Want to add more fish!!

oversd · Dec 3, 2019

Ok so.... I want to add more fish

the problem I have been reading, talk to people about is: I want to add a purple tang a powder blue, copper band, maybe a foxface and about five anthis<- (I know I spelled it wrong to lazy to look it up lol) to a tank with an ******* blue damsel, yellow tang but also have three Fire fish, six line, two clowns, madrain dragon, lawnmower blenny, goby and two cardinals.

the yellow tang and the blue devil are jerks and I don’t want to add more tangs and they die or bully the copper band

how can I do this safely? I heard you can do a mirror trick. Or should I take out the yellow tang and start over with a new one? Can’t catch the blue devil, yellow tang is stupid and traps it’s self so he is easy. Can I take the yellow out and sump he for a day and the

I heard if I add other fish such as the anthis and maybe the foxface it defuses the aggression. Is this true?
Any advice will help

Jesterrace · Dec 3, 2019

Honestly I would get rid of the fish you have if you want to add more fish. I see no reason whatsoever to hang onto a Blue Devil Damsel as it's not expensive, almost always a terrible community fish anyways. I can see wanting to hold onto the Yellow Tang but you may have to pick, but definitely try the mirror trick first on the Yellow Tang. Also be aware that the Powder Blues can be pretty aggressive and are very prone to ich. I would say that adding multiple fish (particularly similar or larger sized) can help disperse aggression since the established fish aren't just focusing on one target.

nereefpat · Dec 3, 2019

What is the tank size?

oversd · Dec 4, 2019

nereefpat said:
What is the tank size?

Tank is a 125 six foot

Bj’s Reef · Dec 24, 2019

So how did things turn out.

Mical · Dec 24, 2019

Tangs w/tangs - maybe, but you add a Foxface in their midst I think you're in for trouble. I added a Foxface to a 120 gal tank that had a powder brown tang and it was WWE all out warfare. Luckily I moved the Foxface to another tank but both were beat up badly. The tang had scars all over it from the foxes dorsal spikes and the fox had numerous scars from the tang backing into it. It was not pretty. Even in my 120 I don't think I would risk putting 2 or more tangs into it. Tangs make a large tank look small w/the ground they cover. Just my opinion.

Sashaka · Dec 24, 2019

Mical said:
Tangs w/tangs - maybe, but you add a Foxface in their midst I think you're in for trouble. I added a Foxface to a 120 gal tank that had a powder brown tang and it was WWE all out warfare. Luckily I moved the Foxface to another tank but both were beat up badly. The tang had scars all over it from the foxes dorsal spikes and the fox had numerous scars from the tang backing into it. It was not pretty. Even in my 120 I don't think I would risk putting 2 or more tangs into it. Tangs make a large tank look small w/the ground they cover. Just my opinion.

I had a different experience adding my foxface to my tank with established tangs. I added the foxface when it was just 1" in size. It was only 1/2" when I bought it. It grew quickly during quarantine and copper treatment. My tangs were all 3, 4, and 5 inches when the foxface made it into the MD. The foxface just raised it's spines and the tangs left it alone. Maybe because the foxface was so small, the tangs didn't see it as a threat to their food source. I do feed heavily and add Nori to the tank each day.

Now, about a year later, the foxface is second in size to the Regal tang, which also grows quickly. The yellow and Kole seem to grow much slower-though I replaced the Kole tang with a smaller version because the one in the tank when I added the foxface became too aggressive with my wrasses. Now the little Kole is starting to exhibit aggression with the wrasses, so I'll keep a watchful eye on him/her for a little while longer. If this Kole does not work out (third try with the Kole), I'm going to try a Lavender tang instead. They're pretty and from what I hear, they are powerhouse grazers like the Kole tang. I guess what I'm saying is even if the addition seems to work initially, as fishkeepers, we need to remain vigilant because as our fish mature, so does their lack of tolerance for conspecifics and/or fish with similar body shapes or colors, especially if the tank becomes crowded as they grow. If you're prepared for these events and have backup plans, go ahead for multiple tangs. I am not the tang police, but I would set my sights on tangs that don't get as large as the species you mentioned. They will likely outgrow your tank and they are a nightmare to catch in a fully aquascaped tank. I agree that the purple and blue rarely play nice together when they get a bit of size on them.

Bj’s Reef · Dec 24, 2019

I had a similar experience when I added a foxface to my tank. My yellow tang wanted to start a fight. However the fox face displayed its spines and turned sideways towards the tang. The tang thought better of it and left him along. It’s been over a year now without a issue between the two of them.

Sashaka · Dec 25, 2019

tigerhawk said:
I had a similar experience when I added a foxface to my tank. My yellow tang wanted to start a fight. However the fox face displayed its spines and turned sideways towards the tang. The tang thought better of it and left him along. It’s been over a year now without a issue between the two of them.

I'm not living in their space, only visiting when I do tank maintenance, and I EVEN back up if I see the spines flare..LOL. They are menacing looking when they go on the defensive...even when the fish is small. My foxface is about 5 inches now, but thankfully it prefers to hide when I clean the tank rather than become defensive or frantically zoom around the tank.