Chevron Tang is Super Agressive - Suggestions Needed

Davehla · Sep 21, 2015

Hi Everyone,
I have a 90 gallon aquarium and one of my first fish in the tank was a beautiful chevron tang. It is an amazing fish, but it is super aggressive to all the other fish, especially new fish I put in the tank. Do you have any recommendations on how I can get him to calm down? I have been trying to make sure he is eating and full, but that isn't it.

Should I quarantine him in a plastic box inside the tank for a while?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

David

Dextereef · Sep 21, 2015

put the tank at the other end of this!

J/k and in all seriousness Chevys can be pretty aggressive. You could try the acclimation box idea, maybe rearrange the rockwork so tank mates have to re-establish territory, and last resort get rid of the fish.

Humblefish · Sep 21, 2015

I've only owned 2 of them, but both times I had to re-home due to aggression.

11f150 · Sep 21, 2015

What other fish do you have?

Dextereef · Sep 21, 2015

David, what other fish and how many are in the tank? Might be running out of "elbow" room. I've read their minimum tank size is 180g and honestly not less than 200g. What size is he and how old? Adult/juvie?

Pete polyp · Sep 21, 2015

Dextereef said:
David, what other fish and how many are in the tank? Might be running out of "elbow" room. I've read their minimum tank size is 180g and honestly not less than 200g. What size is he and how old? Adult/juvie?

I was going to suggest the tank is way too small also

Lab_Adam · Sep 21, 2015

Probably too small of a tank an as it gets larger aggression will only get worse. Have the triedrearranging your rock? And then reintroduce your fish with that one being last?

Reef_Junkies · Sep 21, 2015

What are the other tank inhabitants that it's picking on? Usually they are aggressive towards other tangs if not introduced at the same time. Like the others mentioned above, I'd rework the rocks to re-establish territories.

ca1ore · Sep 21, 2015

How large is the chevron? Mine is about 4" and in a 90 as well. He will give new fish a hard time initially, particularly other tangs, but it dies down after a few days.

Davehla · Sep 23, 2015

Thank you all for your quick replay.

The chevron is still small about 3 inches, but is growing fast. I think you all are right that the tank is too small. Maybe it's time for an upgrade? But the wife would have to approve that. For now I might just hold off on adding anymore fish and then try and sell him to a fish store along with my lemon peel angel. The lemon peel is killing my coral and anemones.