Two tangs in a 55 Gallon

acroreefer · Feb 23, 2023

Hey Guys…
So I’m looking for advice on how best to add a small sailfin desjardini tang to a 55g tank that already has a tomini tang that I’ve had for a year. I already have the sailfin in QT and he’s eating well, and is ready to go into the DT. I’m obviously really nervous about adding a second tang to a relatively small tank. I will say the tomini isn’t very aggressive by nature, and is much more interested in nori and his own reflection. There is only one main cave in the tank, but I’m think it’s probably worth me adding some rock to result in a second cave for the new addition.
Please no tang police! I realise the tank is too small longer term, and both will be moved to my new Waterbox 200g build that’s going in my office towards the end of this year.
Advice is very much appreciated.

jtf74 · Feb 23, 2023

I wouldn’t put two in a 55. Lost a powder brown to a yellow in a 300 gallon.

bradreef · Feb 23, 2023

You can start with an aclimation box. You can use a mirror next to the tank if one is aggressive. Make sure there is separation in areas with rock or similar.

Fish Styx · Feb 23, 2023

The short answer is, you don't. Sailfins / Desjardinis need a minimum of an 8' tank. Minimum. Your Tomini is established in that tank (which is already on the small side for it) and will be aggressive toward any new tank mates, regardless of species. My advice is to wait until the new system is set up and then introduce them simultaneously.

areefer01 · Feb 23, 2023

Fish Styx said:
The short answer is, you don't. Sailfins / Desjardinis need a minimum of an 8' tank. Minimum. Your Tomini is established in that tank (which is already on the small side for it) and will be aggressive toward any new tank mates, regardless of species. My advice is to wait until the new system is set up and then introduce them simultaneously.

I think you either missed, or ignored, their request for no po po or conscientious marine aquarist input. Only shopping for answers.

Fish Styx · Feb 23, 2023

areefer01 said:
I think you either missed, or ignored, their request for no po po or conscientious marine aquarist input. Only shopping for answers.

You're not shopping for answers, you're shopping for enablement. I gave you an answer, and the correct one at that. What you do with it is up to you. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Spare time · Feb 23, 2023

I think its fine as long as the sailfin is tiny.

areefer01 · Feb 23, 2023

Fish Styx said:
You're not shopping for answers, you're shopping for enablement. I gave you an answer, and the correct one at that. What you do with it is up to you. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Hey - no fair. I'm not the OP

I only have a Scopas tang in my 210.

acroreefer · Feb 23, 2023

bradreef said:
You can start with an aclimation box. You can use a mirror next to the tank if one is aggressive. Make sure there is separation in areas with rock or similar.

I do have an acclimation box lying around. I just wasn’t sure if that might add unnecessary stress? How long would you keep him in the box?

acroreefer · Feb 23, 2023

Fish Styx said:
You're not shopping for answers, you're shopping for enablement. I gave you an answer, and the correct one at that. What you do with it is up to you. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.

Thanks, I appreciate the reply

acroreefer · Feb 23, 2023

Spare time said:
I think its fine as long as the sailfin is tiny.

I’ve been waiting for a specimen this small for a while, one of the smallest I’ve seen in person. I’m not worried about him getting too big in the 8 - 12 months until the upgrade that’s for sure.

bradreef · Feb 23, 2023

acroreefer said:
I do have an acclimation box lying around. I just wasn’t sure if that might add unnecessary stress? How long would you keep him in the box?

Depends, usually after a couple of days the other fish will lose interest. You can always rearrange rock

Anemone_Fanatic · Feb 23, 2023

As others have remarked upon, it isn't an ideal situation, but it should be possible for a short time. Using an acclimation box, putting a mirror up against the glass, and adding another nori clip to the other side of the tank will increase your chances of success. Placing the fish into the box at night will reduce initial aggressive behavior from the tomini, and because you have it in quarantine, it sounds like you can do that. A four foot tank is okay for two small tangs, but the issue is the depth of only 13". In the future, I wouldn't recommend buying a fish for a tank that you don't have yet. There would still have been plenty of sailfin tangs around once your 200 gallon arrived. Good luck!

piranhaman00 · Feb 23, 2023

areefer01 said:
I think you either missed, or ignored, their request for no po po or conscientious marine aquarist input. Only shopping for answers.

Neither fish can go in the 200 let alone a 55. @Fish Styx got it right

Fish Styx · Feb 23, 2023

acroreefer said:
I’ve been waiting for a specimen this small for a while, one of the smallest I’ve seen in person. I’m not worried about him getting too big in the 8 - 12 months until the upgrade that’s for sure.

Congrats, but it's not about the specimen's size being appropriate for your current tank at this point, as much as it is about its ability to survive the Tomini's aggression, which should be, IMO, your chief concern. For the record, however, coming here and asking a question with the caveat that "conscientious marine aquarists" need not apply, is much akin to going to an ASPCA fundraiser and asking for pointers on how to start up your new dog fighting operation. Again, best of luck to you.

Namaste.

Lost in the Sauce · Feb 23, 2023

acroreefer said:
I’ve been waiting for a specimen this small for a while, one of the smallest I’ve seen in person. I’m not worried about him getting too big in the 8 - 12 months until the upgrade that’s for sure.

How small of a Desjardini are you putting in this 55g for the tomini to likely kill?

Lost in the Sauce · Feb 23, 2023

Fish Styx said:
Congrats, but it's not about the specimen's size being appropriate for your current tank at this point, as much as it is about its ability to survive the Tomini's aggression, which should be, IMO, your chief concern. For the record, however, coming here and asking a question with the caveat that "conscientious marine aquarists" need not apply, is much akin to going to an ASPCA fundraiser and asking for pointers on how to start up your new dog fighting operation. Again, best of luck to you.

Harold999 · Feb 23, 2023

acroreefer said:
Please no tang police!

Topics with Tang in the title will automatically alert all police stations all over the globe, sorry.

piranhaman00 · Feb 23, 2023

I don’t understand why this hobby is okay with cramming fish into small tanks? And then calling out the “tang police”? Isn’t this about caring for animals? You realize that tang is pulled from the ocean to die with you. Good luck.

Lost in the Sauce · Feb 23, 2023

areefer01 said:
I think you either missed, or ignored, their request for no po po or conscientious marine aquarist input. Only shopping for answers.

For discussion sake, if someone knows what they want to do is a bad idea, and says, don't tell me it's a bad idea, it makes it more fun to remind them how delusionally stupid it is, even if only mildly so.

The phrase "no Tang police" not only calls in the popo, but also the trolls that will just enjoy ruining someone else's confirmation biased safe space.