A Copperband with Tangs?? Can it be successful

[Brian Saxby]

In my tang gang I have a kole (3”) a purple (3”) and a powder blue (5 1/2”). All get along great! I want to add some more fish and a copperband is on my wish list but I’m not sure how it will do with the tangs. Was wondering if anyone would like to share their experience. I have read yellow tangs and cbb don’t do well together so I’m on the fence at the moment

 

[nereefpat]

Tank size?

 

[jsvand5]

Probably would have had a better shot if the copperband was in first. I’d try putting one in a large acclimation box or even section off a portion of the tank if possible to see how the tangs react. The first few days will probably be rough and that may be enough time to kill the copperband.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Butterflies do not have the same aggression as tangs(except to conspecifics). I would always consider the best option of adding the butterfly first, and let it settle.

If you did try and your tank is large enough for a another laterally compressed fish. I would add via acclimation box and maybe a mirror for some time so the tangs are preoccupied after it is out for a period of time.
As well as have a plan in case the aggression of the PBT comes out.

 

[Brian Saxby]

Tank size?

20 gallon long[emoji23] just kidding. 6foot 30inch deep bowfront.

 

[Brian Saxby]

Butterflies do not have the same aggression as tangs(except to conspecifics). I would always consider the best option of adding the butterfly first, and let it settle.

If you did try and your tank is large enough for a another laterally compressed fish. I would add via acclimation box and maybe a mirror for some time so the tangs are preoccupied after it is out for a period of time.
As well as have a plan in case the aggression of the PBT comes out.

I was planning on doing the mirror and acclimation box. The PBT hated my purple the first day I added him. Mirror did the trick.

I won’t be able to pull the tangs or section off the tank. It’s gonna be acclimation box and mirror trick

 

[Adventures In Reefing]

Make sure it is a healthy and eating copper band. I had to nurse the heck out of mine to get it healthy and excited about food. I found mine doesn't like to grab food that is floating he likes to pick from rocks. I fixed this by having a little alcove I stick food in for it and he started eating much better. If the copper band gets stressed by the tangs it wont be good. The acclimation box is a good idea to see what will happen.

 

[Dilan Patel]

I did this multiple times. At first I tried a copperband as big as my tangs which I had was a yellow,clown and a naso all about 4-6in each in a 180 and the copperband did well but the yellow hated him and you could see it the copperband was able to toughen it out and ate frozen food extremely aggressively as I train my copperbands to eat frozen before releasing them into the tank. They are always put in an acclimation box so I can target feed them from live clams/mussels to frozen. Then my new one I actually added a new tang at the same time. The copperband was smaller a lot smaller at about 3\in while the rest of the tangs including new one is about 6 inches. The new tang powder blue was able to take a good beating and I felt comfortable releasing the copperband within a few days as I got it to eat frozen my second day of having it. So far copperband looks good not nearly as many aggressional issues as the first copperband. Hope this helps.

 

[Brian Saxby]

I did this multiple times. At first I tried a copperband as big as my tangs which I had was a yellow,clown and a naso all about 4-6in each in a 180 and the copperband did well but the yellow hated him and you could see it the copperband was able to toughen it out and ate frozen food extremely aggressively as I train my copperbands to eat frozen before releasing them into the tank. They are always put in an acclimation box so I can target feed them from live clams/mussels to frozen. Then my new one I actually added a new tang at the same time. The copperband was smaller a lot smaller at about 3\in while the rest of the tangs including new one is about 6 inches. The new tang powder blue was able to take a good beating and I felt comfortable releasing the copperband within a few days as I got it to eat frozen my second day of having it. So far copperband looks good not nearly as many aggressional issues as the first copperband. Hope this helps.

How long has the cbb and tangs been together?

 

[Dilan Patel]

the old tang was there for a year and a half died due to lack of nutrition since i went to college. But the new one for about a week

 

[Brian Saxby]

The cbb and tangs we’re together for a year and half?

 

[Dilan Patel]

yes but died from malnutrition

 

[NeverlosT]

I have a 8" barienne tang and a 6 inch achilles in a 150g cube and I added a copperband which is doing great. I feed bloodworms frequently and the copperband loves them so he stays fat. The tangs dont really harass the CB much. Maybe zebrasoma are worse?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

In addition to the aggression concerns you have to understand that it is very hard to get sufficient food to the CBB in a tank dominated with tangs. Tangs will zip around the tank at lightening speed sucking up every scrap and the CBB will barely have a chance to get a few bites in. They are just not as fast at eating. I had a tang and CBB together for a while and I basically had to completely overfeed the tank just to make sure the CBB got more than 3 bites. I’m not saying it can’t be done, I’m just saying the change to your bio load may be more than you expect because you will have to feed more food, more often.

 

[Reefer Reboot]

In my experience, sure! My five biggest fish in descending order are Foxface, Yellow Tang, CBB, Kole Tang and Flame Angel. They are all best buds. When I feed them I just hold the frozen cube with tweezers and they all come up and eat fin to fin. IDK, maybe that feeding protocol helps them accept each other.

 

[higorc]

I've got a copper band with a blonde naso, hippo, powder brown, yellow tang no issues. Not to count the pyramid butterfly [emoji6]

I feed alot! [emoji41]

 

[bblumberg]

I have a small (~3") copperband in a 150g with an 8" Dejardin's tang, a 4" yellow tang, a 6" Foxface, a 3" flame angel and many chromis and springer damsels. The tangs chase the CBB around from time to time but they all cope.

 

[Brian Saxby]

Sounds like it can be done. That makes me happy because I really want one.

My question for those who have success with the mix... did you ad the cbb after the tangs were established? And is so, what did you do to ad the cbb? Acclimation box and mirror? Or plop and go for it ?

 

[tehmadreefer]

Of course it can I have always had a cbb with either a blonde naso powder brown or blue. Curener tank it's with a powder blue

 

[higorc]

Sounds like it can be done. That makes me happy because I really want one.

My question for those who have success with the mix... did you ad the cbb after the tangs were established? And is so, what did you do to ad the cbb? Acclimation box and mirror? Or plop and go for it ?

No Acclimation box here, I didn't have one big enough. I did have to put the mirror up for a while because my powder brown would go after them every once in while. All my tangs had been in the tank for months and some years.

Not sure how big ur tank is or if you have space for a couple of fish (or even want another for that matter), but is always best if you add 2 or more fish at the same time in my experience. I always wanted both copper band and pyramid butterfly, so I planned and added both at the same time. I find that it divides the initial aggression between the 2 instead of it all being concentrated on just the one new fish.

After both butterflies were established in the tank, there was some competition between them. The Pyramid butterfly went after the copper band for a few days, but the copper band stood his ground and now they leave each other alone.

Hope that helps and good luck