Tang advice........

[Carz]

I recently upgraded from a 75 to a 250. I only have 5 fish currently. A blue and purple tang are my main fish. They are both young and about 3 inches. I want to add some more fish and I want to add a powder blue maybe 2 yellows or a blond naso in the future. I was thinking two yellow tangs at first to kinda keep the aggression divided when they meet my purple. Then the powder blue. I would only do the Naso if I decide to not do the two yellows and then eventually get a yellow foxface. My LFS suggested to add both yellows and powder blue together but not sure about that. Seeking some advice.

 

[Murica]

If that’s what your set on, i would add them all at once. The zebrasoma will be the issue, so the sooner you get them in the tank as juveniles the better.

i had five tangs in a tank a tad smaller than yours and it worked out fine

 

[sabor]

Let your tank cycle real well and add a bottle or 2 of the nitrifying bacteria when your ready to add your Tangs. Add them all at once or you will let them build up aggression. You do not want to add them separately. I have 8 tangs in my 350.

 

[Carz]

so would 2 yellows be better than one

 

[sabor]

Not sure. I have one yellow, one purple, one gem and one sailfin. The gem is the boss cuz he’s much bigger but he doesn’t really bug the others unless they start taking his food than he becomes a little Aggro. My friend has 3 yellow and a purple with no issues so I would think 2 yellow should be fine.

 

[Seanislav]

If you plan to add more than one yellow, then both at the same time would be best. Individually, the purple might pick on the first one, and the purple and the first yellow would gang up on the second yellow. Adding them at the same time gives them both a better chance of coexisting with the purple and one another.

 

[User1]

When I first read the post I was thinking that is a lot of tang in a small larger tank Not judging by any means. I think everyone here posted great info on the order. I've given up on mixing zebrasoma's now that I have a Scopus tang. I biffed it big time now that Gem's are reasonably priced

I've tried a yellow and purple before at the same time but the purple would never leave the yellow alone. Didn't matter what I tried. Removed them both. New tank I went after a Lt. Tang instead. Then it got too big so picked up a small lavender and scopus tang. I'm starting to see the scopus be the more aggressive one so no more similar fish like a yellow, purple, or gem.

Best of luck - I bet it will look really nice!

 

[Purpletang92]

I think it mostly depends on you rock work and how you have them laid out. Have open spaces and plenty of swimming room. They are going to fight regardless but to even out aggression add them all at once.

 

[ca1ore]

Assuming by ‘blue’ you mean a hippo/regal tang. More quirky than aggressive so you don’t really have to worry about that one. Naso (depending a bit on which one) is also not aggressive, though a push even in a 250. Purple can be hyper aggressive, followed by the powder blue and then the yellow - though individual temperament is always a wildcard.

I’ve added most of my tangs sequentially. I did have to remove my purple at one point (easier said than done). I think the best approach would be to sump the purple, add a yellow and powder blue at the same time, then reintroduce the purple.

 

[Joe Batt]

I have a yellow, a purple, a zebra and a sohal. Purple and yellow are best buddies! Sohal is the boss but generally Ok. Add them all at once to stop territory wars is my 2 pennies worth