Trouble Adding Tangs Send HELP!

[BillB83]

I'm struggling with aggression when trying to introduce new tangs to my 135-gallon tank and could use some community wisdom.

Current Stock (lightly stocked):

• Yellow Tang
• Tomini Tang
• Female Watanabe Angelfish

**Clowns, Goby, Cardinal and some other small fish that are never a problem with anything.

The Problem:
I lost a 2 year old Hippo and now every time I attempt to add a new tang that is not from the Ctenochaetus or Zebrasoma genus, it ends in failure due to bullying, forcing me to remove the newcomer. I've tried using an acclimation box, but the outcome is the same.

Observed Aggressor Behavior:

• Yellow Tang: Not overly violent, but will flair fins and shove the new fish away from its desired territory.
• Watanabe Angel: Behaves oddly—fixates on and obsessively follows new tangs, causing significant stress without obvious biting.
• Tomini Tang: The primary aggressor. Actively bites and chases, causing fin damage.

My Failed Attempts:
I've tried introducing two separate Acanthurus tangs both of which were smaller in size than the current residents.

My Questions:

1. Size & Introduction: Was the smaller size of the new tangs a key mistake? Should the new addition be noticeably larger?
2. Acclimation Box Technique: Is there a specific best practice I might be missing with the acclimation box? How long should they be in there? (I did 3 days)
3. Species Recommendation: Given this dynamic, are there any tang species or genera you would recommend as a better fit for this established trio? Or is my tank effectively "full" on tangs?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Euphyllia97]

Have you tried rearranging rockwork a bit when introducing a new tang? They are protecting their established area and changing up the rockwork might help them getting used to new spots and eachother. Also you can try and put mirrors next to the tank to keep aggression in check.

 

[BillB83]

Have you tried rearranging rockwork a bit when introducing a new tang? They are protecting their established area and changing up the rockwork might help them getting used to new spots and eachother. Also you can try and put mirrors next to the tank to keep aggression in check.

I cant really change any of the rockwork as most of the coral is grown in and alot of it is locked in place. I can try the mirror trick i have seen that work

 

[Lavey29]

I have had success acclimating fish by attaching a mirror to the front of the tank. It mesmerized all the fish there and there was no bullying.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Seems the existing tang is trying to tell you something. It is probably best to listen to it, since there are all sorts of ridiculous hills that fish are 100% willing to die on.

Forcing a fish to behave some way it doesn't want to is a fool's errand; either it won't work, or it will and you've just strongarmed the poor thing into submission -- hooray?.

 

[BillB83]

Seems the existing tang is trying to tell you something. It is probably best to listen to it, since there are all sorts of ridiculous hills that fish are 100% willing to die on.

Forcing a fish to behave some way it doesn't want to is a fool's errand; either it won't work, or it will and you've just strongarmed the poor thing into submission -- hooray?.

Yeah I agree with a lot of what I'm you said which is kinda why I asked like maybe I'm just full on tangs here and it is what it is.

 

[56longroof]

Tomini tangs are super aggressive when it comes to food. Mine is a total jerk. If it was easier to catch it would have been gone a long time ago.

 

[Tripymiggy]

I'm struggling with aggression when trying to introduce new tangs to my 135-gallon tank and could use some community wisdom.

Current Stock (lightly stocked):

• Yellow Tang
• Tomini Tang
• Female Watanabe Angelfish

**Clowns, Goby, Cardinal and some other small fish that are never a problem with anything.

The Problem:
I lost a 2 year old Hippo and now every time I attempt to add a new tang that is not from the Ctenochaetus or Zebrasoma genus, it ends in failure due to bullying, forcing me to remove the newcomer. I've tried using an acclimation box, but the outcome is the same.

Observed Aggressor Behavior:

• Yellow Tang: Not overly violent, but will flair fins and shove the new fish away from its desired territory.
• Watanabe Angel: Behaves oddly—fixates on and obsessively follows new tangs, causing significant stress without obvious biting.
• Tomini Tang: The primary aggressor. Actively bites and chases, causing fin damage.

My Failed Attempts:
I've tried introducing two separate Acanthurus tangs both of which were smaller in size than the current residents.

My Questions:

1. Size & Introduction: Was the smaller size of the new tangs a key mistake? Should the new addition be noticeably larger?
2. Acclimation Box Technique: Is there a specific best practice I might be missing with the acclimation box? How long should they be in there? (I did 3 days)
3. Species Recommendation: Given this dynamic, are there any tang species or genera you would recommend as a better fit for this established trio? Or is my tank effectively "full" on tangs?

Thanks,

Bill

Not sure if it has been mentioned but I have heard good things about using an acclimation box. I have not used one for acclimated fishes yet so I cant say from personal experience. I will be using one when I get my new yellow tang trio from drreef to introduce them to the main tank once they are done with the qt period.
Good luck

 

[BillB83]

Not sure if it has been mentioned but I have heard good things about using an acclimation box. I have not used one for acclimated fishes yet so I cant say from personal experience. I will be using one when I get my new yellow tang trio from drreef to introduce them to the main tank once they are done with the qt period.
Good luck

Yeah the box didnt seem to help much, the tomini/yellow/even the angel were just not fans of adding more fish with similar body types so i let it be. I ran a small group of 8 chromis through a long QT and added them to give the tank some more life and it worked out great. They bothered them slightly for like a week but the chromis are too fast for them and now they all get along fine

 

[Largeangels]

With the Tomini it may be a no go situation. I have a few aggressive tangs that not only pick on new tangs but new angelfish as well. Normally adding larger is better, but not always an option.

I always QT fish and make sure they are eating really well and have put on weight. It is important to only put in a healthy strong fish in with the established. Then put them in a specimen container for 3-7 days. I feed the specimen container and right by the specimen container at the same time so they are basically all eating next to each other so I can watch the interaction. After the new fish is released I keep a mirror up for around 3 days.

But some individual tangs are just nasty. My convict tang went back to the LFS. Worse than the sohol or clown tang.

 

[tanginamo.reefer]

Out of the 4 Tangs I have, I had the most trouble adding the Purple as they are naturally aggressive. I used a combination of cheap amazon stick on mirrors, rock arranging (making another rock cave) and just keeping everyone of my tangs well fed and not hungry. Although my Purple is aggressive at times, My Dory has become the pecking order boss of the Tangs.