Help me decide.. yellow or purple tang

[Roy 9121]

I have this fellow in my tank, he's been a great addition.

 

[DSC reef]

Maybe this will help

 

[wowkingjames]

I have one that also eats from my hand (purple) too, he is mean and I have had him for over 22 years. I just heard that yellow tangs will be harder to get they going to make a study to make sure were not depleting them from the ocean. I'm planning in getting one before the price goes up, hopefully my tangs will get along going to move them into a new tank with a blue regal.

 

[Jesterrace]

I had my mind set on yellow tang but since i also planned on adding a foxface and I want a mixture of colors, i didn't want to add two big yellow fish.
So my options are purple tang instead of yellow or magnificent foxface instead of regular

Opinions?
Are purples more aggressive or any different in any way then yellows?

Here is the full list of planned inhabitants
2 clowns
Goby/pistol shrimp pair (not sure what kind of goby yet)
Diamond goby
Royal gramma
Midas blenny
Group of dispar anthias
Flame angel
Foxface
Blue throat trigger
Yellow or purple tang
Kole tang
Powder blue tang

Just a personal observation, every Purple I have seen has been one of the most aggressive in their environment (including the holding tanks at my LFS). Not sure if this is a factor for you, but the Yellow is also significantly cheaper than the Purple. The Purple are almost always in the $100-$150 range, while the Yellow are in the $40-$50 range.

 

[DSC reef]

While yellows are cheaper IME they were just as mean. There both zebramosa species so aggression is gonna be there and something to consider no matter which one you choose. Also, @NYAquatic runs some nice specials on purple tangs that's affordable.

 

[Bthomas]

I think i may just stick with the yellow tang. I'm not sold on purple. I saw a small one at my lfs the other day and i liked it and it got me rethinking my plans but all the older ones i see just dont have the same coloration and to me arnt as pretty as the yellow

 

[DSC reef]

Gotta chose what you like and there's nothing wrong with a yellow. I have to say our purple tang got prettier as it got older though. The one I just posted in the pic is about 7 years old now.

 

[Bthomas]

Gotta chose what you like and there's nothing wrong with a yellow. I have to say our purple tang got prettier as it got older though. The one I just posted in the pic is about 7 years old now.

And see i think the one in the pic u posted isnt as pretty as the younger one I saw.
Maybe it's just me lol

 

[DSC reef]

Yellows look great as adults, we had a few. I love tangs though.

 

[mckinney0171]

My Red Sea purple tang is the most peaceful tang I have ever seen. She is an angel. I can’t recommend more.

 

[Dennis92]

I have both, I would get both

 

[Dennis92]

I have a purple tang also he’s not too aggressive with other tank mates but he’s the only tang. And when I put my hand in the tank he tries to show me up. I’ve had a yello tang before and it seemed less aggressive.

 

[Arvind Arya]

I’ve lost 2 purple never a yellow. I’ve found yellow to be aggressive too. I still love purple though

 

[Rtorres508]

My purple has been on timeout for 3 months now due to bullying everything from the cleaner shrimp to my hand lol. I’m rearranging & adding 10 more lbs of rock this weekend to see if he’ll leave his tank mates alone.

 

[HB AL]

My yellow keeps the purple in check

 

[Kmsutows]

I figured I missed it but had to double check.... what size tank?! If it's huge, get both at same time. I've always read purples are really mean. My yellow bullied my copperbands for a week or so but that was it

 

[Bthomas]

I figured I missed it but had to double check.... what size tank?! If it's huge, get both at same time. I've always read purples are really mean. My yellow bullied my copperbands for a week or so but that was it

150 gallon. I think ive got a pretty full stock list already so not sure i should try to get both. Plus I don't wanna risk too much aggression, im already worried about the powder blue not playing nice

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I had a Purple and he ruled my 240g. Any new addition got a quick introduction and lesson but afterwards everyone got along. That one died with a disease outbreak several months ago. I just picked up a small Purple last weekend. I can’t see not having one as they are beautiful and unique.

 

[Lonely reefer's]

Purple tang my vote
Purple body with yellow tail

 

[Cherub]

I had to get rid of my purple as it was mean and an absolute pig. He ate all the nori and would abuse other fish for frozen even if full. He would literally throw up from too much food and re eat it while my other fish searched for scraps. I had to feed more because of him. He killed a cardinal and chased everything. Worse fish ever...