Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[WMR]

Excellent read, thoroughly enjoyed it! I usually get one tang from each genus when mixing them. Usually 1 Naso, ctenochaetus, paracanthurus, acanthurus, & zebrasoma. That usually diffuses any aggression & keep to 2 seaweed stations in the tank.

 

[TARHEEL78]

Excellent read, thoroughly enjoyed it! I usually get one tang from each genus when mixing them. Usually 1 Naso, ctenochaetus, paracanthurus, acanthurus, & zebrasoma. That usually diffuses any aggression & keep to 2 seaweed stations in the tank.

I was planning to add 4. Lol

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks for your help. I'll feel better about adding them when the time comes and hope the aggression stays minimal.

Happy to help, we are going to need photos though!

 

[TARHEEL78]

Happy to help, we are going to need photos though!

I'll post them up when I get the new guys. It'll be a bit before that happens though.

 

[Lovetoclown]

Is it possible to reintroduce a tang when one dies? My blonde naso that was about 8 years old died out of the blue today. My favorite fish. I added them by aggression, but I still have a purple tang, yellow belly blue tang, 3 yellow tangs, bristle tooth tang and a Achilles tang. And other non tangs.

 

[4FordFamily]

Is it possible to reintroduce a tang when one dies? My blonde naso that was about 8 years old died out of the blue today. My favorite fish. I added them by aggression, but I still have a purple tang, yellow belly blue tang, 3 yellow tangs, bristle tooth tang and a Achilles tang. And other non tangs.

Yeah it’s possible but you’ll want to add a very large one similar in size and quickly for best results. Add about 30 before lights out one night. Or since they’re accustomed to seeing one, add right as lights go out and they may not think anything of it.

 

[botheboss]

@4FordFamily i have successfully kept a pbt, Achilles, and lavender together for aleast a year. They often spar with each other but nothing to aggressive. But the pbt has quickly out grown the other two. He was always the boss but for the last week or so he won’t let my Achilles out from his side of the tank. It’s like if he’s crosses an imaginary line it’s over. I’m afraid I might have to remove the pbt. I’ve tried a mirror that’s just a bandage. Any advice? I also just add a regal and it seemed like the pbt accepted the angel and singled out the Achilles. Idk the are all beautiful healthy fish and this just hurts my heart

 

[4FordFamily]

@4FordFamily i have successfully kept a pbt, Achilles, and lavender together for aleast a year. They often spar with each other but nothing to aggressive. But the pbt has quickly out grown the other two. He was always the boss but for the last week or so he won’t let my Achilles out from his side of the tank. It’s like if he’s crosses an imaginary line it’s over. I’m afraid I might have to remove the pbt. I’ve tried a mirror that’s just a bandage. Any advice? I also just add a regal and it seemed like the pbt accepted the angel and singled out the Achilles. Idk the are all beautiful healthy fish and this just hurts my heart

Once they start like that it’s remove the aggressor unfortunately. Adding more tangs and other tricks aren’t likely to work once a fish is being singled out

 

[TheHarold]

Trying dejardini to keep the frag tank clean

 

[4FordFamily]

Trying dejardini to keep the frag tank clean

One of my favorites! They grow so big so fast though so I try to ensure they have at least 6 feet long-term

 

[TheHarold]

One of my favorites! They grow so big so fast though so I try to ensure they have at least 6 feet long-term

It’ll have 8 eventually!

Right now it is in a 44x28x14. It’s acrually very funny, because it’s swimming WITH the 22” rotating disk in the center

 

[4FordFamily]

It’ll have 8 eventually!

Right now it is in a 44x28x14. It’s acrually very funny, because it’s swimming WITH the 22” rotating disk in the center

Haha Zebrasoma tangs can be very odd fish to say the least....

 

[TheHarold]

Haha Zebrasoma tangs can be very odd fish to say the least....

 

[4FordFamily]

That’s pretty funny

 

[TheHarold]

That’s pretty funny

The psychology is pretty interesting. So its swimming to maintain a static reference point?

 

[Bruce17]

Would an Achilles work in a 5 foot 205 gallon tank with gyres to make tons of water movement. I’ll have a UV, GFO to help keep the water pristine. It would also go through qt. My tank is going to be a fish only tank

 

[DaveRaz]

Great thread! I set up a 72x30x20 tall tank back in the spring and have been growing macro's in a display refugium. I added 8 tangs all close to the same size this past Saturday to this fishless tank. They were QT'd and conditioned before I added them. All is well so far as I have various algae on rocks all over the reef. All the rock is in a maze with little caves and hide outs everywhere. Next month I'll add about 10 anthias and start gluing down some acros early 2020. Wish me luck!

Achilles, Yellow, Purple, Powder Blue, Powder Brown, Desajardini, Blonde Naso and Hippo.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Would an Achilles work in a 5 foot 205 gallon tank with gyres to make tons of water movement. I’ll have a UV, GFO to help keep the water pristine. It would also go through qt. My tank is going to be a fish only tank

If your lucky it should be fine. They are very fragile at first but once you get them established it should be fine. Mine seems to grow much slower than the rest of them.

Word to the wise though.. mine was MEAN. Like next level mean. I had to add three fish at one time in order to get anything in the tank after my achilies claimed his turf.

I tried heavy feeding, mirrors, acclimation box, rearranging the rock work. Nothing worked besides adding a big majestic angel, a medium sized chocolate tang and BIG sohal. The sohal made it clear right away he wasnt going to take any guff.

So..keep that in mind.

 

[Bruce17]

If your lucky it should be fine. They are very fragile at first but once you get them established it should be fine. Mine seems to grow much slower than the rest of them.

Word to the wise though.. mine was MEAN. Like next level mean. I had to add three fish at one time in order to get anything in the tank after my achilies claimed his turf.

I tried heavy feeding, mirrors, acclimation box, rearranging the rock work. Nothing worked besides adding a big majestic angel, a medium sized chocolate tang and BIG sohal. The sohal made it clear right away he wasnt going to take any guff.

So..keep that in mind.

That’s really good to know. My lfs suggested I add the Achilles first so that he could settle down with less stress because they get triggered and sick so easily at first. I thought about adding him and my other tangs at the end. That way, it would allow all my other fish to get settled in and have there own little territory. What’s your thoughts on adding first or last?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

My thought is your LFS wants to sell him before he dies. Every fish is different but adding a tang known to be aggressive first is horrible advice.

Why not throw an adult powder blue in there first. Maybe put a fence around your tank and call it battle dome?