Yellow Tang Aggressive Fix ??

[AlexDm]

Well ... I added a Sailfin and Purple Tang to my Yellow Tang, and he doesn't like It one bit, was very aggressive towards The Purple tang and starting to nip on him. I pushed the yellow off to the side and segregated him. Does anyone have experience who tried this , got it to work for them?

 

[Brew12]

3 Zebrasoma tangs in a tank that size is going to lead to problems. Not saying it can't be done, but it will be a challenge.

Partitioning the yellow is a good start. I would expect to leave them separated where they can see each other for at least a few days. I have a smaller tank (6ft 120g) and didn't mix Zebrasoma's but I did have 4 tangs at one point. To deal with the aggression I used an acclimation box (which your divider effectively is) and a plastic locker mirror. I used an algae clip to attach the mirror to the side of the tank for around a week. They focused their attention on the mirror instead of each other until they got used to each other.

Not sure if that will work in this case because I was dealing with 4 different tang types which is easier but you may want to give it a try.

 

[AlexDm]

3 Zebrasoma tangs in a tank that size is going to lead to problems. Not saying it can't be done, but it will be a challenge.

Partitioning the yellow is a good start. I would expect to leave them separated where they can see each other for at least a few days. I have a smaller tank (6ft 120g) and didn't mix Zebrasoma's but I did have 4 tangs at one point. To deal with the aggression I used an acclimation box (which your divider effectively is) and a plastic locker mirror. I used an algae clip to attach the mirror to the side of the tank for around a week. They focused their attention on the mirror instead of each other until they got used to each other.

Not sure if that will work in this case because I was dealing with 4 different tang types which is easier but you may want to give it a try.

Thanks, I tried the mirror trick earlier before the divider but the Yellow Tang was just too focused on the Purple Tang, maybe the mirror wasn't large enough.

 

[Brew12]

Thanks, I tried the mirror trick earlier before the divider but the Yellow Tang was just too focused on the Purple Tang, maybe the mirror wasn't large enough.

It could be that they are just too closely related. I'm not sure I've seen anyone successfully keep a yellow and purple tang together in anything under 180g. Maybe even the 240g+ range.

 

[AlexDm]

It could be that they are just too closely related. I'm not sure I've seen anyone successfully keep a yellow and purple tang together in anything under 180g. Maybe even the 240g+ range.

Really my friend has them together in just a bit larger tank, but he put them in together at the same time

 

[Brew12]

Really my friend has them together in just a bit larger tank, but he put them in together at the same time

Every fish is definitely different and adding them at the same time would help. I know a few people who have both a Flame Angel and Coral Beauty and I loved the combination. I added them at the same time and the Flame almost killed the CB before I could pull it out. Some fish are just more tolerant than others.

Maybe we can get @4FordFamily to weigh in and offer some advice.

 

[4FordFamily]

I kept a trio of them in a 75 for a few years until they outgrew it -- but this is not ideal and I don't recommend that.

This article on tang aggression may be helpful here. I have little to add, although I will say in time zebrasoma tend to tolerate each other and let bygones be bygones. If you were trying this with powder blue and another similar acanthurus tang, you would find that the powder blue is likely to never let up until it kills the other fish.

Removing the aggressor for a week or a few weeks at a time to let another tang establish may also help.

Here's the article, you may find it quite useful, perhaps not.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

 

[TbyZ]

My yellow tang harassed a flame angel I introduced to my tank. Only lasted a day or two.

Did the same thing when I added a copperband.

Everythings fine now.