Mixing Tangs

[caad3]

I was wondering if anybody had experience doing this. I currently have 120g tank with 1 purple tang. I wanted to add some yellow tangs, I know this could be a problem, but wanted to see if anybody had experience adding similar shaped tangs together. I can yank the purple out and hold him in spare QT tank if necessary.

 

[Alex]

I wouldn't do that, PT have been know to be rather aggressive when added to existing setups. Now you have a PT that has made your tank his territory, so basically any fish you add will most likely get picked on, that's the PT way of letting the new fish know who's the boss.

When adding fish territorial fish should be added last, if at all.

 

[olivier]

take the purple tang out, rearrange the rockwork alittle bit to make it different, introduce both fish (yellow and purple) at the same.

 

[Awibrandy]

take the purple tang out, rearrange the rockwork alittle bit to make it different, introduce both fish (yellow and purple) at the same.

Good luck with that one!LOL Never worked for me or my best friend!

What I found that does have a little bit of a better chance is to add in multiples at the same time as rearranging the rock work. Theory behind this was that there would be more then 1 for the resident fish to focus on, so it would tire faster, and it would give the new guys time to rest in between attacks. This did work most of the time when I was big into the tangs, but who wants to add 3 fish of the same species at a time?

 

[topmav1]

And make sure they're at least as big as the purple so they can hold their own...

 

[dacaptain78]

My Purple tang has 4 confirmed kills under his belt. He killed a Powder Blue tang, Racoon Butterfly, Potters Angel, and an Emporer Angel. All were around the same size as the PT with the emporer angel slightly larger.

If you do try to add a new fish watch it closely and be prepared to remove it, or the tang, if fighting begins.

 

[olivier]

I actually have 3 yellow tangs and 2 purple tangs adding at the same time. they fight a little bit between yellow and purple group but all went away.

Red Sand Aquarium has in NJ this as well

anyway, it works for me so that I suggest but it might not work for you. use your judment

Good luck with that one!LOL Never worked for me or my best friend!

What I found that does have a little bit of a better chance is to add in multiples at the same time as rearranging the rock work. Theory behind this was that there would be more then 1 for the resident fish to focus on, so it would tire faster, and it would give the new guys time to rest in between attacks. This did work most of the time when I was big into the tangs, but who wants to add 3 fish of the same species at a time?

 

[House of Laughter]

Yellow tangs with the same body type (zebrasoma, etc) will fight eventually. They are more tolerant when they are smaller as they depend on each other to school etc, but once they get large enough to flex their spike, it will be battle royale'

What I have found works for me is making sure all the tangs you put in there have different body types (hippo, sailfin, yellow(or purple or black or scopas), bristletooth (tomimi, striated etc) will tolerate eadch other in a larger tank.

In my 180, they rarely faught - in my 150, the "dance" all the time.

if you do more than one, make sure they are different.

HTH

House

 

[greggnyce]

I really am starting to beleive there are other factors as well. I definatley beleive that alot of it depends on the fish's personality. For instance, I have a Tomini tang which is suposed to be the smallest and most "peaceful", but it is a terror. It chases my tailspot blenny all over the tank. It picks on my new naso tang, which is bigger then it is. I had a tomini tang a while back that I traded when I was moving and that one was super peaceful. So while there is definalty issues with the fish being the same shape, the individual fish makes a difference also, IMO.

 

[caad3]

Thanks for everyone chiming in.... This is going to be a tough one. I might yank pt out and let the yellows take residence for awhile. My PT is a P@#$y anyway, always hiding.

 

[Zorba]

Never had these issues w tangs personally. Just lucky I guess but what Ive recommended to friends and clients is what awibrandy did. Rearrange the rockwork and add multiples to confuse the PT. BTW multiples don't have to be the same species ie 3 yellows. It is possible to add a sailfin powder blue and yellow or lollipop or any combo of the above. A week in the quarantine to let the other guys establish themselves wouldn't hurt

 

[Awibrandy]

If, or when I add tangs I do not remove the resident tang on account that then he/she will be the one picked on when re-introduced.

 

[stedfast82]

no problem's here

 

[pecan2phat]

James,
The 120g that you saw in my basement has 3 YT & 1 PT. The PT is definitely the aggressor, he took out a $500 BT.

The PT was put in after the 3 YT, mistake was the attempt to put in the BT :irked:

 

[caad3]

I can't remember which tank, you have so many of them... hahah. Damn, you should have taken him too...lol, I'm not sure if I want to go with the yellows yet, I do like the contrast they provide.

 

[greggnyce]

The 120g that you saw in my basement has 3 YT & 1 PT. The PT is definitely the aggressor, he took out a $500 BT.

I would have made sushi with the pt, omg

 

[xvinny631x]

Mirrors help distract other bullys.. I put a mirror on the side of my tank when i get a new fish.
Its a good trick for pictures too.. They get pissed off and open their fins

 

[Galantra]

I like the mirror idea, I personally try to remove them and keep them all in a QT tank together for a month before introducing them to a DT tank.

Currently I have 2 yellow, 1 hippo, 2 tomini, 1 Purple, and a Vlamingi

 

[isgon26]

I put a purple in my tank and he is kind of timid. The previous owner gave him to me because he was too aggressive. Go figure. My powder blue is the more aggressive one. It

 

[Master Shake]

dont do it, first of all tank is too small for multiple tangs. and if you did decide to do it they would have to be smaller than the purple tang by a signifigant size difference, il compare it to something: if a person ur size broke into ur house you would be threatened, if a kid broke into ur house you would probably just laugh at him and not worry about it.