Tangs

[MikeyNYC]

Question: I've been reading everywhere that having more than 1 tang per tank is a bad idea. The general consesus seems that the only tangs capable of schooling are the purple or yellow's. Even with those two types, there are a bunch of steps needed to make sure they get along.

I've seen alot of people with mixed tang tanks, and was just a little confused. Is there a big problem with mixing tangs. I was thinking kole, hippo, maybe a yellow. What's the general thinking on this subject

 

[ming]

A big factor is the size of tank its going in

 

[MikeyNYC]

Confused

I have a 93 gallon, with a decent amount of rock, not too cramped, plenty of hiding places.

How many do you think I can get away with. I understand that each fish is different, temper, etc. Is there a better bet with one fish over another?

Thanks

 

[digitalreefer]

You could probably try another tang... a hippo and a yellow ie. and see what happens... if they get aggresive, try a different tang... in that size tank, 2 should get along for the most part.

 

[michael stern]

I agree that you could probably get away with 2, but I would avoid the yellows. They are pretty aggressive. Hippo, Kole, Tomini would be good choices.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

mikenyc- the reason you see more than one tang in tanks is mainly because they are differently shaped. hippo and yellow is a very common mix and they tend to get along becuase they look so different.

in a 93, one is best two is ok. it all depends on what kind you are getting because some grow a lot bigger than others. i have a 120g and i still feel like it's too small for a tang.

good luck
jon-

 

[masterswimmer]

Like scarf said, if you keep tangs of varying genus (zebrasoma, naso, acanthurus, paracanthurus, etc) they should be ok. When their body shapes and colors are similar it tends to lead towards aggression.

I keep a hippo and a kole in my 75.

swimmer

 

[nycmat]

there are a couple of factors here to consider when acclimating these fish to the tanks: space, rocks with hiding places, times when acclimated, sizes, and overall aggressiveness of the fish. if you were to say acclimate the fish in a bucket together at the same time. this worked for me in my 75. now if you are adding new tangs to a tank that already has a tang. then i strongly urge you to change around your tank because of territorial issues. also remember they are for the most part vegitarians. i put in 3 baby blue hippos with a yellow and purple tang (different sizes) and kept them for over 2 1/2 years with no fighting. now try and throw a sohal tang in there and you are screwed. they are the most aggressive of all tangs while beautiful in its ownright. at present i keep 3 tangs in a 215 and they never fight. but they are the ones that i have grown. they are great fish. now dealing with them with reefs i strongly urge you to see the tang thread here at the fish forum.

 

[bigbbinthehouse]

I Am By No Means An Expert At All, But I Added A Yellow And Purple At The Same Time, There Was A Little Tension At First, But They Get Along Great In My 90 And Have Been For The Past 6 Months. They Even Swim Together. I Added A Baby Hippo About 3 Months Ago And They Never Bothered Him. I Did, However, Add A Copperbanded Butterfly To The Tank And The Yellow And Purple Killed Him Overnight. Tried To Catch Him Before They Did, But He Never Had A Chance. Btw, Anyone Have Any Idea Why They Would Attack Him And How Can I Add One To My Tank As I Have Some Aptasia? I Know Shape Played A Big Part In Why They Attacked Him. Sorry If I Started A New Problem Here.

 

[drunktank]

I Am By No Means An Expert At All, But I Added A Yellow And Purple At The Same Time, There Was A Little Tension At First, But They Get Along Great In My 90 And Have Been For The Past 6 Months. They Even Swim Together. I Added A Baby Hippo About 3 Months Ago And They Never Bothered Him. I Did, However, Add A Copperbanded Butterfly To The Tank And The Yellow And Purple Killed Him Overnight. Tried To Catch Him Before They Did, But He Never Had A Chance. Btw, Anyone Have Any Idea Why They Would Attack Him And How Can I Add One To My Tank As I Have Some Aptasia? I Know Shape Played A Big Part In Why They Attacked Him. Sorry If I Started A New Problem Here.

I doubt that had anything to do with shape since tangs and butterfly's are different species. They attacked him because they had already established their territory. A 90g is a very small tank, Its a tall 75 basically. Not much swimming room which tangs kinda require. So they set up shop pretty quick if you understand. Chances are, the CBB was simply viewed as a threat and they killed it.

 

[House of Laughter]

Mikey,

Take a look at this 92 corner I had a few years back -

NOTE: all advice above is good, I disagree with putting a Kole, a Hippo and a Tomini in together as the Tomini is relative to the yellow eye kole. Although from different parts of the world, the same bidy types typically causes fights.

I support the swimmer on this one - in my tank there is one of each body type - one zebromosa (Yellow tang) One Bristletooth Tang (straitus) one blue or regal tang (hepatis) and the Sailfin from the red sea (Zebrasona desjardini)

All but the bristletooth are living happily in my 180 (they are much bigger now) with an Orange Shoulder tang (olivaceus) and is something you'll need to consider as they grow into your tank. Smaller quarters as they grow larger is also a cause of aggression.

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

House

 

[prattreef]

While I think a 92g. is a bit small for 3 tangs, the 3 you mentioned would be good choices to co-exist. IME these 3 species should pretty much ignore each other, after perhaps some initial squabbling. It helps if they are of different sizes too.

Regarding Tangs and Butterflies, they tend to hate each other regardless of who was introduced first. Most tangs will try their best to take a butterfly out if they can. Copperbands are among the wimpiest and routinely get battered mercilessly. RD

 

[lola]

i have a 125 gal with a hippo and yellow no problems

 

[Salesbig]

I have 2 yellow tangs in my 92... but and this is a big but...
I introduced to my at the same time...
I think that makes a big difference

I also heard in odd numbers tangs do well


I guess it all depends