Yellow Tang with Purple Tang?

[ASIN28]

Hey all,
So I currently have a 3-4 inch yellow in my 120G right now I really want to add a purple also. The purple tang I’m looking at in the fish store is a baby 1-1.5 inches max. What do you guys think will be the outcome? Do you think the little guy will slide under the radar, or am I turning my tank into the UFC?
Thanks any comments, concerns, experiences, appreciated!

 

[zukihara]

Pretty iffy. Ya never know, but could be a huge waste of money and a dead fish.

 

[Ray the pathologist]

have a 6" purple tang for 3 1/2 years - put in 3 months ago 4" yellow tang using the mirror method for a week - all was well until yesterday - purple started harassing the yellow - I had to go work a 12 hour hospital shift and couldn't seperate them - by the time I got home the yellow was dead .

 

[Campy10]

I had the same situation. Had a 2-3 inch yellow and added at smaller purple. The yellow and purple are fine. I have a larger blue that will chase the purple some times but the purple manages the situation fine. I have 180g tank.

 

[ASIN28]

I had the same situation. Had a 2-3 inch yellow and added at smaller purple. The yellow and purple are fine. I have a larger blue that will chase the purple some times but the purple manages the situation fine. I have 180g tank.

Good to hear. Did the yellow show aggression to the purple at all?

 

[ASIN28]

I had the same situation. Had a 2-3 inch yellow and added at smaller purple. The yellow and purple are fine. I have a larger blue that will chase the purple some times but the purple manages the situation fine. I have 180g tank.

The purple I’m potentially going to add is a baby very tiny so I feel like the yellow wouldn’t bother him

 

[DrMMI]

I have both living peacefully together, but I've got a 7ft 260g tank. I've added several tangs without any issues until my powder blue died. I tried to add a new one and my yellow wasn't having it. He killed it before I got home from work. Best bet is to use an acclimation box for a few days, followed by the mirror trick if necessary.

 

[prdubois]

I have both and they are fine with each other

 

[VJM 21]

Hey all,
So I currently have a 3-4 inch yellow in my 120G right now I really want to add a purple also. The purple tang I’m looking at in the fish store is a baby 1-1.5 inches max. What do you guys think will be the outcome? Do you think the little guy will slide under the radar, or am I turning my tank into the UFC?
Thanks any comments, concerns, experiences, appreciated!

The established yellow is very likely to kill the newly added purple. You’re better off adding two new zebrasoma tangs at once. The other option would be to temporarily remove the yellow so that the purple can establish some territory. Regardless, people will probably tell you that 3 tangs is too many for a 120, especially if it’s a 4 foot tank.

 

[ASIN28]

The established yellow is very likely to kill the newly added purple. You’re better off adding two new zebrasoma tangs at once. The other option would be to temporarily remove the yellow so that the purple can establish some territory. Regardless, people will probably tell you that 3 tangs is too many for a 120, especially if it’s a 4 foot tank.

It’s 5 ft but still not trying to overload it. On the fence of what to do it’s a chance I’m taking

 

[G Santana]

They were put into the tank together 4 months ago, they squabble all the time but it is more posturing than to inflict damage. The purple is larger and definitely the tank boss. 130 gallon tank

 

[mehaffydr]

A 120 is not that big do you really want to do this, Yes there will be people that say they have both and their fine but there are also plenty of deaths. Most likely one fish will end up dead. Maybe not immediately because of the size of the purple but eventually one will most likely get killed.
This attitude that some have that what the heck I might as well try its only money just baffles me its not only money its the life of the fish.

 

[ASIN28]

A 120 is not that big do you really want to do this, Yes there will be people that say they have both and their fine but there are also plenty of deaths. Most likely one fish will end up dead. Maybe not immediately because of the size of the purple but eventually one will most likely get killed.
This attitude that some have that what the heck I might as well try its only money just baffles me its not only money its the life of the fish.

I’m not into creating chaos in my tank, nor will I attempt it if I feel that one is really going to die because I’m not looking to kill fish for being selfish. Hence why I wanted to get everyone’s opinion on here. I’m not worried about money, I’m more concerned about the fish

 

[mehaffydr]

I’m not into creating chaos in my tank, nor will I attempt it if I feel that one is really going to die because I’m not looking to kill fish for being selfish. Hence why I wanted to get everyone’s opinion on here. I’m not worried about money, I’m more concerned about the fish

Thank You for having the right attitude. if and when you get a bigger tank maybe 250gal or more mixing tangs like this is reasonable but with a 120 just not a good idea. I was not trying to imply that you do not care that was more pointed at those saying "sure it works" just because every now and then someone mixes these fish and they don't kill each other.

 

[CanuckReefer]

Might be UFC, maybe not....similar I would think, with my two pygmy Angel's... I tried an Eibli Angel with my Coral Beauty established.....that was a rough first two days for Eibli. Now the best of friends oddly. I was ready to pull the Eibli day 3, and......it somehow was sorted, but I still keep a trained eye on them. 90 gallon, and have a YT, 17 years. It is boss...

 

[ca1ore]

No way to know. Fish are individuals too, some more aggressive than others. That Pete down the street was able to do it without any problems has no predictive value to whether you will succeed. Maybe yes, maybe no. I was able to add a yellow some years ago to a tank with a resident purple .... no major problems. Tried then to add a similar sized gem .... major problems. Purple and yellow certainly aren’t ‘friends’ but they coexist. 120 gallon tanks is a bit tight, more space helps.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 6 yellow and added a purple about 6 weeks ago and no issues

 

[Oldreefer44]

I have both in a 180. The yellow is dominant and chases the purple around some days and not others. I would give your chances of success at about 1 in 5 at best. IMO, the purple being small makes it worse as it will be easier for the yellow to kill it.

 

[ASIN28]

I have both in a 180. The yellow is dominant and chases the purple around some days and not others. I would give your chances of success at about 1 in 5 at best. IMO, the purple being small makes it worse as it will be easier for the yellow to kill it.

dang. I thought opposite that if I go smaller the yellow wouldn’t feel as threatened as a full size one.. Interesting

 

[OrionN]

120 gal is likely a little small and the yellow is too large and too set in his territory for this two tangs. In cases like this I like to add the second one that is as large or slightly larger rather than smaller.
If you really want to do this, I would remove the Yellow for a few months so that the purple are comfortable them re add the yellow.
Another way to get a purple and a yellow in a 120 is to trade the yellow for a smaller yellow, about the same size as the purple and add them at the same time.