Tang On Tang Violence

[Marco S]

I have a Purple Tang and a Powder Blue Tang in QT right now. The Purple Tang is slightly larger and tried to bully the Powder Blue a bit by nipping at it when it gets too close. They seem to be alright besides a few nips here and there and they appear to be eating fine as well.

I just wanted to reach out and ask those with experience keeping Tangs if the nipping is OK or a sign of trouble to come?

Here are some pics to give you an idea of their size difference:

 

[Big G]

Purple tangs have a pretty rough reputation. Here's an article from Advanced Aquarists on tangs that might help you: https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/12/fish

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

I'd add more pvc so that the tangs have more escape routes.

FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen a tang use it's mouth for aggression; I imagine their scalpels (at the base of the tail) would be much more dangerous.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

Both these gangs have a reputation for wanting to be the tank boss and this would be normal behaviour but as above it is unusual in my experience to see a tang nipping. Good advice above there too, get a few more hiding places in the qt for them, if nothing else it helps to break up the line of sight between the fish.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I think purple tangs are meanies. I have a Yellow and purple in my 180 that have been there for years. The purple has total shredded the yellow tang. He also has HLL, I think from stress. He gets lots of different food and Selcon to help.

It took me a long time to figure who the culprit was. I never saw any aggression but new something was happening. I caught them tail to tail trying to get each other one night. I wish I had another tank to move the yellow to but I don’t and no one I trust to take care or him. He’s at least 8 years old.

I am thinking about counseling for both of them

 

[Big G]

I think purple tangs are meanies. I have a Yellow and purple in my 180 that have been there for years. The purple has total shredded the yellow tang. He also has HLL, I think from stress. He gets lots of different food and Selcon to help.

It took me a long time to figure who the culprit was. I never saw any aggression but new something was happening. I caught them tail to tail trying to get each other one night. I wish I had another tank to move the yellow to but I don’t and no one I trust to take care or him. He’s at least 8 years old.

I am thinking about counseling for both of them

I am thinking about counseling for both of them

LOL ;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious;Hilarious

 

[ShaunRobinson]

I think purple tangs are meanies. I have a Yellow and purple in my 180 that have been there for years. The purple has total shredded the yellow tang. He also has HLL, I think from stress. He gets lots of different food and Selcon to help.

It took me a long time to figure who the culprit was. I never saw any aggression but new something was happening. I caught them tail to tail trying to get each other one night. I wish I had another tank to move the yellow to but I don’t and no one I trust to take care or him. He’s at least 8 years old.

I am thinking about counseling for both of them

It shouldn’t have taken much to figure out the culprit in a tank with 2 Zebrasomas. I’d have taken one of them back to the shop ages ago than let it get that bad.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

It shouldn’t have taken much to figure out the culprit in a tank with 2 Zebrasomas. I’d have taken one of them back to the shop ages ago than let it get that bad.

I wish I could. I had both for years. The issue developed years after I had them. They are both around 8 years old. The purple was a re-home and the yellow one of my first in my 180 and like family.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

I wish I could. I had both for years. The issue developed years after I had them. They are both around 8 years old. The purple was a re-home and the yellow one of my first in my 180 and like family.

Sell the purple if the yellow is like family.

 

[Marco S]

I am very new to the saltwater side of this hobby. but I do know enough, (through research) to know not to keep a Purple and Yellow Tang in the same 180 gallon tank. I plan on having four Tangs from different genera and introduce them into the DT all at the same time. Being new to keeping them though, I did not know what level of chasing, nipping and or tail slapping is acceptable so I wanted to hear from others with experience.

As far as the "nipping" goes, I am not sure if the Purple Tang is actually nipping or just chasing the Powder Blue away and running into him with his head. I do not actually see his mouth nipping and there is no damage to fins or any other visible signs so I am assuming he is just chasing the Powder Blue a bit. I have not seen anything else that would concern me and even though the Purple Tang is a big piggy and tries to eat every piece of food put in the tank, (including the frozen Mysis and krill I feed the Cardinals) the Powder Blue still gets plenty to eat and they share seaweed on a clip pretty well.