Re-Introducing tang to tank

[bct15]

Edit: Title was supposed to say readding tang, but autocorrect on my iPhone messed that up. Sometimes I think the developer added the feature just to screw with people.

I had to remove and quarantine my powder blue due to a minor outbreak of whit spots (not sure if it was ich or battle scars). Ive been tresting him I a dark ten gallon with some meication. He's been out for about a week and looks better, im probably going to treat about another week then release him back into the display. Before i took him out, my yellow would beat up on him a little. Now I'm nervous that my yellow had established himself as the king and will beat him up a lot. Is there a trick to put him back in to minimize fighting and stressing him back out? Maybe catching the yellow and keeping him out for a day and release them at the same time? I just added some cleaner shrimp to help clean them up after a fight, but noone has used them yet.

Brandon

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I fixed the title for you.

Ok as far as the tang goes I would place a large mirror on the front or side of the tank when I put him back in. I would also do it without lights on and when the lights come up the old tang sees the "new" yellow tang swimming around and that will have his attention.

 

[SaltWaterDave]

The mirror thing is a good trick and adding the new fish when the lights go out too. They'll probably still fight it out for a little while then they'll be ok in a few days once they establish who's the boss.

 

[bct15]

Ok, how long do i leave the mirror up?

 

[SaltWaterDave]

Usually until you notice there is very little or no aggression towards the PBT.

 

[pickupman66]

By the way.. never heard of a Readding tang.... is this the same as the powder blue?

 

[bct15]

By the way.. never heard of a Readding tang.... is this the same as the powder blue?

I making up a word I guess it should be hyphenated, re-adding as in putting him in the display again.

 

[soccerbag]

lol....I changed the title again to make it more clear - hope that's okay. And I agree with the mirror. When adding tangs to my tank (my sailfin doesn't like anything) I keep the mirror up for a day or so (when the lights are on). Pretty amusing as all of the other fish battle with their own reflections. It's not ideal but it is a safe way to help introduce a fish to a (possible) hostile environment. Once the mirror is taken down, the fish feel like they won a battle of some sorts - and that makes the new fish seem like less of a threat.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

LOL! I thought it was a scientific name or something! LOL!

 

[Airplanes]

I would suggest re-aquascaping your tank as to make the yellow, confused , id kind of be like adding them at the same time

 

[fish&corals]

do it when the lights are 100% off inc moon lights ... my powder was my 1st tang put into my system .. then came the lavender then the yellow .. every time they were added at night the next morning they were swimming together like they have always been there .. i hope this helps you out ..

 

[bct15]

Thanks for the input guys, the mirror drove all of my fish crazy. The yellow still harassed the powder blue for about ten minutes, now they get along like I never took the powder blue out.