Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[Steve Elb]

It’s what I would choose, personally. Any bristletooth that doesn’t get too large.

Thanks!

 

[danoo]

Dear tang experts,

I've got a 350 gallon tank (8ft x 3ft x 2ft) that right now has 1 tang in it, a 5-6" Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) which I've had for a few years. This tang was somewhat aggressive when it was in my 120 gallon tank, especially to my lawnmower blenny, but ever since it has been in the 350 gallon it basically hasn't shown any aggression to anybody. Granted other than the lawnmower blenny all the other fish in the tank are smaller (damsels, anthias, etc) so I don't think any other fish could possibly threaten the Kole tang anyways.

I'm a fan of captive bred fish, and due to this I wasn't planning on adding more tangs, but now that I see captive bred yellow tangs are a thing and available for purchase, so I was interested in maybe getting one. I think what would make this situation somewhat different than most I see searching around is the yellow tang would be really tiny, maybe 1-1.5" as compared with the much larger Kole tang.

So given this and the rules about adding tangs, which (if any) of the following do you think would be the safest attempts:

1) Add a single tiny yellow tang to the tank
2) Add multiple tiny yellow tangs to the tank
3) Add a single tiny yellow tang to the tank along with other fish I was planning to add (probably trio of damsels/anthias)

I'd prefer just to add one yellow tang, but if multiples made the change of success much higher than I could also consider that.

I'm fairly adept at catching fish so I think if the yellow tang were being horribly bullied I'd likely be able to catch it and get it to safety.

 

[4FordFamily]

Dear tang experts,

I've got a 350 gallon tank (8ft x 3ft x 2ft) that right now has 1 tang in it, a 5-6" Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) which I've had for a few years. This tang was somewhat aggressive when it was in my 120 gallon tank, especially to my lawnmower blenny, but ever since it has been in the 350 gallon it basically hasn't shown any aggression to anybody. Granted other than the lawnmower blenny all the other fish in the tank are smaller (damsels, anthias, etc) so I don't think any other fish could possibly threaten the Kole tang anyways.

I'm a fan of captive bred fish, and due to this I wasn't planning on adding more tangs, but now that I see captive bred yellow tangs are a thing and available for purchase, so I was interested in maybe getting one. I think what would make this situation somewhat different than most I see searching around is the yellow tang would be really tiny, maybe 1-1.5" as compared with the much larger Kole tang.

So given this and the rules about adding tangs, which (if any) of the following do you think would be the safest attempts:

1) Add a single tiny yellow tang to the tank
2) Add multiple tiny yellow tangs to the tank
3) Add a single tiny yellow tang to the tank along with other fish I was planning to add (probably trio of damsels/anthias)

I'd prefer just to add one yellow tang, but if multiples made the change of success much higher than I could also consider that.

I'm fairly adept at catching fish so I think if the yellow tang were being horribly bullied I'd likely be able to catch it and get it to safety.

To be honest, a tang that’s had a tank that large to itself is deadly. Adding a single tang of nearly any size could go very wrong. Multiple tangs helps but you may be better off removing the kole for a week or two, then you can theoretically add whatever you want. I hope this helps.

 

[ReefReady9]

Thank you, I try. Glad to help

You don't have the mimic tang listed. Any experience with that one?

 

[4FordFamily]

You don't have the mimic tang listed. Any experience with that one?

I don’t have any but they’re generally less aggressive acanthurus tangs, maybe on par with orange shoulder.

 

[ReefReady9]

I don’t have any but they’re generally less aggressive acanthurus tangs, maybe on par with orange shoulder.

Apparently that's my wife's "favorite fish" lol. So it's either that or a yellow tang. [emoji848]

 

[4FordFamily]

Apparently that's my wife's "favorite fish" lol. So it's either that or a yellow tang. [emoji848]

I like them, personally. I plan to add one to my wall tank!

 

[ReefReady9]

I like them, personally. I plan to add one to my wall tank!

If I can find one this weekend I'll let you know how he behaves with the achilles.

 

[4FordFamily]

If I can find one this weekend I'll let you know how he behaves with the achilles.

I’d be a lot more worried about the Achilles!

 

[ReefReady9]

I’d be a lot more worried about the Achilles!

This one seems very skittish. Not aggressive at all. Reminds me of my hippo, also a pushover.

 

[ReefReady9]

Maybe when he gets bigger he'll be mean. He's just a baby. Do you know how to sex tangs? Do they start out male then change sex like clowns do?

 

[danoo]

To be honest, a tang that’s had a tank that large to itself is deadly. Adding a single tang of nearly any size could go very wrong. Multiple tangs helps but you may be better off removing the kole for a week or two, then you can theoretically add whatever you want. I hope this helps.

And just to confirm what I think I already know: The Kole tang basically has ignored the last ~10 or so fish that have been added. Of course they are all smaller and not tangs, but still the Kole tang is entirely uninterested in them. However I'd assume that the Kole will be smart enough to realize that a yellow tang is another tang and go after it?

The only concern I'd have with catching the Kole tang is that my QT tank is only 20 gallons, so I don't want to stress it too badly with a prolonged stay in there.

 

[4FordFamily]

And just to confirm what I think I already know: The Kole tang basically has ignored the last ~10 or so fish that have been added. Of course they are all smaller and not tangs, but still the Kole tang is entirely uninterested in them. However I'd assume that the Kole will be smart enough to realize that a yellow tang is another tang and go after it?

The only concern I'd have with catching the Kole tang is that my QT tank is only 20 gallons, so I don't want to stress it too badly with a prolonged stay in there.

20G is fine for a few weeks, just watch ammonia and add biospira as needed

And it’s not a gamble I’d take without removal of the Kole.. you can try it if you wish but he’s had that territory to himself without tangs — adding other tangs is a worst case scenario to a single or few tang situation in a large tank.

 

[4FordFamily]

Maybe when he gets bigger he'll be mean. He's just a baby. Do you know how to sex tangs? Do they start out male then change sex like clowns do?

Sexing most tangs is near impossible. It’s believed that males are more aggressive, Ive always said my docile acanthurus tangs must be female but who knows. In the case of Achilles tangs males grow small streamers once they hit 5-8 inches in length.

They do not change sexes as wrasse, angels, or clowns do.

 

[danoo]

20G is fine for a few weeks, just watch ammonia and add biospira as needed

And it’s not a gamble I’d take without removal of the Kole.. you can try it if you wish but he’s had that territory to himself without tangs — adding other tangs is a worst case scenario to a single or few tang situation in a large tank.

What would the order of operations be?

My QT process for a new fish lasts about a month so I could time it however I want. Assuming the Kole tang has been out of the tank for 14 days, do I introduce the Kole and Yellow at the same time or the Yellow first and then the Kole later?

I'm also starting to think if it will require temporarily re-homing the Kole tang maybe I should wait until a captive bred hippo tang and a captive bred yellow tang are available at the same time and then add them together.

 

[RazorD]

@4FordFamily

I know the Naso is generally considered to be one of the more docile tangs, but I’ve read you refer to them serving as referee at times. My question is, can adding a Naso last settle the mood of the tank down a bit (assuming it’s larger than any other tang in the tank)?

(This is more of a hypothetical for future tank vs. my current situation - but never too early to start planning)

Thanks!

 

[4FordFamily]

What would the order of operations be?

My QT process for a new fish lasts about a month so I could time it however I want. Assuming the Kole tang has been out of the tank for 14 days, do I introduce the Kole and Yellow at the same time or the Yellow first and then the Kole later?

I'm also starting to think if it will require temporarily re-homing the Kole tang maybe I should wait until a captive bred hippo tang and a captive bred yellow tang are available at the same time and then add them together.

Add the new tangs let them establish then add the kole back later would be my course of action. Adding two tangs to a dominant tang “only child” in a large tank is still quite risky.

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily

I know the Naso is generally considered to be one of the more docile tangs, but I’ve read you refer to them serving as referee at times. My question is, can adding a Naso last settle the mood of the tank down a bit (assuming it’s larger than any other tang in the tank)?

(This is more of a hypothetical for future tank vs. my current situation - but never too early to start planning)

Thanks!

Yes they often can — larger docile tangs often don’t tolerate smaller tangs being aggressive. A docile tank boss is usually only achieved with larger and more docile tangs, naso are generally great selections for this. I’ve used Sailfin tangs as well although not all should be considered “docile” some are pretty aggressive.

 

[RazorD]

Yes they often can — larger docile tangs often don’t tolerate smaller tangs being aggressive. A docile tank boss is usually only achieved with larger and more docile tangs, naso are generally great selections for this. I’ve used Sailfin tangs as well although not all should be considered “docile” some are pretty aggressive.

Cool, thanks! I'm about ready to try to make a trio of zebrasoma work. However, thinking it may make sense to wait until I have a tank big enough to add those 3 and a slightly larger blonde naso at the same time.

 

[4FordFamily]

Cool, thanks! I'm about ready to try to make a trio of zebrasoma work. However, thinking it may make sense to wait until I have a tank big enough to add those 3 and a slightly larger blonde naso at the same time.

Probably a good move

 

[ReefReady9]

So I traded the powder brown for a mimic and I removed the egg crate barrier in the qt tank. The blond naso, who is about 4-5", bullied the achilles, who is about 3-3.5", and tore part of his dorsal. I separated them again but I'm at my wits end. I don't know what to do. It seems this achilles is either weak or just very timid. What can I do to get them to coexist? Help please!