Tomini tang aggression

dugthefish · Feb 5, 2020

Original stocking order, based on compatibility and aggression, was Magnificent Foxface, small Tomini tang/medium convict tang, and redlip bennie. All were fine for several months until the blennie turned psycho, killing the convict and then the rabbit. Blennie will be removed soon, and I'm curious about restocking with the same fish (minus the blennie ofc).

I'm thinking I'll do another mag rabbit, followed by another medium tang (perhaps convict, or perhaps another zerbrasoma or acanthurus). Should I pull the 2.5" Tomini to QT for a few weeks to let them get settled? Should I go with a more aggressive tang species so I dont have to worry about the Tomini bullying him?

Current Tomini has been very passive and peaceful, always the low man on the totem pole, never bothered the others except to defend himself from the blennies aggression. Just not sure what to expect. Thanks in advance.

Euphyllia97 · Feb 5, 2020

Got a special blennie :0

Would take the Tomini out of the tank and change the rocks a bit before adding the two tangs together to the tank.

This way they will still have to establish their personal area preventing them to take the whole tank for themselves.

Take a tang with different shape, family and color. In case of agression in the beginning put a mirror next to the tank. make sure there is plenty of food like nori so they don’t see each other as competition.

nereefpat · Feb 5, 2020

Tomini, foxface, and convict should be a good combo. And the tomini is still small, so I wouldn't anticipate problems. What is the tank size?

dugthefish · Feb 5, 2020

nereefpat said:
Tomini, foxface, and convict should be a good combo. And the tomini is still small, so I wouldn't anticipate problems. What is the tank size?

125. All 3 got along well before the blennie lost his mind, but i started with a medium convict and tiny Tomini. Now my Tomini is a bit bigger, I'm wondering if he would be bolder versus a larger but more docile fish.

nereefpat · Feb 5, 2020

I would bet you'd be fine with another convict and foxface added together.

Good luck with what you decide.

Hugh Mann · Mar 8, 2020

I don't know how relevant to you this might be, but I recently added a Tomini tang to my tank alongside a lemonpeel, cleaner wrasse and flame hawkfish, with an already established greyfaced moray, marine betta and dwarf fuzzy lionfish. It is about 2" tops, and the most peaceful in the tank, hasn't bothered anything new or old. Content to spend its days grazing on live rock and hiding from the lemonpeel.