Thoughts on Potential Tang Additions

[4FordFamily]

I agree that it's too many tangs. IMO sailfin, hippo, naso genus tangs, and some larger acanthurus like orange-shoulder, the dussumeiri-like tangs, etc all need 8 feet or more for the long haul. Hippo aren't overly active so a case can be made that some 6 foot tanks suffice, but I wouldn't keep both long-term in a 150.

Convict tangs are generally docile as far as acanthurus tangs go. They're also a smaller acanthurus that doesn't seem to bother anyone, and a very underrated tang in my opinion. Mixing bristletooth tangs can be done, but adding one to an incumbent britsletooth can go horribly wrong --- but it can also work just fine. More tangs = less aggression to a degree. I certainly overstock my tanks with tangs.

 

[lefkonj]

The Tang group has a large number of sub species. I have always had luck keep unique individuals of the sub species. The Tomini, Kole and Bristletooth are from the same sub species. They will most likely fight and that stress can not only kill a fish but cause an outbreak of a disease.

In my 180 I have a naso, vlamingi, Desjardin, Hippo, Bariene. For the most part they are pretty good but there are times when it can be challenging.

 

[nereefpat]

The Tang group has a large number of sub species. I have always had luck keep unique individuals of the sub species. The Tomini, Kole and Bristletooth are from the same sub species. They will most likely fight and that stress can not only kill a fish but cause an outbreak of a disease.

In my 180 I have a naso, vlamingi, Desjardin, Hippo, Bariene. For the most part they are pretty good but there are times when it can be challenging.

The tomini, kole, and any other bristletooth are different species within the same genus. I agree it's a good rule of thumb that mixing tangs from different genera is a better bet than mixing within the same genus.

You probably already know, but you'll have some Huge tangs there in your 180.

 

[lefkonj]

The tomini, kole, and any other bristletooth are different species within the same genus. I agree it's a good rule of thumb that mixing tangs from different genera is a better bet than mixing within the same genus.

You probably already know, but you'll have some Huge tangs there in your 180.

I am a risk taker for sure, willing to admit that. I also am happy to pull them out when they get too big or cause problems. I will also recommend if you do that you are willing to feed enough to keep aggression to a minimum. I feed pellets twice a day, nori almost everyday, and frozen a few times a week. I deal with it

 

[Jon Fishman]

Those Gem tangs on sale. I thought they were cool..... then saw them in person and I’m in love

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

From my experience, the more tangs (4 or more) the less likely there will be any aggression

 

[drblakjak55]

following as well since I currently have a blue hippo and purple in my 125 gallon tank. I want to add another but my fish guy said 2 tangs are good in the 125?

90 g mixed reef. 100 pounds rock. Started with Tomini and Yellow Tangs. After six months added a large Purple. Blue Hippo one month later. Purple clearly the boss but all eat together at the Nori bar.

 

[Rams54]

following as well since I currently have a blue hippo and purple in my 125 gallon tank. I want to add another but my fish guy said 2 tangs are good in the 125?

 

[Rams54]

I've got a Scopas Tang and I call it Miss Piggy, the rest of my fish don't get to eat. That Scopas sucks up every drop and morsel. That fish is like a vacume cleaner. I don't know about your Tang (s), but adding another Tang is nuts!! Do it at your fishes peril, good luck!! If I could catch it, it would go back to where I bought it.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Five tangs are good in 125

 

[albano]

Five tangs are good in 125

Yes , 5 small tangs like those may be fine in a 125, but they will grow and the clown tang will probably be very aggressive in that size tank and be the first to need to be rehomed.

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Yes , 5 small tangs like those may be fine in a 125, but they will grow and the clown tang will probably be very aggressive in that size tank and be the first to need to be rehomed.

Agreed

 

[RtomKinMad]

Why don’t you pull out the Scopas and put him in a qt tank instead of letting him die?

We moved the scopas to our Fish only tank with a Sohal. Scopas did great. We also moved the Caribbean blue there but he had to find a new home six months later and went back to LFS and now is in a 450gal tank. The purple and tomini got there own 93 cube we bought just for them. Unfortunately we lost the powder brown due to velvet when we put it in quarantine with another fish while we set up the 93 gal too. After the Pb died we put the purple and tomini in the 93 instead. We tried to make new homes for all the fish instead of returning them or letting them be miserable in the 300 gal. It was a year long process of moving fish to get the right balance of tangs in all three of our tanks. Our Sohal by the way is a model citizen and absolutely love that fish! She’s over 13yrs now and 10+ inches!

 

[Bruce17]

We moved the scopas to our Fish only tank with a Sohal. Scopas did great. We also moved the Caribbean blue there but he had to find a new home six months later and went back to LFS and now is in a 450gal tank. The purple and tomini got there own 93 cube we bought just for them. Unfortunately we lost the powder brown due to velvet when we put it in quarantine with another fish while we set up the 93 gal too. After the Pb died we put the purple and tomini in the 93 instead. We tried to make new homes for all the fish instead of returning them or letting them be miserable in the 300 gal. It was a year long process of moving fish to get the right balance of tangs in all three of our tanks. Our Sohal by the way is a model citizen and absolutely love that fish! She’s over 13yrs now and 10+ inches!

I’m so sorry for your lost. I love the Sohal so much. I don’t think my 205 gallon ( 5 foot long ) tank would the best for him or my chances of success. If the tank was big enough, he or she would definitely be on my wish list

 

[Bruce17]

Five tangs are good in 125

Is that a Sohal or a clown tang? It’s moving around so fast that it’s hard to tell

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

Is that a Sohal or a clown tang? It’s moving around so fast that it’s hard to tell

Clown. He is quite active, especially if he senses its feeding time

 

[Bruce17]

Clown. He is quite active, especially if he senses its feeding time

No aggression/ territorial issues with him?

 

[sarcophytonIndy]

No aggression/ territorial issues with him?

Not anymore so than the others. They all do some occasional posturing. The Tomini is the most timid. But I think since there are five tangs there is no obvious target. Funny thing is even though there is a lot of rock work, caves, tunnels, etc., they tend to all stay pretty close to each other.