar feeding niche. They often graze more subtly than other tangs, picking film and detritus you might not notice unless you watch closely for a while. Increasing hiding spots and breaking up sightlines can encourage it to be more visible and active.

 

[N11morales]

The white tail (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) and maculiceps (Acanthurus maculiceps) aren’t the same genus, so you don’t have the direct “same species” conflict, but there is always some risk with tangs — especially in an established group. The small facial spots on the white tail shouldn’t cause a recognition/aggression issue; size and introduction method will matter much more. Adding with an acclimation box and after a big feeding under low light is still the safest route.

Okay I was just worried about that because before I added maculiceps. Using acclimation box for a week and heavy feeding released when lights turning off. I had an orange striped bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus) . the small little bristletooth tried to kill the maculiceps that was double its size. I figured it was due to their colors being similiar. White tail is different in color, but i noticed the facial spots wanted to make sure. Don't want to end up harming a white tail.

As for your Tomini, they can definitely be shy in smaller or more crowded systems. In a 4-ft tank, a Tomini may not feel fully comfortable displaying normal grazing behavior, especially if there’s another tang (like a scopas) with a similar feeding niche. They often graze more subtly than other tangs, picking film and detritus you might not notice unless you watch closely for a while. Increasing hiding spots and breaking up sightlines can encourage it to be more visible and active.

Scopas and Tomini hide in the same caves. No aggression between them. The will come out to eat nori, but after they dart back into their cave. May rehome them maybe just too small of a tank for them.

 

[MiltonMMLN]

Okay I was just worried about that because before I added maculiceps. Using acclimation box for a week and heavy feeding released when lights turning off. I had an orange striped bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus) . the small little bristletooth tried to kill the maculiceps that was double its size. I figured it was due to their colors being similiar. White tail is different in color, but i noticed the facial spots wanted to make sure. Don't want to end up harming a white tail.

Scopas and Tomini hide in the same caves. No aggression between them. The will come out to eat nori, but after they dart back into their cave. May rehome them maybe just too small of a tank for them.

Given your experience with the striatus, I get the hesitation — that case was likely more about personality and territory than just color similarity. Striatus can be one of the more assertive bristletooths. White tails tend to be more mild-mannered compared to striatus, but it still comes down to the individual fish and how you introduce them. With your established group, I’d still stick to the acclimation box + low light + heavy feeding method you’ve used, and be ready to pull the fish if aggression escalates.

For your Tomini and Scopas, sharing caves without aggression is a good sign, but if they’re hiding most of the time, it could be a mix of tank size, tankmates, and personality. In smaller systems, these species sometimes never fully “relax” in the open, especially if there’s more dominant or active swimmers. Rehoming is a reasonable option if you want more visible activity in that tank — but sometimes breaking up sightlines and increasing hiding options can help them feel secure enough to stay out more.

 

[N11morales]

Given your experience with the striatus, I get the hesitation — that case was likely more about personality and territory than just color similarity. Striatus can be one of the more assertive bristletooths. White tails tend to be more mild-mannered compared to striatus, but it still comes down to the individual fish and how you introduce them. With your established group, I’d still stick to the acclimation box + low light + heavy feeding method you’ve used, and be ready to pull the fish if aggression escalates.

I didn't know that. My issue was probably due to the striatus being in my tank for 2 months by himself before introducing any other tangs.

For your Tomini and Scopas, sharing caves without aggression is a good sign, but if they’re hiding most of the time, it could be a mix of tank size, tankmates, and personality. In smaller systems, these species sometimes never fully “relax” in the open, especially if there’s more dominant or active swimmers. Rehoming is a reasonable option if you want more visible activity in that tank — but sometimes breaking up sightlines and increasing hiding options can help them feel secure enough to stay out more.

They are in a system with 2 clowns, falco hawkfish, and 2 chromis.

 

[MiltonMMLN]

I didn't know that. My issue was probably due to the striatus being in my tank for 2 months by himself before introducing any other tangs.

They are in a system with 2 clowns, falco hawkfish, and 2 chromis.

That makes a lot of sense — two months alone is plenty of time for a tang, especially a striatus, to “claim” the whole tank as its own. That’s likely why it reacted so strongly to the maculiceps. With the white tail, starting it off in an acclimation box so it never gets that full territorial run of the tank should help a lot.

For the Tomini and Scopas, with only clowns, a falco hawk, and chromis as tankmates, their hiding is probably more about individual personality than direct competition. Some tangs just stay shy in smaller systems no matter what. If you like having them but want to see them more, try adding more rockwork complexity or shaded swim-throughs to make them feel safer out in the open — but if visibility is your main goal, rehoming might still be the better route.