Mixing a Purple Tang with a Naso

[Kehaulani]

I'm just wondering if purple tangs are as aggressive as people say they are. I have a Naso tang that is fat and healthy. He's about 6 inches.

Once I set up my 180, I was thinking about adding an Achilles tang but after listening to some other reefers who have had experience with them, I just don't think I want to risk it. Most people say that they don't do well so I'll just leave that one in the ocean.

I've decided to go with a tang that doesn't get too big since its just a 180 gallons. However, I want something different. Everyone has yellows or Kole tangs. I've been looking into maybe adding a Purple Tang but I heard many people say that they have horrible attitudes.

I'd like to hear from everyone and anyone who has had experience with purple tangs mingling with other tangs and inhabitants in their aquarium.

Just trying to do as much research as possible so I can make the right choice.

Thanks

 

[Germ42]

Hell idk but I just picked up a purple tang today for 40$ lol it was healthy and happy, just traded up to a purple tang from a lemon peel lol i know sounds crazy haha So we will see how aggressive it is! Lol

 

[eatbreakfast]

Some specimens are hyper aggressive, some are passive. It varies widely within the species.

 

[Lenny_S]

Every purple Tang that me or my friends and relatives that have had them have been very aggressive towards other Tangs in anything smaller than a 72"x24"x24"... Being that you have a 180 it might be OK... Two things you can do that will help.
1) if you plan on any other Tangs add the Purple Tang last
2) Get a Purple Tang that is noticeably smaller than the other tangs
I've never had a Naso Tang, but I've heard they are also on the aggressive side. I would just really be cautious and maybe a third thing you can do is whatever additional Tangs you plan to add, add them all at once. This way the Naso doesn't have a single other Tang to fixate on.

 

[4FordFamily]

Some specimens are hyper aggressive, some are passive. It varies widely within the species.

Agree. They're a species that's far less aggressive by and large when surrounded with more tangs (not sure how big your tank is).

Also naso are often left alone despite being docile tangs themselves. Dual spines, no desire to sit atop a tank hierarchy, and large size tend to contribute to this.

 

[4FordFamily]

Every purple Tang that me or my friends and relatives that have had them have been very aggressive towards other Tangs in anything smaller than a 72"x24"x24"... Being that you have a 180 it might be OK... Two things you can do that will help.
1) if you plan on any other Tangs add the Purple Tang last
2) Get a Purple Tang that is noticeably smaller than the other tangs
I've never had a Naso Tang, but I've heard they are also on the aggressive side. I would just really be cautious and maybe a third thing you can do is whatever additional Tangs you plan to add, add them all at once. This way the Naso doesn't have a single other Tang to fixate on.

I've never met a naso with an ounce of aggression of any kind except a very large unicorn that was moderately aggressive at 14". I've even kept them together (same species) and had no problem although I hear sometimes they won't tolerate others of the same species at first.

 

[becks]

I had a purple tang in low stocked tank and he was very mellow, he was about 4.5" when I sold him, I saw a baby one in my lfs must have been about 2" and he was a terror. His colour was different, a lot more blue than purple where as mine was a very deep purple and was from the Red Sea, not sure it makes a difference.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I agree with 4ford, I have never once seen a naso tang behave aggressively. Also, having a larger naso seems to help keep the peace with other tangs in the tank, because the naso is bigger no others will try to challenge for dominance.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I had a Purple with a Blonde Naso in my 240g. The Purple was always on new additions the second they were introduced. Sometimes a few minutes of chasing, but never for long. I think it was just introducing itself as King of the tank. The Naso never showed any aggression.

 

[FishLipz]

Its a complete game of chance when mixing tangs. It's the cop-out answer, but the most accurate. I had a female naso, purple and yellow all together in a standard 180 with no issues. That being said, they all went in at the same time when I upgraded.

 

[reeftank220master]

Check out my utube video and see how many tangs I have squeezed together

 

[reeftank220master]

I'm just wondering if purple tangs are as aggressive as people say they are. I have a Naso tang that is fat and healthy. He's about 6 inches.

Once I set up my 180, I was thinking about adding an Achilles tang but after listening to some other reefers who have had experience with them, I just don't think I want to risk it. Most people say that they don't do well so I'll just leave that one in the ocean.

I've decided to go with a tang that doesn't get too big since its just a 180 gallons. However, I want something different. Everyone has yellows or Kole tangs. I've been looking into maybe adding a Purple Tang but I heard many people say that they have horrible attitudes.

I'd like to hear from everyone and anyone who has had experience with purple tangs mingling with other tangs and inhabitants in their aquarium.

Just trying to do as much research as possible so I can make the right choice.

Thanks

 

[Eva Rose]

If you arever ambivalent about the purple tang there is the whitetail bristle tooth. Deep rich red with purple lips.

 

[DRoth335]

We have a purple (and powder blue) with a large Naso in our 300 and have never had an issue with aggression but purple was smallest of the tangs. We banned the PBT to the sump for a couple of weeks when we added the purple so he would be established before re-adding the PBT and it has worked out well (that was 20 months ago) so far. Agree with comments above that Naso tangs are not aggressive and that their size helps stave off aggression. I would add a PT smaller than your Naso. Good luck!

 

[Rickyb1982]

I have a purple tang, clown tang, hippo tang, and a powder blue in my 300 with no issues

 

[Black Pearl]

I have a purple tang, clown tang, hippo tang, and a powder blue in my 300 with no issues

You are lucky my Clown tang represents his name proudly

 

[Rickyb1982]

Lol he's the smallest right now so we will see if mine lives up to his name later on hahahaha

 

[Rickyb1982]

I plan on adding an Achilles as my last tang

 

[Black Pearl]

I still may try the Achilles again, already lost one. Clown chases everything except the blue jaw trigger, and really get mad when I see him going after the Moorish Idol

 

[Rickyb1982]

I would too , but mine is smaller than the rest so maybe that's why he doesn't feel like the dominate one