school of yellow tangs

Vpham · Sep 15, 2015

I need some inputs.
my tank is 190g 60x27x27 mix reef. I had +5" achilles, 6-7" blond naso, some anthias and mollies.
I plan to add some yellow tangs to school.
Does anyone keep em in a group? How and what u did to void the aggression?
Please tell me I am crazy...

Cleo642 · Sep 15, 2015

A lfs store where I live had a 400 gallon display with many yellow tangs. It's awesome.

Vpham · Sep 16, 2015

That's inspired me...thanks for the pics.
Anybody care to share their experience?

Vmacisback · Sep 16, 2015

i tried 3 at one time and failed, two ganged up on one and then the last two went after each other until there was only 1. This was in a 250G. I think the key is to have so many that they cant pinpoint their aggression because of the overall number of them if that makes sense. What that number is I am unsure.

eatbreakfast · Sep 16, 2015

I have only seen groups of yellow tangs work in really long tanks. One group of 7 in an 8ft tank, though they don't school, and a group of 5 in an 11ft tank that do school. Any time I have seen groups attempted in 6ft tanks or smaller, the group eventually whittled down to one fish.

Vpham · Sep 16, 2015

That's interesting points, guys...I guess my dream won't come true...

4FordFamily · Sep 16, 2015

Agree you'll need a larger tank. I've kept trios of desjardini sailfin, yellow, and purple that got along fine in 75-180 gallon tanks. They'll outgrow a small in a couple years but they're more tolerant of smaller spaces than other tangs IMO.

Add at same time and close in size. Younger the better IME unless smaller than half dollar they struggle often

Vpham · Sep 16, 2015

3FordFamily said:
Agree you'll need a larger tank. I've kept trios of desjardini sailfin, yellow, and purple that got along fine in 75-180 gallon tanks. They'll outgrow a small in a couple years but they're more tolerant of smaller spaces than other tangs IMO.

Add at same time and close in size. Younger the better IME unless smaller than half dollar they struggle often

I was thinking to get all at same time n size, since lately I saw a vendor here posted for $10ea for small size...but I can't find that tread now.

KorL · Sep 16, 2015

If you plan on adding a school of yellow tangs, try adding them all at once if possible. The more the merrier. Less chance of aggression and less likely of having one singled out. But still always watch the fish's behavior, if one for reason gets harassed too much. They usually get pushed to the corner of the tank where you can catch and save them

Joshua Cline · Sep 16, 2015

This would be an awesome idea. But I agree with KorL. Adding them all at once is going to be key. Also make sure you have a back up plan if one of the tangs gets singled out. Cant wait to see the outcome!!

Cleo642 · Sep 16, 2015

Divers den sells trios of yellow tangs often, these probably get along/school together. Idk how many you were wanting though. This is a pic of the holding tank at the same pet store I took the display tank pic at. Even though they get along in there, I don't know it would be when you would get them home.

Kenyon · Sep 16, 2015

I tried 3 juvies in a 180 gallon and they were trouble.. They fought with each other non-stop as well as picked on everyone else.. I would think it all depends on the specimens though. On the bright side you would have great algae control!!!

Reefloco760 · Sep 16, 2015

Shoot I had one yellow tang and it was enough trouble.. They say they either have a cool attitude or are aggressive. I guess I found a hard butt

AJsTank · Sep 16, 2015

I had a trio that had been together for 2 years at the fish store display's 200. I moved them to my 400 and they killed each other off. Nothing was bothering them, other than a juvenile Gold Flake who was less than half the size of the smallest one. This is really cool, don't see many people do this.

Kworker · Sep 16, 2015

I definitely wouldn't do it... I've had a group of three for a bit over a year, on and off aggression. When the aggression was on it was rough. They collectively killed a group of 7 bartlett anthias. I believe yellow tangs are among the more nasty species of surgeonfish that are popular in the hobby. I will never get another.

If I were to ever try and do a "school" of the same type of tang, it would probably be convict tangs and in a much larger tank than either of my 180 gal tanks.

sdnd · Sep 16, 2015

I currently have five...started with one first and the purple kept picking on it...added four more at the same time and the one started picking on the four for like 15mins and after that all is calm...

It can be done but the more fish you have it spreads out the aggression PLUS I find that if you keep them well fed they will all be friends...

Good luck!

Breakthecycle2 · Sep 16, 2015

sdnd said:
I currently have five...started with one first and the purple kept picking on it...added four more at the same time and the one started picking on the four for like 15mins and after that all is calm...

It can be done but the more fish you have it spreads out the aggression PLUS I find that if you keep them well fed they will all be friends...

Good luck!

What size tank is that?