Tangs-Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

Marco S · Jul 30, 2019

SO, I recently had to evict my Achilles Tang from my RSR 750 XXL with 1 Purple, 1 Powder Blue and 1 Hippo Tang. The Purple was the bully and he tore up the Achilles pretty bad. I am currently nursing the Achilles back to health, but will be getting rid of him as soon as he is looking good enough to sell.

The Tangs are the following size:

Purple Tang - about 5 1/2" and very fat
Powder Blue - about 4 1/2"
Hippo - about 4" and growing very fast
Achilles - about 5 1/2"

I want to introduce one more Tang to take the place of the Achilles and was reading that the Bristle tooth is one of the less aggressive Tangs. I did find a Whitetail Bristle tooth that is about 3" and figured since it is smaller than the others and less aggressive it would be easier to introduce to the others that are already established in the tank. I need to make up my mind pretty quick as these Tangs seem to go very quickly, but I wanted to get some advice before doing so.

So my question to those who have experience with Tangs is, should I get the new Whitetail Bristletooth or not? And if I do get him, what is the best way to try and introduce him?

Please only reply if you have first hand experience with Tangs. I am really not interested in something someone read about tangs since I have probably read the exact same thing. I am only interested in advice from people who have dealt first hand with Tangs and their aggression towards each other.

Thank you!

Thomashtom · Jul 30, 2019

Why would you get rid of Achilles if he was not the aggressor? You should move the aggressor and give the Achilles a chance to heal. You are stressing him out more by moving him and putting him in a small tank. Plus you will probably have a problem with the aggressor in the future. Thanks

Marco S · Jul 30, 2019

Thomashtom said:
Why would you get rid of Achilles if he was not the aggressor? You should move the aggressor and give the Achilles a chance to heal. You are stressing him out more by moving him and putting him in a small tank. Plus you will probably have a problem with the aggressor in the future. Thanks

I never said I moved the Achilles into a small tank...and I can assure you that he is not stressed and is eating well, swimming around well and already showing signs of healing. As far as the Purple Tang goes, he was in my sump for a while and I have no problem putting him back while I introduce a new Tang, but I will not be getting rid of him.

Also, thank you for your opinion, but that is not what I asked about.

Edit: To answer your question though, I moved the Achilles because the Hippo, Powder Blue and my Foxface were starting to show signs of aggression towards him in his weakened state and were not letting him eat.I moved him into a 250 gallon tub I had laying around that I used to cure my rock. I added a couple power-heads and some Live Rock for him to hide. I used media from my tank as well as Bio Spira and am checking the water daily to make sure there is no Ammonia or Nitrite, so he is is better off now than he was in the DT.