Help ! Tangs fighting

[melhe]

I have bunch of tangs in my 300G tank .
Usually I do two of each and release the same time to tank , like two yellow , two gem, two dussumeri , two purple ect . But only one power blue knowing it very aggressive . They don’t fight except two purple pick on each other occasionally.

I have only one white tail bristle tooth tang 4 inch about 6 months in my tank now . It seems very mild tempered graze on rock all day long . Today I introduced another white tail bristle tooth into tank . I didn’t put it observation tank since bristletooth in general not aggressive. As soon as I released it in the tank. The existing white tail went nut all the sudden , chasing and biting the new white tail all over the places . Tearing the fin a few pieces . I had to use stick to chase him away .

Now the light is off in the tank . Everyone calm down. I am worried about tomorrow . Will those two keep fighting ? Will the existing one end up killing the new one ?

Other tangs seem don’t bother with the new member except the white tail

Anyone had seems this situation before please let me know what to do. If I leave them alone . What will happen? Please help

 

[I never finish anythi]

@vetteguy53081

 

[DJF]

Sometimes it will stop on its own and sometimes it won’t. I’ve seen where after a severe beating they become best friends. Same species can be tricker than when they are different. A possible option is the “mirror trick” putting a mirror on one side of the tank- what it does is give the aggressive tang a nemesis that appears to be all up in their business. Then the other tangs become secondary and eventually normal while the nemesis gets the focus. The one thing with the mirror trick is that it is stressful on the fish so make sure not to leave it up all the time, give them breaks.

 

[argiBK]

Tape a few mirrors around the tank. Most likely all your established tangs will react to their own reflections for a few days, it’ll hopefully give the new addition some breathing space while the OG tang calms down.

Lowes and Home Depot will sell 10 packs of 12x12” mirror tiles for $25 or so.

 

[melhe]

Tape a few mirrors around the tank. Most likely all your established tangs will react to their own reflections for a few days, it’ll hopefully give the new addition some breathing space while the OG tang calms down.

Lowes and Home Depot will sell 10 packs of 12x12” mirror tiles for $25 or so.

I found a makeup mirror Will tape up tonight . I hope other tangs won’t compete with white tail to look into the mirror

 

[melhe]

Sometimes it will stop on its own and sometimes it won’t. I’ve seen where after a severe beating they become best friends. Same species can be tricker than when they are different. A possible option is the “mirror trick” putting a mirror on one side of the tank- what it does is give the aggressive tang a nemesis that appears to be all up in their business. Then the other tangs become secondary and eventually normal while the nemesis gets the focus. The one thing with the mirror trick is that it is stressful on the fish so make sure not to leave it up all the time, give them breaks.

I ll definitely try . No expectation they become friends . as long as they don’t kill each other . It’s no where close to “ peaceful “ as described

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have bunch of tangs in my 300G tank .
Usually I do two of each and release the same time to tank , like two yellow , two gem, two dussumeri , two purple ect . But only one power blue knowing it very aggressive . They don’t fight except two purple pick on each other occasionally.

I have only one white tail bristle tooth tang 4 inch about 6 months in my tank now . It seems very mild tempered graze on rock all day long . Today I introduced another white tail bristle tooth into tank . I didn’t put it observation tank since bristletooth in general not aggressive. As soon as I released it in the tank. The existing white tail went nut all the sudden , chasing and biting the new white tail all over the places . Tearing the fin a few pieces . I had to use stick to chase him away .

Now the light is off in the tank . Everyone calm down. I am worried about tomorrow . Will those two keep fighting ? Will the existing one end up killing the new one ?

Other tangs seem don’t bother with the new member except the white tail

Anyone had seems this situation before please let me know what to do. If I leave them alone . What will happen? Please help

First mistake is two of each stocking
It’s recommended tangs in odd numbers…. 1-3-5 and so forth
They need lots of hiding area to reduce squabbling and use of auto feeder bi hourly to keep them occupied with food
I have mine drop food at 10a- noon- 2 - 4- 6 and frozen offering at 8p

 

[I never finish anythi]

I ll definitely try . No expectation they become friends . as long as they don’t kill each other . It’s no where close to “ peaceful “ as described

I think you are lucky to keep the 2 purple tangs in a 300tbh . Hope it works out for you tho.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

since bristletooth in general not aggressive.

Since when??

 

[melhe]

Since when??

Google , most peaceful tang is naso, then britsletooth ?

First mistake is two of each stocking
It’s recommended tangs in odd numbers…. 1-3-5 and so forth
They need lots of hiding area to reduce squabbling and use of auto feeder bi hourly to keep them occupied with food
I have mine drop food at 10a- noon- 2 - 4- 6 and frozen offering at 8p

Seems a lot of food

 

[melhe]

I think you are lucky to keep the 2 purple tangs in a 300tbh . Hope it works out for you tho.

They still small . These two purple definitely don’t like each other . They occupy different area . Never swim togather like gem tangs and yellow tangs do

 

[melhe]

First mistake is two of each stocking
It’s recommended tangs in odd numbers…. 1-3-5 and so forth
They need lots of hiding area to reduce squabbling and use of auto feeder bi hourly to keep them occupied with food
I have mine drop food at 10a- noon- 2 - 4- 6 and frozen offering at 8p

Should I get the 3rd white tail ?

 

[I never finish anythi]

They still small . These two purple definitely don’t like each other . They occupy different area . Never swim togather like gem tangs and yellow tangs do

I have a purple and it can be very territorial. I rescued her from a lfs . She was in a tiny tank so I had to take it !! she had bad wounds from a trigger. I need to re-home her tho as I only have a 4 foot tank so she is free when I find a good home for it.

 

[melhe]

I have a purple and it can be very territorial. I rescued her from a lfs . She was in a tiny tank so I had to take it !! she had bad wounds from a trigger. I need to re-home her tho as I only have a 4 foot tank so she is free when I find a good home for it.

Purple is such beautiful tang . Sorry u have to rehome it

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My bristletooth is a bully, lol

 

[melhe]

Bad news , despite I put mirror on the wall. The new white tail tang got killed after a day by the existing white tail. The mirror only attract my powder blue . I am so heartbroken. The fish would have much better life if I didn’t buy him . I have 16 tangs in my tank. Never seen anything like this .

after new one died , the old one behaves like modern citizen again . Grazing on rock all day and mind his own business. Doesn’t bother anyone else.

 

[Reefering1]

Sounds like you found a good stopping point for adding more tangs...

 

[DJF]

Sorry to hear this.

 

[exnisstech]

Sorry this happened. I have quite a few tangs but only tried 2 of the same species once. I tried two yellows at once thinking the purple would be aggressive enough to keep the yellows busy but he ignored the yellows. Then one yellow turned on the other so I had to remove one. Typically as stated above odd numbers are usually better than even numbers unless introducing a pair of fish.

My bristle tooth is a convict tang and bothers no one. I did have a yellow eye kole once that was bit of a butt head

 

[melhe]

Sounds like you found a good stopping point for adding more tangs...

Absolutely, I am done with tangs . The fight was so brutal .

I had read somewhere before like when you over populate tang just like African cichlid . Then they don’t form their own territory. Decrease aggression .

My experience proved the theory was wrong and I felt terrible about the situation I put new fish through .