Purple versus sailfin tang

Sthomasson72 · Oct 22, 2016

I picked up a purple tang 10 days ago and he was doing great. Today I added a sailfin tang that is slightly larger. Within ten minutes the purple tang was attacking the sailfin pretty much nonstop. Tried to feed nori which the purple ate as long as the sailfin stayed far away or he would chase him. Caught the purple and put him in sump for now. Will I be able to put him back in and if so how long should I leave him in the sump? This is in a 180G

Debramb · Oct 22, 2016

Hopefully you can find thread from 4fordfamily. They've had great luck and advise on tang matters. My history is w/Yellow Tang (zebra....family), like the purple. My YT will challenge my larger Sailfin, till he backs him off with a scalpel flip. We had a yellow years ago that ripped a huge Domino Damsel within minutes of release in tank. I hope you get help! I love both, but Sailfin steals my heart!

lion king · Oct 22, 2016

Funny I thought you were trying t make a decision which one, I was just struggling with that decision. I only have room for one and decided on the sailfin, I like them both. Sailfin's are suppose to have a bit of an attitude also, so I would think he would hold his own and things would settle down.

reeftank220master · Oct 22, 2016

Sthomasson72 said:
I picked up a purple tang 10 days ago and he was doing great. Today I added a sailfin tang that is slightly larger. Within ten minutes the purple tang was attacking the sailfin pretty much nonstop. Tried to feed nori which the purple ate as long as the sailfin stayed far away or he would chase him. Caught the purple and put him in sump for now. Will I be able to put him back in and if so how long should I leave him in the sump? This is in a 180G

Leave him in the sump for a few days and then put him back in the tank and he won't have the edge of aggression

Debramb · Oct 23, 2016

Yes, some may have "attitude", but sailfin are so responsive when they see you.I agree that fat and happy makes them more personable! I've taken recommendations I learned here and still feed ocean nutrition 2 in am but feed tsp of dehydrated sea veggies every night w/ Larry's herbivore , or spirilla spiked brine shrimp, or live bloodworms, or ps mysis, or spirilla flaked or reef and plankton blends. Nori 2-3 x's a week. I really think full tummies makes for more peace when feeding. The sea veggie flakes(hydrated in R/O) makes a good mix to decide what to eat. 2 cons, tangs growing like kittens & puppies, and husband thinks fish eat better than him!

cracker · Oct 23, 2016

I had the same prob with a sailfin. Couldn't add any fish to a 220.. I'd trap the tang and exile to the sump for a week or so put him back and everybody was cool.

eatbreakfast · Oct 23, 2016

In most cases, the aggressor will settle down after a couple of days in exile.

Utilizing a lg social acclimation box for introducing a new tang to an existing one for a few days also worked. So did turning the lights off for a day when adding a new tang.

Sthomasson72 · Oct 23, 2016

Would it be better to add a yellow tang when I reintroduce the purple after a week in exile?

4FordFamily · Oct 23, 2016

I agree, with most zebrasoma they'll calm down after being reintroduced. But what counts against you is the fact that you have only two tangs and they're both zebrasoma (or at least it sounds that way). It's always best to add more than one tang at a time when possible.

Here's the aforementioned tang aggression thread:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.215698/

Sthomasson72 · Oct 23, 2016

Great write up. I found it this morning. So you would recommend adding the yellow when i reintroduce the purple tang? How long would you recommend to keep the purple in exile?

4FordFamily · Oct 23, 2016

Sthomasson72 said:
Great write up. I found it this morning. So you would recommend adding the yellow when i reintroduce the purple tang? How long would you recommend to keep the purple in exile?

A week to a month in exile should do it. If you have plans to add another zebrasoma, perhaps. It may also backfire of the sailfin is too established once it's added you may have to exile it as well.

Thanks, glad you found it useful

ca1ore · Oct 23, 2016

Also keep in mind that the health of the newcomer is a factor, even if it appears 'fat and happy'. One of the reasons I always QT new fish is to get them accustomed to the foods I use and eating well. My tank is a bit larger at 265, but I was able to sucessfully add a purple to the tank with a resident yellow, and then subsequently a Desjardini Sailfin. Certainly some initial fighting, but settled down after a few days. Yellow and purple still hate each other, but mostly tolerate. The Sailfin has become large enough that nobody bothers it.

BTW, taping a small mirror to the outside of the glass is a surprisingly effective way of distracting a bully. Not that bright, these fish of ours.

Sthomasson72 · Oct 23, 2016

ca1ore said:
Also keep in mind that the health of the newcomer is a factor, even if it appears 'fat and happy'. One of the reasons I always QT new fish is to get them accustomed to the foods I use and eating well. My tank is a bit larger at 265, but I was able to sucessfully add a purple to the tank with a resident yellow, and then subsequently a Desjardini Sailfin. Certainly some initial fighting, but settled down after a few days. Yellow and purple still hate each other, but mostly tolerate. The Sailfin has become large enough that nobody bothers it.

BTW, taping a small mirror to the outside of the glass is a surprisingly effective way of distracting a bully. Not that bright, these fish of ours.

Would you recommend adding a yellow tang when I reintroduce the purple in a week? Or will the purple be calmer this time around? I only had the purple in there a week before I added the sailfin

eatbreakfast · Oct 24, 2016

Adding the yellow tang simultaneously with the purple would give the best chances of success.

maroun.c · Oct 24, 2016

I would recommend using an acclimation box so the fish get more used to seeing each other and it also gives you an idea when the level of aggression drops. No guarantees they won't fight after release but at least you have an idea of what to expect.