2 tangs, advice?

Zbutcher

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Hey everyone,

Currently I have a 75 gallon. Now before you go all tang police, I am upgrading to a red sea reefer 525xl so dont worry lol

For context, atm I am able to acquire a baby purple tang and a baby bristletooth of my choice (both probably an inch or 2). I am wondering if they would be okay in the 75 temporarily for like a month or 2?
On top of that would there be aggression later down the road? I would be adding them at the same time and at the same size. I know not to mix the same genus.

I have also heard when it comes to stocking tangs together its better to have more then 2, like 3 tangs to spread aggression. but I dont know much about that so im looking for advice for all of this.

Or would i be better off with just one tang even in the 525? If its better to go with one, which is better for eating hair algae?

Sorry for all the questions but thank you for all the advice.

Have a great thanksgiving!
 
Just call it observation and it will be ok.
I can't comment on aggression because I am tired of it. Gets old after a while.
IMG_3373.jpeg
 
You should never tempt the Tang Police, but a holiday might give you an edge.

I Police my fish and I feed them. If they are fighting I get a net or just insert my hand ("The Hand" if you will!) and heckle the fighters into their corners and don't let them come out until they stop fighting. I usually don't have to heckle for more than a day. Fish learn faster than humans or dogs, especially if you hand train them. The hand also feeds heavy at first too impress the fish trapped in the tank that the hand is important.

My hand is going numb typing, but seriously get involved with your fish when you put them in. Heckle them WHEN they are fighting and you can become the Alpha (hand) Fish and they won't fight with each other once they figure out it's the Hands tank and fighting is futile.

I actually feed very lightly once they settle in but that is another fish Tale for another post.

Oh yeah, (edit) Tomini, Purple, (and one that gets too big to keep in any tank), ~not enough gallons according to most. Also, it is not Thanksgiving here so I'm mum.
Good Luck!
 
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You should never tempt the Tang Police, but a holiday might give you an edge.

I Police my fish and I feed them. If they are fighting I get a net or just insert my hand ("The Hand" if you will!) and heckle the fighters into their corners and don't let them come out until they stop fighting. I usually don't have to heckle for more than a day. Fish learn faster than humans or dogs, especially if you hand train them. The hand also feeds heavy at first too impress the fish trapped in the tank that the hand is important.

My hand is going numb typing, but seriously get involved with your fish when you put them in. Heckle them WHEN they are fighting and you can become the Alpha (hand) Fish and they won't fight with each other once they figure out it's the Hands tank and fighting is futile.

I actually feed very lightly once they settle in but that is another fish Tale for another post.

Oh yeah, (edit) Tomini, Purple, (and one that gets too big to keep in any tank), ~not enough gallons according to most. Also, it is not Thanksgiving here so I'm mum.
Good Luck!

LOOOOOOL your post is funny as hell haha. made me think of the giant hand from super smash brothers.

So you are saying the purple and a bristletooth the tank is too small at a 525xl? and i should only get one? or neither?
 
I currently have a LT Tang, a Gold Rim tang, and a Tomini tang in my 120 gal tank. I do see aggression between the 2 acanthurus tangs, but that's because it is strictly 1 on 1, both being acanthurus tangs, they ignore the bristletooth tang. The purple tang will outgrow the 75 gal tank, but will be fine for a RS 525. As far as going tang police on you, I have to keep my mouth shut, look at my 225 gal tank upgrade thread and you will see why, LOL!!! ;Hilarious

3 tangs are better than 2 in a tank, but you have to be mindful of the species as well and not do what I did and put 2 of the same species in 1 tank. That's were the 1 on 1 aggression comes in.
 
I currently have a LT Tang, a Gold Rim tang, and a Tomini tang in my 120 gal tank. I do see aggression between the 2 acanthurus tangs, but that's because it is strictly 1 on 1, both being acanthurus tangs, they ignore the bristletooth tang. The purple tang will outgrow the 75 gal tank, but will be fine for a RS 525. As far as going tang police on you, I have to keep my mouth shut, look at my 225 gal tank upgrade thread and you will see why, LOL!!! ;Hilarious

3 tangs are better than 2 in a tank, but you have to be mindful of the species as well and not do what I did and put 2 of the same species in 1 tank. That's were the 1 on 1 aggression comes in.

LMAOOOOO yeah man I feel ya.

Okay so doing a zebrasoma and bristletooth in theory should be fine but since there is only 2 I'd need another to balance out aggression. But I think the only other genus is acantherus and I think another but they are both need bigger tanks then what I got yeah? Any suggestions for a third?

Or should I test with just the 2
 
LMAOOOOO yeah man I feel ya.

Okay so doing a zebrasoma and bristletooth in theory should be fine but since there is only 2 I'd need another to balance out aggression. But I think the only other genus is acantherus and I think another but they are both need bigger tanks then what I got yeah? Any suggestions for a third?

Or should I test with just the 2
A RS 525 opens up the acanthurus species for you with a few exceptions. Its a 5 ft tank which helps out a lot. I love my Gold Rim tang, aka my avatar, but you could go with a Powder Blue, Gold Rim, and such. I would stay away from an Achilles which does need a 6 ft plus tank, the Clown and Sohal tang as they need even more and can be crazy aggressive.

Can you put 2 of the same species in a tank that is a RS 525 and upwards, yes. Is the possibility of them fighting higher, yes.
 
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A RS 525 opens up the acanthurus species for you with a few exceptions. Its a 5 ft tank which helps out a lot. I love my Gold Rim tang, aka my avatar, but you could go with a Powder Blue, Gold Rim, and such. I would stay away from an Achilles which does need a 6 ft plus tank, the Clown and Sohal tang as they need even more and can be crazy aggressive.

Can you put 2 of the same species in a tank that is a RS 525 and upwards, yes. Is the possibility of the fighting higher, yes.
It does? Wow I had no idea. But aren't all acanthurus ich machines? Not that other tangs aren't I suppose but acanthurus more then others?
 
In a 75g - Yes. Just be sure to acclimate them well and acclimate again as if you just bought themwhen you do the transfer
 
It does? Wow I had no idea. But aren't all acanthurus ich machines? Not that other tangs aren't I suppose but acanthurus more then others?
Tangs in general can be, but only a few species of the acanthurus are more subsceptable to ick only because their slime coat is thinner. Mainly the Powder Blue and Powder Brown tangs. I QT all my fish, so I never worried about it. :)
 
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A RS 525 opens up the acanthurus species for you with a few exceptions. Its a 5 ft tank which helps out a lot. I love my Gold Rim tang, aka my avatar, but you could go with a Powder Blue, Gold Rim, and such. I would stay away from an Achilles which does need a 6 ft plus tank, the Clown and Sohal tang as they need even more and can be crazy aggressive.

Can you put 2 of the same species in a tank that is a RS 525 and upwards, yes. Is the possibility of the fighting higher, yes.
And I can't believe I forgot to mention one of my favorite tangs as a possibility for the RS 525, and that would be a Convict tang. Beautiful tang that is extremely underated.
 
White Tail Bristletooth tang
Oh yeah lol I'm stupid. Really is your WTB aggressive? I was thinking of getting one because they are super nice but maybe not after hearing that.

I was thinking of getting them all at the same size and introducing at the same time since I have the ability. Idk if that would be good or not or negate the aggression
 
I just took a few quick pics of my tangs in my 120. It’s possible, you just need to be mindful as I said before. :)
4058B248-96CA-4563-98C2-D5E536161670.jpeg
39A76A8F-E1E1-452B-8FC8-ED30DE0F65E4.jpeg
73B576CA-B255-4703-ACB2-F66EE3E3C9E3.jpeg
That's an amaZing tank my friend! Is there any specific acanthurus tang I should be looking at? I was looking on liveaquaria and I could get a lemon tang which would be nice!
 

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