Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

[PhantomHalo]

Would it help to add another tang to distract him more? I.e. he would be chasing 3 instead of two around.

 

[4FordFamily]

Would it help to add another tang to distract him more? I.e. he would be chasing 3 instead of two around.

Theoretically, though it would be a parasite risk if you don't QT it and the others.

 

[Chuckc mi]

I would like to add 2 or three yellow tangs or other combination of zebrasomas to a 180 that has a purple tang and powder brown the purple is a bit aggressive when it comes to eating if I tried would it be best to get tangs that are smaller than him or larger

 

[4FordFamily]

I would like to add 2 or three yellow tangs or other combination of zebrasomas to a 180 that has a purple tang and powder brown the purple is a bit aggressive when it comes to eating if I tried would it be best to get tangs that are smaller than him or larger

It is a risk, but it may work. Tough to tell. Mixing zebrasoma would be more advisable.

 

[PhantomHalo]

Theoretically, though it would be a parasite risk if you don't QT it and the others.

True, however my local pet store has a scopas tang that has been in their tanks for a few months now. Not really my choice if favorite tangs, but if it would help take the attention away from my desi it may be worth it.

 

[Chuckc mi]

Should the yellow tangs be smaller than purple tang?

 

[PhantomHalo]

It MAY subside, but acanthurus tangs can hold permanent grudges. No damage is a good sign...

I take it back. Now there is a hook looking mark on the side of the kole and the fins on the desi are starting to look ragged.

 

[4FordFamily]

Should the yellow tangs be smaller than purple tang?

Probably, yes!

 

[Chuckc mi]

Thank you

 

[PhantomHalo]

Caught him! Now he’s going into my QT tank while the other two get settled. How long do you think he should stay out? I’m going to move a couple of rocks around that aren’t stuck together too.

 

[4FordFamily]

Caught him! Now he’s going into my QT tank while the other two get settled. How long do you think he should stay out? I’m going to move a couple of rocks around that aren’t stuck together too.

A couple of weeks? A week at a minimum.

 

[svogun]

I had luck with mirrors and an acclimation box

 

[PhantomHalo]

A couple of weeks? A week at a minimum.

Yeah, I was thinking 2-3 weeks. Let the others heal and move some rock work around. I was only able to move a couple because the majority of them are glued together. Hopefully this will be enough. I tried the mirror thing, but he wouldn’t pay any attention to it. Should I add another new tang at the same time when I re-introduce the powder brown?

 

[4FordFamily]

Yeah, I was thinking 2-3 weeks. Let the others heal and move some rock work around. I was only able to move a couple because the majority of them are glued together. Hopefully this will be enough. I tried the mirror thing, but he wouldn’t pay any attention to it. Should I add another new tang at the same time when I re-introduce the powder brown?

If you have the real estate, you can. It may not work, and if not quarantined your risk of disease grenading everything are higher. Strictly from an aggression standpoint, it may help.

 

[PhantomHalo]

If you have the real estate, you can. It may not work, and if not quarantined your risk of disease grenading everything are higher. Strictly from an aggression standpoint, it may help.

I have a 300 gal 6x3x3 ish. Do you think I have the real estate or do you think I’ll run into more problems? I wanted to put a powder blue in there too, but at this point I’m not so sure that is a good idea. I would qt the new one of course and introduce with the powder brown at the same time.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have a 300 gal 6x3x3 ish. Do you think I have the real estate or do you think I’ll run into more problems? I wanted to put a powder blue in there too, but at this point I’m not so sure that is a good idea. I would qt the new one of course and introduce with the powder brown at the same time.

That may be asking for trouble unfortunately.

 

[PhantomHalo]

Okay, I guess I’ll have to be happy with these three if I can get them to get along. So...no to a yellow tang too? Thank you!

 

[Luis1992]

And it begins

 

[dustinc]

So I have a question about Tang Aggression. I've never really owned Tangs in the past as I've always been a fan of smaller fish, but have started to really like some of them. I added a Yellow, Convict, and Blue Hippo all at the same time (the first fish introduced in the tank) and have all been in the tank for about 2-2.5 months. They been fine the entire time until about a week ago, I noticed the yellow had some cuts on it's fins. Fast-forward to yesterday, and the convict has cuts on it's fins and has started relentlessly going after the yellow, but the yellow seems to be winning. I may be misinterpreting the aggressor, but below is a video of what I've started to consistently see. I feed a minimum of once per day a variety of frozen food and also have Nori available almost always. They don't seem to pay attention to the Blue Hippo at this point. Thank you.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Uggh.. that is pretty nasty agression and if I had to make a call, one of them is not going to survive. I did not think the convicts were that aggressive but yours seems to be asking for trouble.

If it doesnt settle down soon I think I would advise getting rid of one.