Tang Tally: How many Tangs can I keep in my tank?

Peace River · Jun 12, 2023

Tang Tally: How many Tangs can I keep in my tank?

Usually when we are thinking about Tangs and looking out for the Tang Police, the discussion is about the smallest tank where you should reasonably keep a Tang. However, today let’s move past that conversation and talk about how many Tangs can be successfully kept in a tank. Of course, the size and type of Tang will impact the answer as will the size of the aquarium. Please share your rationales, experiences, and other thoughts about how many Tangs should go in a tank.

Pro Tip: Understanding the size and compatibility of the different species of Tangs is an important part of selecting tankmates. Additionally, know that Tangs often set up territories within the aquarium.

Photo by @SunnyX; May 2022 Photo of the Month winner

This QOTD is sponsored by: www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com

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Timfish · Jun 12, 2023

Fundamentally it will depend on the temperment and age of the fish in question.

2 examples of issues I've had develop over time: I had 3 yellow tangs (~2" initially) in a 120 that got along well for about 3-4 years until they started to mature and I had to remove two due to aggression from the dominate one of the trio.

Back in 2001 I had 6-7 year old purple and sailfin tangs in a 350 gallon system. Adding three 3" -4" yellow tangs initially went well for a few months but at roughly the 6 month mark the purple tang killed two of the yellows in an afternoon. The purple and surviving yellow have been rehomed now and are still getting along fine.

i cant think · Jun 12, 2023

It honestly depends on a lot of situations.

Are you trying to replicate a reef? If so I’d do 2 tangs in a 6’ tank and 3-4 in an 8’ tank as in reefs you don’t see 6 huge fish in a 6’ distance of eachother 24/7. Usually you’ll see 3-4 large fish and a mixture of 20+ small species.

Do you just want a bunch of large fish?
In a 6’ tank max I’d say is 1 if it’s a large species but 2-3 if one/two are small species. In an 8’+ tank I’d say 10+ tangs.

X-37B · Jun 12, 2023

Tang police!
1 in my 45 frag system. Not ideal but its happy until I can move it to the 80 one day.

Troylee · Jun 12, 2023

I got 7 and not done yet!

vetteguy53081 · Jun 12, 2023

As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

90's reefer said:
Tang police!
1 in my 45 frag system. Not ideal but its happy until I can move it to the 80 one day.

Looks happy and dont see an issue. Does Tomini have HLLE?

vetteguy53081 · Jun 12, 2023

As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

Reefer Matt · Jun 12, 2023

I believe the tank size and species of Tang usually dictate how many of each can be kept together. For example, there are many very large tanks 1000+ gallons that house many of the same species together.

I have a 5 year old purple tang in a 75 gallon tank. But it has stayed 4 inches in length, and is peaceful as long as no other tangs are in the tank.

Digitalfirex · Jun 12, 2023

Darn I'm vested in this question now...

I'm considering the following 2-3" in my build

Achilles
Purple
2x Yellow
Gem
Yellow eye kole
White tail
Sailfin
Convict
Powder blue

Tank is 72" x 24" x 29"... with sump it's 300g system.

I do have a 96" x 36" x 30" 400g that I can eventually move bigger fish into... again these are all going at the same time as 3" juveniles... but I was also assuming not all would survive to adults as this is the sad reality of the hobby. This thread is making me doubt the plan tho :$

threebuoys · Jun 12, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

IS this the 400 gallon tank, or larger?

vetteguy53081 · Jun 12, 2023

Digitalfirex said:
Darn I'm vested in this question now...

I'm considering the following 2-3" in my build

Achilles
Purple
2x Yellow
Gem
Yellow eye kole
White tail
Sailfin
Convict
Powder blue

Tank is 72" x 24" x 29"... with sump it's 300g system.

I do have a 96" x 36" x 30" 400g that I can eventually move bigger fish into... again these are all going at the same time as 3" juveniles... but I was also assuming not all would survive to adults as this is the sad reality of the hobby. This thread is making me doubt the plan tho :$

Assure the convict you get is eating and best as a first tang by itself to get it comfortable and eating. There has been an array of issues with them from Sri Lanka where they look good but never truly eat and wither away suggesting they may be cyanide captured.

Digitalfirex · Jun 12, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

This is goals.

X-37B · Jun 12, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

Looks happy and dont see an issue. Does Tomini have HLLE?

Dont think so. I have had it for 4 years now. It gets scraped up from time to time but HLLE?.

To(meany)Tang · Jun 12, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

Looks happy and dont see an issue. Does Tomini have HLLE?

Where's the awesome pictures of the Tang gang? I love seeing them

To(meany)Tang · Jun 12, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
As many know, I have 25 tangs and I stocked them in order of temperament and the plan has worked. Do they squabble occasionally- Of course they do but they never strike each other or cause injury. I have no secret to having so many other than maintaining good water quality and best diet possible.
Those who have seen my tank in person say the tank is well balanced with fish and the behavior is unbelievable with over 40 fish in the tank.

Nevermind I'm late haha. I love themmm

MnFish1 · Jun 12, 2023

I think 'it depends'. I have had 3 yellow tangs and a purple tang that did fine together in a 100 gallon tank. One of the yellows jumped (though the tank was covered) - somehow - since then the 2 yellow tangs and the purple have done well together.