Question on mimic tangs.

Shooter6 · Jun 13, 2018

Hi, i had a half black mimic that passed and im planning to replace. I was wondering if they can easily be kept with the yellow peel mimic or if that is asking for trouble. Right now the only tang i have is a 3 inch yellow tang. Plan to get a lavander and possibly the lieutenant tang. Its a 180 gallon 6fx2fx2f.

lion king · Jun 13, 2018

I have a yellow mimic, I'm not sure what you asking. I think in their juvie state it would cause no issue. Yet they are both chocolate tangs as adults. To confuse matters worse, the tank dynamics would be complicated in captivity as how they would mature. I'm sure I haven't helped but just trying to open a dialog.

Xanthurum · Jun 13, 2018

It can be done, I would suggest getting both mimics and the Lt. tang at the same time. QT together and introduce together to increase the odds.

Xanthurum · Jun 13, 2018

lion king said:
I have a yellow mimic, I'm not sure what you asking. I think in their juvie state it would cause no issue. Yet they are both chocolate tangs as adults. To confuse matters worse, the tank dynamics would be complicated in captivity as how they would mature. I'm sure I haven't helped but just trying to open a dialog.

They are not both chocolates.
Acanthurus chronixis—-Half Black mimic
Acanthurus pyroferus—-Chocolate mimic

Shooter6 · Jun 13, 2018

Many people keep same species tangs together. Multiple yellows ,blues ect. This is why i am considering the two different mimics. First they look very different as juveniles so that may help initially and then growing up together may mitigate aggression later. That is what i am asking as i have not found a thread on this specifically, and no internet videos either.

lion king · Jun 13, 2018

Xanthurum said:
They are not both chocolates.
Acanthurus chronixis—-Half Black mimic
Acanthurus pyroferus—-Chocolate mimic

https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=858&cid=287 I have seen them listed as Acanthurus chronixis but this comes with some debate. Usually you are going to get what people will classify as Acanthurus pyroferus.

To expand on what I said; them both likely? being the same species it probably wouldn't cause much angst as juvis, but as adults it may. It would be interesting to see how they mature together. The mimics are usually pretty laid back, lavenders and lieutenants pretty chill as well. Those are all from the Acanthurus genus, all pretty chill, and as long as they are in a large enough tank(180?plus) I think it would work. I would be more concerned of the yellow causes problem, although he will be the only zebrasoma. Raising juvis in the same tank will always come out different; my yellow mimic has been changing for the last few months, he's the only tang in the tank. I have a friend whose mimic lemonpeel just started to get mucky looking like he was going to start changing; that was 4 years ago. He stunted because of the other tangs in the tank being more dominant. The yellow and lieutenant may prove to be more dominant that the mimics; so i would be curious as to how that would play out.

User1 · Jun 13, 2018

I don't have mimics but I do have a Lt. Tang in my 210 and he is getting big. Bought him a tick over a month ago from Live Aquaria which they listed has medium small. About 3 1/2". Anyway in a little over a month it grew a lot and is now pushing 5" if not a tick more. Fast swimmer, friendly to other tank mates, and eats everything to include two sheets of nori a day if I feed it. Both green and purple nori. Anyway your tank is wider but figured I'd toss out the movement and personality if it helps on the Lt. Tang. Beautiful fish but getting large fast which I wasn't considering.

Only reason why I also posted is because I was considering also adding a mimic for a 2nd tang option. It was either than or a kole tang since the Lt. isn't has active with regards to scraping rocks.

Xanthurum · Jun 13, 2018

I agree @lion king, there is a high likelihood that you could end up with 2 of the same species. However it is rather easy to tell the 2 apart even as juveniles and they are most certainly different as adults.
The best chance to get it to work is to add all 4 at the same time which will also prevent the yellow from focusing all its aggression towards a single newcomer. I personally feel that a 180 is potentially too small for 4 Acanthurus but I agree that all the ones listed are pretty docile.

mike werner · Jun 13, 2018

lion king said:
I have a yellow mimic, I'm not sure what you asking. I think in their juvie state it would cause no issue. Yet they are both chocolate tangs as adults. To confuse matters worse, the tank dynamics would be complicated in captivity as how they would mature. I'm sure I haven't helped but just trying to open a dialog.

I have both half black and yellow together in a 200gal.got them small 2 inch as juveniles.qt them together and never had an issue besides the occasional chase and retreat.

lion king · Jun 13, 2018

saf1 said:
I don't have mimics but I do have a Lt. Tang in my 210 and he is getting big. Bought him a tick over a month ago from Live Aquaria which they listed has medium small. About 3 1/2". Anyway in a little over a month it grew a lot and is now pushing 5" if not a tick more. Fast swimmer, friendly to other tank mates, and eats everything to include two sheets of nori a day if I feed it. Both green and purple nori. Anyway your tank is wider but figured I'd toss out the movement and personality if it helps on the Lt. Tang. Beautiful fish but getting large fast which I wasn't considering.

Only reason why I also posted is because I was considering also adding a mimic for a 2nd tang option. It was either than or a kole tang since the Lt. isn't has active with regards to scraping rocks.

Mine and my friend's mimic are both lazy in the grazing regards, so I wouldn't count on that. A good addition none the less.

mike werner said:
I have both half black and yellow together in a 200gal.got them small 2 inch as juveniles.qt them together and never had an issue besides the occasional chase and retreat.

How long have you had them now, are they both still in solid juvi form, or is there any change going on.

mike werner · Jun 13, 2018

6 months and still alittle to small to change just yet I believe.

Shooter6 · Jun 14, 2018

Thank you all for the replies. My last half black was a friendly rather peaceful fish. It would hand feed ,not that it was planned. I had nori sheets fall off the clip and while replacing them it would eat out of my hand. I am worried about tank size, but with that being said i have not seen a mimic in a home aquarium over 8 inches. The lavender ive never seen in anyone elses system and the lieutenant/vampire/tomini tang is listed at between 8-12 inches which i assume is max wild size? I may go with an orange shoulder instead. I dont want the standard mix.