Tang question

sal · Sep 23, 2015

I have a 220 gallon reef set up and own a large sailfin tang and a large hipo tang (among other fish). I am considering adding a powder brown tang...different body shape and he is smaller than my other two. I have tons of room in the tank and lots of hiding spots for everyone to establish territory. I think I made up my mind that I'm taking him home....just thought I would throw out the question ... should I? Before I go for it. I welcome your comments!!

4FordFamily · Sep 23, 2015

Could work well or it might not. I will say that your other two tangs can be kept in ich management systems (they can fight off ich and don't always require proper qt procedures). Powder brown tangs and most other acanthurus tangs can not. If you do not qt, with 95% certainty he will die within 6 months.

If you do, your issue may be one of aggression. If it were me I wouldn't add one tang at a time but as you said they are different enough it should work. Never any guarantees though sailfin and other zebrasoma can be very aggressive and territorial.

sal · Sep 23, 2015

Thank you for your input!

4FordFamily · Sep 24, 2015

No problem!

gidenski · Sep 24, 2015

As 3FordFamily pointed out, it could work out and it could not. I've generally had the best success when I'm going from most docile to most aggressive. Of course our desires can get the better of us and if the next tang is slightly bigger, chances are it will work out. In all cases I generally turn off my lights during the last part of the day (lights ramping down) and stress the existing guys a bit and release the new tank mate in after acclimation is complete. After an hour and the schedule is at a lower level, I turn the lights back on. Thus far I have always woken up to some confused, but peaceful tangs. You keyed in on the factor that has caused me failure in the past, not having enough zones/places to hide.

I also try REALLY hard to not buy fresh arrival tangs. If I have to, I'll just miss out until the species I want hangs around for a month and then I buy the known hardy/peaceful specimen. Usually it's yellow, purple and hippo tangs flying off the shelves, so this tactic usually works out in my favor.