Powder Blue Tang getting very aggressive

[bct15]

Over the las six months or so I have noticed a lot of aggression coming from my powder blue tang. He chases new fish around, constantly picks fights with my yellow belly blue tang, and just has an overall bully mentality. It's getting to the point that I'm considering getting rid of him. Anybody else have issues with powder blue aggression? Will it subside or get worse? I've heard of the powder tangs getting bad but I didn't realize they get this bad. I had two blue reef chromis that lasted a week of relentless beating but eventually succumbed, he literally beat the tail off of one and it still hung in for another day.

Tank size is not an issue, flow is not the issue as I run two mp40s and he is fed twice a day and algae once ever two to three days.

 

[Mike J.]

Adding another fish after a Powder Blue has been established is almost impossible. If the fish are totally different in what they eat it might be okay. Powder Blues need to have something to peck on 24/7 to keep them occupied. I guess my answer to this is: Yes, they are brutes. Most likely it will never leave the other tang alone. My Powder Blue is peaceful to all the other fish in the tank, but I believe it is because there is no question on who is boss. I can't stand a quarrelsome tank.

 

[miyags]

I had a fish only tank it had a imperator angle in it when i added the powder blue all hell broke lose!!! and it was the powder blue who was the aggressor. I ended up taking the tang back to store.I feed my tangs nori strips 3/4 x 4in every day 3 to 4 times a day.

 

[pickupman66]

Tank size isn't an issue? How big of a tank is this? They are very aggressive tangs. Have you tried putting a mirror on one end? How big is this tang?

Sent from my Galaxy S 3 with Tapatalk.

 

[Thereeferboss]

Powder blues are very aggressive, you could try taking him out, put him in the qt for a few weeks, change your aquascape around or try the mirror trick.

Good luck

 

[kv2wr1]

My PBT is extremely aggressive. He will not tolerate other tangs at all. The mirror trick didn't work with mine. I was able to add another fish after him, but that was a baby Miniatus grouper.

 

[Mr tap water]

Hi there
I use Romaine Lettuce 24 /7 For my Tangs They are so busy Packing at it constantly All through the day they leave each other alone you could also try rearranging your rock work sometimes helps with aggression

 

[bct15]

I think I'm going to remove him when I get back in town next week, are Achilles tangs as aggressive as powder blues?

 

[xcorallusx]

how big is your tank, any FTS?

 

[pickupman66]

they are just as if not more so. and VERY succeptable to stress and ich. if you are wanting a tang like that, look at the powder browns. they are much more passive and are much less easily stressed.

 

[bct15]

Tank is a strange dimensions, 5 + 1/2 feet long just over 2 feet wide and can't remember height. Not worried about the ich and stress, I know how to deal with that I just don't want to deal with a fish who decides to become Freddy Krueger and stab everybody.

 

[bct15]

Powder blue is about 2 years old, maybe 4 to 5 inches long and fairly thick.

 

[Acroholic]

Yup....my PB is a real tool as well. I have a lot of fish in my reef, so his aggression is spread out enough so no fish suffers much.

 

[Eienna]

Try this?
http://www.MrSaltWaterTank.com/mr-s...24-how-to-put-your-saltwater-fish-in-timeout/

 

[Eienna]

Mental note: Add planned PBT last.

 

[Connie]

While they are one of the most beautiful fish in the hobby, they are also the most aggressive. I had one in a 180 and he changed the demeanor of the entire tank. He was relentlessly chasing his tank mates, nipping at coral, playing soccer with my frags, snails and hermits. A very hyper terror and had the other fish on edge and misbehaving. Once I re-homed him the personality of my tank changed back to peaceful. It was like everything in there could exhale...lol.

 

[Eienna]

That seems odd...the species profiles I've been reading all seem to call it one of the more peaceful of the tangs.

 

[Duffam3434]

I just read that Powders like most Tangs when kept with Similar Species or fish with similar Body Shape can be Aggressive. But im not sure then why they would be attacking something like a Chromis.

 

[kes]

always one of my favorites, spectacular colors, but you're right, they are so aggressive once established. you need larger tangs to keep it in check. if it's the dominant one, it can wreak havoc on other smaller, more docile fish