Safest method to add more Tangs

[Fringe09]

Hi fellow reefers. I added the following three Tangs at the exact same time a few months ago. All three are getting a long.

Kole Yellow Eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Two Spot Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus)
Sailfin Tang, Desjardini (Zebrasoma desjardini)

The Tang bug has bitten me and I really want to add more. I have a 200 gallon tank (160 display). 71" in length.

Any high level recommendations in regards to species or number of Tangs to introduce at once to minimize fighting?

 

[Brett newell]

Sounds like you're in need of a pretty little dory

 

[Captain Quint]

Awesome.

You pretty much have the ways and means for such.

Just remember the simple rule of from least to most aggressive whilst adding.

 

[Potatohead]

I'd get a Purple and powder blue, add them at same time and hope for the best.

 

[LowLi]

egg crate to split the tank?

 

[60CubeReefer]

Sounds like you have a Red Sea Reefer 750XXL. I have the same tank, currently have a gem/yellow/blue/desjardini/purple. Going to add a PBT, debating if I should add an Achilles at the same time.

Try to add multiples at the same time, and it helps (like in my case) to get them while they are small.

 

[HB AL]

I would add a purple, hippo and blonde Naso that would be a nice quiver of tangs in your tank.

 

[Fringe09]

Thank you all for your suggestions and tips. Yes, I do have the 750XXL.

I would love the Purple Tang but it's from the same family as my Sailfin.

I think I've settled on the following three which are all different species and I don't have them in my tank.

Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)

The goal is now to find all three at the same that are small.

 

[Xanthurum]

It’s always best to add multiple tangs all at the same time but even this doesn’t guarantee success. I’m currently attempting to get an Achilles to coexist with a Powder Blue Hybrid but they are both being psycho. You did good by not starting with known super aggressive tangs. I would suggest you choose 1 or 2 Acanthurus species that you like and another Zebrasoma. As other have suggested you can also do a Hippo or a Naso. No matter what you choose you probably should keep the total number at 6 or 7. Here is some really good info that will help.

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

 

[Xanthurum]

You posted while I was typing so I here is an update.

You can keep a Purple with a Sailfin. I have a Purple and a Gem together and they are much more similar in appearance and therefore more likely to not get along but all is good.

I’m not sure your tank is big enough to support both a Naso and a Hippo. They are both rather peaceful but both get real big.

 

[Jr'sReef]

I used an XL critter cage in my 450 to add a Mata Tang and a Naso Tang to a tank that already had a bristletooth, sailfin, vlamingi.
Left them in the critter cage for two days. Help both new and old fish get use to each other and they ate really well while in the cage. Would recommend it, I used an old mag float to hold them in place.

 

[WWIII]

@4FordFamily wrote a fantastic article on this subject and is very knowledgeable when it comes to adding multiple tangs and their aggression.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Sounds like you have a Red Sea Reefer 750XXL. I have the same tank, currently have a gem/yellow/blue/desjardini/purple. Going to add a PBT, debating if I should add an Achilles at the same time.

Try to add multiples at the same time, and it helps (like in my case) to get them while they are small.

powder blue and achilies will NOT end well... ask me how i know.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Everyone has hit the nail on the head really. The powder blue "looks" like a peaceful fish.. but i have had a couple that were soooo hard headed.

I thought my achilies was going to be middle of the road. He is not, I saw him on americas most wanted the other day. If you ever watched that nat. geographic show about prison violence, you might have caught a glimpse of my achilies. He is beautiful and i love him... but he is merciless. I saw him building a shank out of a razor blade and toothbrush the other day....

 

[ca1ore]

I think it is generally wise to steer clear of multiples from the same genus. An adequately sized social acclimation box is useful, as is a large mirror taped to one end of the tank. If you must keep more than one species from the same genus, bristles and zebras are generally more accommodating.

 

[60CubeReefer]

powder blue and achilies will NOT end well... ask me how i know.

How big was the tank, how big were the fish, and did you introduce them at the same time?

 

[4FordFamily]

Great advice here. I would add that a Naso tang will outgrow a 750XXL in very short order.

 

[Fringe09]

Great advice here. I would add that a Naso tang will outgrow a 750XXL in very short order.

I agree. I’m also hesitant on the Powder Blue as they seem to be more aggressive than other Tangs.

 

[ca1ore]

powder blue and achilies will NOT end well... ask me how i know.

I tried this ..... and failed also. If you end up with a sociopathic Achilles, it won't work.

 

[ca1ore]

I’m also hesitant on the Powder Blue as they seem to be more aggressive than other Tangs.

They are individuals, so there will always be somebody saying that they've done it. Powder Blue is definitely on the more aggressive end of the scale.