Adding a GEM tang to a tank with other tangs....

[Glenn Siegel]

I am adding a 7 inch gem tang to a 300g tank with other tangs including:
Desjardins 9 in (has not been aggressive with other fish yet)
Naso 8 in (stereotypical docile fish)
Blue hippo 8 in (can be a bit moody)
Purple 5 in but was able to put him in the refugium while the gem arrives and acclimates

Also have a pair of bellus angels (the male can be tempermental on occasion)
Spotted rabbit - very docile

With adding the gem am I better off adding another tang with him?? Thought of an orange shoulder but concerned with the blue hippo.
I can add a yellow but could be asking for problems with the purple even after being in a time out (he has been in the tank for 3+ years)
I like the idea of adding another tang along with the gem but any suggestions to assure the gem has the easiest transition possible??

 

[Big G]

Man I need to get a bigger tank . . . jealous

Let's get the tang guy to give you some advice for the precious Gem @4FordFamily

 

[Subsea]

Adding more than one should, at a minimum, spread out aggression to newcomers from residents.

One suggestion from the Swedish reefers, put newcomers in the sump for a week. In doing so, they will smell the same to established residents. Try it, you may like it.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

The general rule of tang compatibility is that the cheapest tang with usually kill the most expensive tang.

 

[ca1ore]

Purple will be the problem. When I added my gem, the resident purple would have ended up killing the gem had I not intervened. They’re ok now but only after P spent a month in the frag tank.

 

[Saveafish]

I see the purple causing issues. After QT pull a couple out and reintroduce them. I'd be super careful. Them two I see going at it.

 

[4FordFamily]

I agree I’d definitely sump the purple. You have a lot of very large tangs for your tank size, they tend to get more aggressive with age. If you try a gem alone, I’d invest in an acclimation box.

It’s always a risk, the Sailfin could decide not to accept the gem as well. But an acclimation box is a phenomenal insurance policy here. My gem is nasty and tank boss in my 180 at the moment.

 

[Glenn Siegel]

The general rule of tang compatibility is that the cheapest tang with usually kill the most expensive tang.

I already was able to get out and rehome my chevron - he was the most aggressive

 

[Glenn Siegel]

Thanks for the input.
Purple will be in the refugium while the gem acclimates. Hoping that the gem being 2-3 inches larger will help.
The chevron I had was far more aggressive and I was able to remove him this past week and rehome him. So the 2 I had any concern about are out of the tank when the gem arrives, but trying to do everything possible to assume the gem's happiness/healthiness. I do have an acclimation box but I think the gem will be way to stressed in it given its size and the size of the box - about 18 inches long.

Am I better off adding another tang/other fish? along the the gem and if so what would you recommend? Thank you again!

 

[ZoWhat]

Ship it to me first and let me try it in my tank for a year or so. Ill let you know around Jan/Feb 2020 aboit compatibility....

Think of it of "pet sitting" for you. Im such a swell guy i wont charge you a dime

But seriously Imo tang compatibility comes down to the SHAPE of the tang. With a GEM tang, IME it would fight wity Yellows, Purples, Koles, Sailfins, anything with the same exact SHAPE

 

[ca1ore]

Interestingly, when I initially introduced the gem (via an acclimation box) neither the yellow, desjardini nor chevron gave it more than a passing tail flick. Individuals of course, and tank size plays a role as does feeding, but the purple IME is just slightly south of Sohal homicidal.