Powder Blue Tang vs Foxface

[THillPSU]

Looking for a little advice. I have a 140g DT, 5' long, 11 months old, few LPS corals, plenty of rock, caves, tunnels. Tank generally doing fine. Haven't lost any fish, battled all the usual algae issues. Keeping nutrients in check.
Fish stock in this order over the first 9 months. Most of the fish were juveniles when added.
2 Clowns
Engineer Goby
Foxface (One-spot)
6 Pajama Cardinals
Royal Gramma
Yellow Watchman Goby (with Tiger Pistol Shrimp)
Tailspot Blenny
Just about 2 months ago I added
2 - Pintail Fairy Wrasses
Powder Blue Tang

The Powder Blue Tang was about half the size of the Foxface when I added it (Foxface is about 5-6" now). The Tang for the past several weeks has been living up to their reputation and has been harassing the Foxface. The Tang comes at him, the Foxface flashes its fins and points them at the Tang and then it is over. After these "attacks" the Foxface is not showing stress, like it does if I stick something in the tank. It seems to have calmed down a little and once in a while the Foxface goes at the Tang. Sometimes they swim around together like they are friends. I see no damage to either fish. No damage to the tail fins of the Foxface, no puncture marks on the tang. Neither the Tang nor the Foxface bother any of the other fish. I keep nori in the tank most of the time on a clip.

So, I was considering re-homing the Tang but am now leaning towards riding it out. Has anyone had a similar experience and if so how did it turn out? I knew the Powder Blue Tangs were pretty aggressive but I thought I would risk it with the mix of fish I had. Also, I knew that because of nature of the Foxface, they are usually left alone. I'm hoping the Tang figures that out. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[ndrwater]

Tough question really.. all depends on the personality of the fish in question.
As a real world example, in my 8' 240, I had a Yellow Eye (Kole) Tang that was an absolute terror. Killed anything that I put in the tank... Until I added 5 yellows at th same time. Then, model citizen.
Same tank, added a Tommini Tang. All is fine with the world.. flash forward 4 years. The Tommini goes all psycho and kills the Yellow Eye and regularly beats the snot out of the yellows.
Ample room, lots of food and YEARS later...
Very long winded answer to "Keep the one you like better..... or both"

 

[THillPSU]

Very long winded answer to "Keep the one you like better..... or both"

Thanks. Right now I'm leaning towards just watching and taking action if any damage is done. I would think the Foxface would win the battle as the fins look wicked but who knows.

 

[ndrwater]

Thanks. Right now I'm leaning towards just watching and taking action if any damage is done. I would think the Foxface would win the battle as the fins look wicked but who knows.

As a person on the outside looking in, unless the Powder Blue is a holy terror, I'd keep the PB. They are not an easy fish to get to fat and happy stage. Foxface are easy.. just my 2¢
That said, I have never owned a Sohoal Tang. Always wanted one, but they can be jerks and kill everything.... Kinda like PB...

 

[Jesterrace]

I would just monitor it for now. A little chase here and there isn't going to hurt much but if it turns out it's perpetual then it starts stressing the fish in question. My Melanurus Wrasse gives my Blue Star Leopard a hard time periodically (particularly at feeding time) but for the most part they just flare fins and circle a bit and then move on.

 

[HB AL]

From what you describe I would just let them be, just normal tussle between fish. I have a yellow and purple tang that like to do the same daily, not to mention the Clown trigger, Sargassum trigger, Assasi trigger and Blueline trigger that all have there daily moments, just the normal skirmishes, part of the deal, no harm no foul. Now if a fish is relentless, nonstop attacking another and causing damage at that point one would have to go. I’d let them be if I were you there just having a little fun.

 

[tehmadreefer]

My powder blue and fox face Do this all day and have for months now. I just let em scrap.

 

[Halal Hotdog]

I believe I saw a rabbitfish kill a yellow tang with it's venomous spines. After the sting the yellow was dead within 12 hours. Both were fat and happy. Same rabbitfish took out a small clown with its spines. He was dead 1-2 hrs after sting. Never read of that happening before so I thought I share.

After I wrote the above I realized context would be important. Both times I was working in the tank, the rabbitfish hate it when my hand is in there and they show their camouflage colors and press their body against the rock. Their spines are raised and pointed away from the rock Very easy to miss them, blend in very effectively. Both times the tang and clownish swam straight into the spines, wasn't caused by visible aggression.

Clown trigger has been stung by those spines as well, aggression related, and you wouldn't think anything happened. He didn't show any effects.