Introducing fish

[b-ridge]

What's the best way to introduce a new fish to the tank? I recently bought a mustard tang approximately 3-4 inches. My fish first paid no attention to him. The next day my purple tang who is approximately 5-6 inches harassed him. He then left him alone but my blue hippo tang approximately 5 inches started bullying/harassing my mustard. This continued to he ultimately harassed/bullied him to death. Is there anything different I could of done to prevent this death? Oddly enough my sohal(the king) didn't bother him at all

 

[Jazeel55]

That answer is easy stop getting tangs. Unless you introduce them at the same time they will fight

 

[CleanYourTank11]

It's always a risk, try to better your odds with a large difference in size and or multiples of the same sort of body shape. Never a gaurentee that they won't fight though.
Always best to introduce at the same time but I see it's too late for that. Sometimes putting the new fish into a breeder/qt box in the aquarium for few days or more will help out but again sometimes it doesn't help at all,every situation and fish are different. Gotta love the hobby! LoL

 

[bklynreef]

Buy an acclimation box. Whatever the cost it's worth it. Keep the fish in there a week then set him free Friday night after lights out. You can then monitor things over the weekend when your home. Works for me every time.

 

[albano]

That answer is easy stop getting tangs. Unless you introduce them at the same time they will fight

Not true...

It's always a risk, try to better your odds with a large difference in size and or multiples of the same sort of body shape. Never a gaurentee that they won't fight though.
Always best to introduce at the same time but I see it's too late for that. Sometimes putting the new fish into a breeder/qt box in the aquarium for few days or more will help out but again sometimes it doesn't help at all,every situation and fish are different...

+1

Buy an acclimation box. Whatever the cost it's worth it. Keep the fish in there a week then set him free Friday night after lights out. You can then monitor things over the weekend when your home. Works for me every time.

IMO ... A tang would be STRESSED to the max, in an acclimation box for a week... For most fish 1-3days should be enough in an acclimation box...which can be purchased for ~$20 at Petco

 

[bklynreef]

Not true...

+1


IMO ... A tang would be STRESSED to the max, in an acclimation box for a week... For most fish 1-3days should be enough in an acclimation box...which can be purchased for ~$20 at Petco

Correct Albano but my acclimation box in my tank is custom made and very large to accommodate big fish if needed. When I say a week I mean put them in Monday and set them free Friday night, 5 business days. I've done it to all my tangs with no issue. If I do see some stress going on I'll let them out immediately. You have to be realistic when your fiddling with things and do what you think is the right move. Hopefully were right most of the time.

 

[b-ridge]

I will definintely attempt this next time. i plan on ordering another mustard tang real soon. hopefully a little bigger than the one that just perished. dont know if it will make that much of a difference or should i try a smaller one? I also plan on adding next week a whitetail bristletooth and a chevron tang. my tank is 240 gallons plumbed into a 125 gallon sump and a 75 gallon fuge so I believe i may have enough room since those 2 dont grow so big. in the next month i plan on adding 2-3 bellus angels. possibly a regal angel and a majestic. what are your thoughts?

 

[thirty6]

I have used a plastic critter cage with the snap on lid in the past (some lfs do this in the tanks) usually works well but I did not try for either of my tangs because of the fish size

 

[b-ridge]

cancel the majestic. too much of a risk i am reading

 

[b-ridge]

I just received mix opinions from a few friends of mine. The chevron and the white tail bristletooth would be approximately 3-4 inches. Some say no way the method you guys suggested I use will work. Others say yes it will cause the fish are smaller and somewhat different body shapes. Waste of money or take the chance? Before I do I will be getting rid of a aggressive maroon clownfish I have. Even attempts to bite my hand when arranging my corals.

 

[b-ridge]

Suggestions

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Not true...

+1


IMO ... A tang would be STRESSED to the max, in an acclimation box for a week... For most fish 1-3days should be enough in an acclimation box...which can be purchased for ~$20 at Petco

i agree 100%

Add the new fish after lights are out as well.

 

[duke62]

The way I introduce any new tang is if there is fighting I get my hand mirror and put it by the tank and the aggressor will pay attention to the mirror and not the new tang that's introduced. Worked for pretty much every time. I have 5 tangs now and they all get along great.

 

[b-ridge]

I'm just worried about my chevron and bristletooth. I have a sohal, purple, 2 blue hippos, sailfin,and naso. All 6 get along fine except the occasional chasing around and durijg feeding time. The chevron and bristletooth will be 3-4 inches so they will be the smallest. After that no more tangs. Just angels and whatever else that are reef safe