Tang help needed

[CristinaNTimothy]

I need some guidance please because I don’t know what to do. I have 6 tangs in my 290g and they’ve always been at peace…A Gem, chocolate, purple, white tail, Naso and a Desjardini.

Everything has been through qt before added to the DT

After 2 years now with the system running I decided to add a PB and a White cheek as this will be my last tangs added to the system and after the quarantine was over I added them to the DT on Saturday afternoon. No aggression anywhere.

This evening 2days later I started to noticed the PB chasing the WC. ( they’ve been swimming together all day that looked to be friendly as their was no contact just swimming fast together as if there chasing each other).

The PB is smaller than every tang I have and the wc is half his size being the smallest of all.

But this evening I’m not sure what is going on, I didn’t see ripping But a lot of pecking and about an hour before lights went out the WC was in the bottom corner and then my clowns are nailing him while the PB went for a few pecks. He is showing a few marks on his side and He’s been at the top under the return nozzle and hoping that now the lights are out he can get some relief.

What would be the best thing to do at this point, should I leave him in there to see if they can get along and work it out or pull him. I would really like to keep them both but not at the expense of a life.

Could someone give me some advice and guidance please I’d really appreciate it.

I know they are of the same species and this is why I added them together to hopefully make it a better transition.

Thank you

 

[vetteguy53081]

I need some guidance please because I don’t know what to do. I have 6 tangs in my 290g and they’ve always been at peace…A Gem, chocolate, purple, white tail, Naso and a Desjardini.

Everything has been through qt before added to the DT

After 2 years now with the system running I decided to add a PB and a White cheek as this will be my last tangs added to the system and after the quarantine was over I added them to the DT on Saturday afternoon. No aggression anywhere.

This evening 2days later I started to noticed the PB chasing the WC. ( they’ve been swimming together all day that looked to be friendly as their was no contact just swimming fast together as if there chasing each other).

The PB is smaller than every tang I have and the wc is half his size being the smallest of all.

But this evening I’m not sure what is going on, I didn’t see ripping But a lot of pecking and about an hour before lights went out the WC was in the bottom corner and then my clowns are nailing him while the PB went for a few pecks. He is showing a few marks on his side and He’s been at the top under the return nozzle and hoping that now the lights are out he can get some relief.

What would be the best thing to do at this point, should I leave him in there to see if they can get along and work it out or pull him. I would really like to keep them both but not at the expense of a life.

Could someone give me some advice and guidance please I’d really appreciate it.

I know they are of the same species and this is why I added them together to hopefully make it a better transition.

Thank you

Powder blue, like sohal are big jerks and seldom does this behavior stop. I have 27 tangs and have switched out powder blues 3X before getting a good one, and that fish too became my tank nightmare and gone.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

Ahh this is not the answer I was hoping for but this might be the only option at this point. When would you consider pulling him out? Like how far or long should I give it,? Right away or see how it progresses?

 

[BryanM]

Ahh this is not the answer I was hoping for but this might be the only option at this point. When would you consider pulling him out? Like how far or long should I give it,? Right away or see how it progresses?

Whatever he says I'd listen.

I've avoided getting a PB because of these warnings.

Sadly I have a large red coris wrasse that's a frag flipper on steroids.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

Unfortunately this will be the direction I need to go in. Well I guess I just should have not bothered in the first place but I was hoping for a better outcome

 

[BryanM]

Unfortunately this will be the direction I need to go in. Well I guess I just should have not bothered in the first place but I was hoping for a better outcome

fwiw, pretty big tank, if I always wanted a PB... with a tank your size, right now I probably would have tried.

Assuming you're already feeding 3-4x a day, rehoming is probably the right answer. PB's are just jerks.

 

[slingfox]

Unfortunately this will be the direction I need to go in. Well I guess I just should have not bothered in the first place but I was hoping for a better outcome

At least you are willing to respond in a way that takes the fish’s interest into account. Some others would hope for the best and end up with dead fish.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

fwiw, pretty big tank, if I always wanted a PB... with a tank your size, right now I probably would have tried.

Assuming you're already feeding 3-4x a day, rehoming is probably the right answer. PB's are just jerks.

Thanks, that was the thought process behind getting him, big tank, lots of caves and hiding spots. Yes feeding always and have a clip with nori always.
But I would never have known the outcome unless I tried and I held off for 2 years then finally did it. Argh!!! lol.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

At least you are willing to respond in a way that takes the fish’s interest into account. Some others would hope for the best and end up with dead fish.

Thanks. This is the only way in my opinion, I can’t just sit back and do nothing about it especially within my control. My wife was almost in tears but we learn and not do this again lol.

I tried but now it’s fishing time. This ought to be fun!!

 

[chadhender]

Put a mirror up. My Powder Blue will fight himself all day.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

Put a mirror up. My Powder Blue will fight himself all day.

I’ve been in front of the tank all morning or since 7 and I’ve never seen the PB go at him once… the clowns have numerous times. But I do see the PB swim up to the WC and when they both do is a synchronized swim in circles then swim off together to the end of one side then swim off on there own. It’s like there doing tight circles together then the pb will
Lead and the WC will follow him before going off in their own direction.

The WC is swimming about but then he will go over to the clown corner and they don’t like that.

Any thoughts before I pull the PB.

 

[chadhender]

Maybe try putting the WC in an acclimation box.

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

Maybe try putting the WC in an acclimation box.

not a bad idea, or possibly the PB to the box… I just can’t figure out if there “playing “ or aggression. I don’t see inflicting contact between the two but they are doing circles. I’ve done a bit of research and I’m seeing it can be either so that didn’t help.

Either way I won’t allow any fish to kill or bully another if this is what is happening. I’m just parked in front of the tank to see what is happening just so hard to tell what is happening.

I know when tangs are introduced there will be a few days of this and that but in my case it’s always resolved within a few days.

 

[DCR]

I would second the mirror suggestion. I have had good success using that with introducing new fish with tangs already in the tank. I don't think the acclimation boxes do much for tangs - at least in my experience. It may allow the weaker fish to recover or strengthen, but it will most likely still be attacked when you introduce it into the main tank.

 

[larrysaltisfun]

I need some guidance please because I don’t know what to do. I have 6 tangs in my 290g and they’ve always been at peace…A Gem, chocolate, purple, white tail, Naso and a Desjardini.

Everything has been through qt before added to the DT

After 2 years now with the system running I decided to add a PB and a White cheek as this will be my last tangs added to the system and after the quarantine was over I added them to the DT on Saturday afternoon. No aggression anywhere.

This evening 2days later I started to noticed the PB chasing the WC. ( they’ve been swimming together all day that looked to be friendly as their was no contact just swimming fast together as if there chasing each other).

The PB is smaller than every tang I have and the wc is half his size being the smallest of all.

But this evening I’m not sure what is going on, I didn’t see ripping But a lot of pecking and about an hour before lights went out the WC was in the bottom corner and then my clowns are nailing him while the PB went for a few pecks. He is showing a few marks on his side and He’s been at the top under the return nozzle and hoping that now the lights are out he can get some relief.

What would be the best thing to do at this point, should I leave him in there to see if they can get along and work it out or pull him. I would really like to keep them both but not at the expense of a life.

Could someone give me some advice and guidance please I’d really appreciate it.

I know they are of the same species and this is why I added them together to hopefully make it a better transition.

Thank you

Powder blue, like sohal are big jerks and seldom does this behavior stop. I have 27 tangs and have switched out powder blues 3X before getting a good one, and that fish too became my tank nightmare and gone.

Vetteguy,

Do you see the same aggressiveness with powder brown tangs as you do with powder blue?

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

I would second the mirror suggestion. I have had good success using that with introducing new fish with tangs already in the tank. I don't think the acclimation boxes do much for tangs - at least in my experience. It may allow the weaker fish to recover or strengthen, but it will most likely still be attacked when you introduce it into the main tank.

I’ll give the mirror a try now and see what happens. Thanks for the input appreciate it everyone

 

[vetteguy53081]

Vetteguy,

Do you see the same aggressiveness with powder brown tangs as you do with powder blue?

Powder brown are hit and miss but susceptible to ich and velvet

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’ll give the mirror a try now and see what happens. Thanks for the input appreciate it everyone

Mirror is hit and miss and often temporary especially with Powder blues

 

[larrysaltisfun]

Vetteguy,

Do you see the same aggressiveness with powder brown tangs as you do with powder blue?

Powder brown are hit and miss but susceptible to ich and velvet

So Powder Browns may not be as aggressive, but they are even more of an ich magnet than powder blues?

 

[CristinaNTimothy]

Mirror is hit and miss and often temporary especially with Powder blues

Thanks for the input… any thoughts on the above question in regards to the synchronized circular swimming?