Mixing tangs

[Ana Zaragoza]

Hey guys!

I really need help! I have read a lot about adding multiple tangs to an established aquarium and I’m just worried and confused. I have a 400 gallon establishes tank with a gold rimmed tang, two Maine mocha clowns, a flame angel, and two butterflies. I want to add more tangs to my tank. I had read that the powder blue tang should be the last to be introduced into an established tank so that’s why I didnt get one yet. My gold rimmed runs the tank. I heard that if you introduce multiple tangs that it can help minimize aggression, is this true? Or did I do everything wrong already?

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Hey guys!

I really need help! I have read a lot about adding multiple tangs to an established aquarium and I’m just worried and confused. I have a 400 gallon establishes tank with a gold rimmed tang, two Maine mocha clowns, a flame angel, and two butterflies. I want to add more tangs to my tank. I had read that the powder blue tang should be the last to be introduced into an established tank so that’s why I didnt get one yet. My gold rimmed runs the tank. I heard that if you introduce multiple tangs that it can help minimize aggression, is this true? Or did I do everything wrong already?

I would say thats almost impossible to do, keeping a gold rim and a powder blue together is rarely heard of and with one being established, The odds of this working is extremly small. Acanthurus tangs are super hard to keep together and very aggressive. I wouldnt even risk adding zebrasomas. If you want to add other tangs I would say make a list, buy all of them at once, take out the gold rim and add him last but your most likely going to have to choose if you want a powder blue or a gold rim. Try to choose tangs that dont resemble eachother a lot it reduces aggression.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

I would say thats almost impossible to do, keeping a gold rim and a powder blue together is rarely heard of and with one being established, The odds of this working is extremly small. Acanthurus tangs are super hard to keep together and very aggressive. I wouldnt even risk adding zebrasomas. If you want to add other tangs I would say make a list, buy all of them at once, take out the gold rim and add him last but your most likely going to have to choose if you want a powder blue or a gold rim. Try to choose tangs that dont resemble eachother a lot it reduces aggression.

Really!? The gold rimmed was given to me by my dad and it did throw off my plans because I was planning on buying all my tangs together so I can introduce them to my tank simultaneously, I want to get:
1 yellow tang
1 hippo tang
1 powder blue
1 sailfin tang

If I take out the gold rimmed do you think this can work?

 

[Jesterrace]

An established tang is a very difficult obstacle to overcome, even in a tank that big. I hate to say it but the Gold Rimmed would have to go and then introduce multiple tangs either at the same time or at least within a few weeks of each other to make the multiple tang thing work.

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Really!? The gold rimmed was given to me by my dad and it did throw off my plans because I was planning on buying all my tangs together so I can introduce them to my tank simultaneously, I want to get:
1 yellow tang
1 hippo tang
1 powder blue
1 sailfin tang

If I take out the gold rimmed do you think this can work?

A yellow,hippo,powder blue, and sailfin can work. I have had that exact combo in an old pond build. Try to get them all of similar size, keep them very well fed, and at them at night. But that gold rim has to go.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

An established tang is a very difficult obstacle to overcome, even in a tank that big. I hate to say it but the Gold Rimmed would have to go and then introduce multiple tangs either at the same time or at least within a few weeks of each other to make the multiple tang thing work.

Does size matter in these cases??? My gold rimmed is about 3 inches

 

[BellaD]

I've never dealt with a Gold Rimmed tang before, but I did have a Chocolate Tang in my tank. He was very well established, as he was the third fish I purchased. I added a Sohal Tang to the tank about a year later, and there was a good round of chasing about for an hour or so, but no serious harm done. They had some random squabbles after that, but for the most part got along fine. You're tank is much bigger than the tank I had the two tangs in.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

A yellow,hippo,powder blue, and sailfin can work. I have had that exact combo in an old pond build. Try to get them all of similar size, keep them very well fed, and at them at night. But that gold rim has to go.

Well that’s too bad. So if I would have added the gold rimmed at the same time as the rest I would’ve been good?

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

I've never dealt with a Gold Rimmed tang before, but I did have a Chocolate Tang in my tank. He was very well established, as he was the third fish I purchased. I added a Sohal Tang to the tank about a year later, and there was a good round of chasing about for an hour or so, but no serious harm done. They had some random squabbles after that, but for the most part got along fine. You're tank is much bigger than the tank I had the two tangs in.

Really!? I’ve been researching everywhere for a solution to this issue. I had read that if there is already a tang established in the tank that introducing multiple tangs can minimize aggression. Is this wrong?

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

I've never dealt with a Gold Rimmed tang before, but I did have a Chocolate Tang in my tank. He was very well established, as he was the third fish I purchased. I added a Sohal Tang to the tank about a year later, and there was a good round of chasing about for an hour or so, but no serious harm done. They had some random squabbles after that, but for the most part got along fine. You're tank is much bigger than the tank I had the two tangs in.

Yes but those are two different species

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Well that’s too bad. So if I would have added the gold rimmed at the same time as the rest I would’ve been good?

Even then, two aggressive tangs of the same family like a gold rim and powder blue its bound to be a blood bath

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

Even then, two aggressive tangs of the same family like a gold rim and powder blue its bound to be a blood bath

So I should just not even think about the powder blue then, I don’t want to have to give back the gol rimmed since it was a gift. If I add these would I be ok?
1 yellow tang
1 hippo tang
1 sailfin tang

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

So I should just not even think about the powder blue then, I don’t want to have to give back the gol rimmed since it was a gift. If I add these would I be ok?
1 yellow tang
1 hippo tang
1 sailfin tang

Yes but you will have to completly rearrange the rockwork so the gold rim doesnt have territory anymore then they can all settle it out. Rearrange it right before you decide to add the tangs you dont want to give the gold rim much time to settle in, and feed it very well to give it less of a reason to beat on the other tangs and add them at night.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

Yes but you will have to completly rearrange the rockwork so the gold rim doesnt have territory anymore then they can all settle it out. Rearrange it right before you decide to add the tangs you dont want to give the gold rim much time to settle in, and feed it very well to give it less of a reason to beat on the other tangs and add them at night.

Ok sounds like a plan.. I really wanted a powder blue but the last thing I want is for any of them to get hurt. I’m going to be getting them on Friday since I’m off work Saturday and Sunday that way I can monitor them.

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

Ok sounds like a plan.. I really wanted a powder blue but the last thing I want is for any of them to get hurt. I’m going to be getting them on Friday since I’m off work Saturday and Sunday that way I can monitor them.

Ok try to get them all of similar size, i tried to get my hippo tang slightly larger than the others because they are very stress sensitive and more peaceful and i didnt want it to catch it but no one messed with my hippo. Ill try to find a video to send you of me feeding, I miss them i decided to take it down to focus on a coral only system.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

Ok try to get them all of similar size, i tried to get my hippo tang slightly larger than the others because they are very stress sensitive and more peaceful and i didnt want it to catch it but no one messed with my hippo. Ill try to find a video to send you of me feeding, I miss them i decided to take it down to focus on a coral only system.

They are all going to be around 3.5 inches. The biggest fish in my tank is my gold rimmed which is about 2 to 3 inches. I have honestly not tried to establish a reef tank because I just feel like corals are really beautiful and I wouldn’t be able to care for them. My tank is a fish only.. Yes!! If you can please send me a video I would really appreciate it!

 

[Antics]

Here is a great article on the subject written by @4FordFamily

Hope it helps!

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

They are all going to be around 3.5 inches. The biggest fish in my tank is my gold rimmed which is about 2 to 3 inches. I have honestly not tried to establish a reef tank because I just feel like corals are really beautiful and I wouldn’t be able to care for them. My tank is a fish only.. Yes!! If you can please send me a video I would really appreciate it!

Do you know how to post or send videos? For some reason it wont let me.

 

[Ana Zaragoza]

Do you know how to post or send videos? For some reason it wont let me.

I honestly don’t. I’ve never posted a video before

 

[Swoody]

No matter what, stress is going to be introduced into the tank adding these Tangs (and more less any others, just to different degrees). I’m not sure if I read it into your post or not....is there going to be a quarantine period before placing them in your display tank? That would give the new ones a chance to be together and for you to monitor how they’re going to be with one another, but all bets are off with the Gold Rim already existing in the tank....there are going to be some hurt feelings!!! Have you considered tank division or acclimation boxes?? Also, if you are not going to quarantine and add these fish I can almost guarantee an outbreak of Ich resultant from the induced stress. Best of luck to you!!