Tang police - what are my chances?

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

My partner has fallen in love with a PBT and wants to add it to our tank which already has a juvenile mimic tang. The PBT looks like a healthy adult - not massive - but not a juvenile.

What are my chances it will work out?

It is a 500 litres peninsula tank with an average stocking (I would say) of rock. Decent amount of algae at the moment too.

I also have a lawnmower blennie and a flame hawkfish.

my partner is also eying off at majestic angelfish which is worrying me about the same.

Fish Styx · Mar 3, 2023

findingsimple said:
My partner has fallen in love with a PBT and wants to add it to our tank which already has a juvenile mimic tang. The PBT looks like a healthy adult - not massive - but not a juvenile.

What are my chances it will work out?

It is a 500 litres peninsula tank with an average stocking (I would say) of rock. Decent amount of algae at the moment too.

I also have a lawnmower blennie and a flame hawkfish.

my partner is also eying off at majestic angelfish which is worrying me about the same.

Size-wise, you can probably get away with it. Now as for aggression, it could go either way. PBTs are aggressive jerks, and mimics are a lot more docile. You could see a lot of bullying of the mimic and squabbling for territory. However, all fish have their own personalities, so it is hard to tell. I have two acantharus species in a 180 (along with a zebrasoma and ctenochaetus) and everyone gets along fine. IMMV

Tanglover1 · Mar 3, 2023

findingsimple said:
My partner has fallen in love with a PBT and wants to add it to our tank which already has a juvenile mimic tang. The PBT looks like a healthy adult - not massive - but not a juvenile.

What are my chances it will work out?

It is a 500 litres peninsula tank with an average stocking (I would say) of rock. Decent amount of algae at the moment too.

I also have a lawnmower blennie and a flame hawkfish.

my partner is also eying off at majestic angelfish which is worrying me about the same.

U should be fine with mimic and pbt. Pbt can bully mimic. For tank size, others will guide u but both can live together in a min. 125 gallon tank. U should keep them full so that there may not be aggression.
All the best !

Tanglover1 · Mar 3, 2023

Majestic angelfish also require bigger tank and r not reef safe. They r less aggressive but don't take risk for your freind

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

Thank you both!

I’ve got some thinking to do

Fish Styx · Mar 3, 2023

findingsimple said:
Thank you both!

I’ve got some thinking to do

You're most welcome.

Namaste.

nereefpat · Mar 3, 2023

I don't like the chances of a powder blue and a mimic getting along long-term in a 500 liter. What are the dimensions?

mtraylor · Mar 3, 2023

I think the main concern I would have would be getting a healthy PBT. Unfortunately getting healthy fish lately is a chore. A visual inspection is a good start, but I would be getting a QT station ready for the PBT. Once through QT, you should not have too big of an issue I wouldn't think since the small mimic tang is already established. How big is your mimic tang. I just purchased one that was a size of a nickel when I got him months ago. He is getting big pretty quick.

I never finish anythi · Mar 3, 2023

Shame you ain't from the UK . I have a PBT that is very tame I would have given you .

vetteguy53081 · Mar 3, 2023

findingsimple said:
My partner has fallen in love with a PBT and wants to add it to our tank which already has a juvenile mimic tang. The PBT looks like a healthy adult - not massive - but not a juvenile.

What are my chances it will work out?

It is a 500 litres peninsula tank with an average stocking (I would say) of rock. Decent amount of algae at the moment too.

I also have a lawnmower blennie and a flame hawkfish.

my partner is also eying off at majestic angelfish which is worrying me about the same.

It will work but eventually the PBT will become a jerk. They generally do and they are one of the fastest when it comes to growth regardless of tank size
Majestic one of my best angels but will not leave coral alone

mnreefster · Mar 3, 2023

File this under FAFO

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

nereefpat said:
I don't like the chances of a powder blue and a mimic getting along long-term in a 500 liter. What are the dimensions?

I have this tank https://www.cadeaustralia.com.au/product-page/reef-s2-p-1200-black

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

mtraylor said:
I think the main concern I would have would be getting a healthy PBT. Unfortunately getting healthy fish lately is a chore. A visual inspection is a good start, but I would be getting a QT station ready for the PBT. Once through QT, you should not have too big of an issue I wouldn't think since the small mimic tang is already established. How big is your mimic tang. I just purchased one that was a size of a nickel when I got him months ago. He is getting big pretty quick.

Our mimic was a similar size originally. Now about an inch and half to two.

Being in AUS we seem to have access to fairly healthy fish - not so far to travel and sometimes chatting with my LFS they aren’t more than a few days from being caught.

My LFS is kindly offering to handle some of the QT for me if we go ahead. But agreed will being doing some QT.

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

mnreefster said:
File this under FAFO

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
It will work but eventually the PBT will become a jerk. They generally do and they are one of the fastest when it comes to growth regardless of tank size
Majestic one of my best angels but will not leave coral alone

Thanks for the info.

Thanks all, more reading, research and thinking and I’ll pass on the PBT

Cheers all!

Tamberav · Mar 3, 2023

I was going to say just buy a fish trap and have it ready and realize you may need to remove rock to catch it if all hell breaks loose.

findingsimple · Mar 3, 2023

Tamberav said:
I was going to say just buy a fish trap and have it ready and realize you may need to remove rock to catch it if all hell breaks loose.

Yeah good thought. My partner will just have to realize she can’t have ALL the fish.

nereefpat · Mar 4, 2023

findingsimple said:
I have this tank https://www.cadeaustralia.com.au/product-page/reef-s2-p-1200-black

Nice tank.

1200 x 700 (48x27") . I wouldn't mix 2 Acanthurus tangs in that footprint.

DCR · Mar 4, 2023

My thoughts are that the PBT may get along with the mimic because the mimic was already established. The issue with PBT's in my experience is that it can be very difficult to add any fish after them - and not just tangs. They get aggressive with all types of newcomers.

findingsimple · Mar 4, 2023

DCR said:
My thoughts are that the PBT may get along with the mimic because the mimic was already established. The issue with PBT's in my experience is that it can be very difficult to add any fish after them - and not just tangs. They get aggressive with all types of newcomers.

Yeah it’s a good point - I realized that - thank you!