Yellow tang bully?

shark230 · Jul 4, 2023

I have a 5 inch yellow tang. Had it for 4 years in a 58 gallon tank. It is being stored at fish store until my 7 small recently bought fish get acclimated. Have a little chromis, 2 orange oscillaris, 3 flasher wrasse, and royal gramma. They are all still little.
Was planning to add my 5 inch tang to my new 90 gallon in next couple weeks. Will it be a bully to all of the other little fish?

Glenner’sreef · Jul 4, 2023

I bet you’re good as its a new tank and territory for your Tang.

Dansters · Jul 4, 2023

I think you’ll be fine. The tang won’t be used to the aqua scape while the other fish will have territories and will be fine. Just don’t change the aqua scape, so the other fish can get used to it.

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

shark230 said:
I have a 5 inch yellow tang. Had it for 4 years in a 58 gallon tank. It is being stored at fish store until my 7 small recently bought fish get acclimated. Have a little chromis, 2 orange oscillaris, 3 flasher wrasse, and royal gramma. They are all still little.
Was planning to add my 5 inch tang to my new 90 gallon in next couple weeks. Will it be a bully to all of the other little fish?

It might bully them, but being added last though be fine. My purple and yellow tangs run 6 foot tank and they dont care at all when I add new fish unless its another tang! My yellow bulled my foxface for a few minutes when I moved her from a smaller tank to the bigger one but they are fine now

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
It might bully them, but being added last though be fine. My purple and yellow tangs run 6 foot tank and they dont care at all when I add new fish unless its another tang! My yellow bulled my foxface for a few minutes when I moved her from a smaller tank to the bigger one but they are fine now

But based on tank size I wouldnt add any more tangs, they need a 6 foot tank minimum for more than one or they fight like crazy in my experience but your yellow should be fine as the only tang!

shark230 · Jul 4, 2023

Dansters said:
I think you’ll be fine. The tang won’t be used to the aqua scape while the other fish will have territories and will be fine. Just don’t change the aqua scape, so the other fish can get used to it.

Thank you

blaxsun · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
But based on tank size I wouldnt add any more tangs, they need a 6 foot tank minimum for more than one or they fight like crazy in my experience but your yellow should be fine as the only tang!

Especially not a purple one...

shark230 · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
But based on tank size I wouldnt add any more tangs, they need a 6 foot tank minimum for more than one or they fight like crazy in my experience but your yellow should be fine as the only tang!

Nope will add no more fish after the yellow tang

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

blaxsun said:
Especially not a purple one...

Haha yeah I love my purple tang! One of my favorite fish

DeniseAndy · Jul 4, 2023

My yellows are big babies and hide rather than bully. I think my Swallowtail Angel keeps them in line. It should be fine. None of those fish should be something they want to bother.

littlefoxx · Jul 4, 2023

littlefoxx said:
Haha yeah I love my purple tang! One of my favorite fish

Foxface would be a good fish to look at too. Peaceful

KrisReef · Jul 4, 2023

Because everyone agrees that it will be fine I have to disagree. It will be fine for the first couple of days and then it's gonna snap and start attacking everything else that moves.

Truth is we can only guess what kind of temperment your Yellow tang will display in the new set up. Was it housed with other fish in the 58? If it is used to being alone it may have some serious issue, or it may be happy to have some tank mates. Keep us posted, and good luck.

The good news is that you can probably resell that tang if it goes to the dark side.

Who knows where this will land.

shark230 · Jul 4, 2023

KrisReef said:
Because everyone agrees that it will be fine I have to disagree. It will be fine for the first couple of days and then it's gonna snap and start attacking everything else that moves.

Truth is we can only guess what kind of temperment your Yellow tang will display in the new set up. Was it housed with other fish in the 58? If it is used to being alone it may have some serious issue, or it may be happy to have some tank mates. Keep us posted, and good luck.

The good news is that you can probably resell that tang if it goes to the dark side.

Who knows where this will land.