Dealing with tank aggression

[Letterkenny]

I currently have my tank stocked with a pair of clowns, Midas Blenny, a blue tang (3”) and a purple tang (5”). The purple is noticeably bigger than the rest and will chase around the blue in the tank to his hiding spot. To be fair, seems my blue tang tries to “get in the purples personal bubble”. That said, I want to add in another tang. Would adding in a 4” white tail bristletooth tang help spread the aggression around or would it be better to rehome the purple for a smaller one of similar size to the rest? Been thinking about doing this but it’s just such a pretty and healthy fish but just don’t want it upsetting it’s tank mates.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

At tank size or dimensions will help to start

 

[Letterkenny]

48x24x22

 

[argiBK]

I’ve only owned one Purple Tang, but it was pretty much a bully to anything added after it, especially fish that were either similarly shaped, a herbivore, or approaching its size. It would go out of its way to be mean to new fish.

My tank is similarly sized to yours and I ended up re-homing my Purple when it was about 5”. It just seemed like mine was increasingly stressed out as it ran out of swimming space and it really affected the rest of the fish in the tank. Everyone else is much much happier now.

If you do want to try out another tang, temporarily relocate the Purple to the QT or sump for a few days/one week and re-arrange the rockwork. Let the White Tail get settled and then re-introduce the Purple and then cross your fingers!