125g: Help me choose my first tangs ever

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Yonp11

Member
I'm upgrading to a 125g tank soon, and looking to purchase my first ever tangs. I'm looking for suggestions for my tank size and getting along with my current fish. I will upgrade again and want to get a few more tangs within a couple of years, so temperment with other tangs is a consideration also. I currently have:

2 ocellaris clownfish
1 starry blenny
1 bangaai cardinal
4 lyretail anthias
1 pintail wrasse

Looking at the sticky post above, my options are:

Powder blue: I'm reading alot of people saying this recommendation is wrong, a powder blue won't be happy in 125g??

Kole/Chevron - Read some experiences of the kole and starry blenny possibly killing each other due to color similarity?

Yellow
Purple - Between yellow and purple what would you recommend? Temperment differences?

Also, is there only room in this tank for 1 of these tangs? Or can I get a smaller tang like a kole or other bristletooth + a yellow or purple? Could something like a purple tang + Foxface work in this size?

Thanks!
 
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I would only do 2 of the smaller tangs. IMO, no powder blue and yes I have experienced my Kole killing my Lawnmower Blenny. I would maybe recommend the Tomini. If that was my tank I would do a Tomini Tang and a Lemonpeel/Chocolate Mimic Tang.
 
If it was me I would rather add something else than a tang.
A pair of rabbit fish (eg. Fox-Face) would work for algae control if that's the point.
Otherwise I'd rather add some of the smaller large angels or a group of dwarf angels (the latter may be risky with SPS).
 
I think a yellow tang and a kole tang would match up fine. Kole tangs and yellow tangs are supposed to do ok in 4' aquariums. I am assuming that you have to 6' 125 gallon.
 
A friend of mine just ordered in a white tail tang, looks to be a nice fish and your also getting somthing a bit different.
Yellows are nice, purples can get a bit aggressive and powder blue's need the room as they "just keep swimming" even more than dory.
 
scooter31707 said:
I would only do 2 of the smaller tangs. IMO, no powder blue and yes I have experienced my Kole killing my Lawnmower Blenny. I would maybe recommend the Tomini. If that was my tank I would do a Tomini Tang and a Lemonpeel/Chocolate Mimic Tang.
Click to expand...

I sadly have had the same experience with C. truncatus (squaretail bristletooth) and my LMB, They are food competitors IMO. I would also second the Chocolate mimic, one of my favorite tangs.
 
Awesome guys, thanks for all the recommendations! As expected, lots of differing opinion. I'm thinking this:

Powder blue - Out. Tank would be too small.
Kole/White tail - Out. Possible aggression issues with my starry blenny.
Chocolate Mimic - I hadn't even considered this and it looks like it would do nicely in this tank. Seems like a less aggressive tang as well, so I'd have less problems when I get a bigger tank and add more tangs in the future?
Foxface One Spot - looks good. Doesn't require as much space as other foxfaces or tangs.
Chevron - Awesome fish, super pricey. I've seen them in stores here at $200+. Hesitant to drop that much for my first experience with surgeonfish.
Yellow/Purple - Purple looks awesome, but same thinking as the Chevron, not wanting to drop $$$$$ with no experience to fall back on. Yellows are affordable and seem to be very forgiving as far as this type of fish goes.

I think I have my heart set on finding a chocolate mimic + Foxface One spot duo. I haven't seen a mimic in stores around here so I have some time to change my mind. Anyone see any problems with this duo in this tank for aggression or space? Thanks!
 
Not bad, but you may run into the problem of the mimic tang being a little aggressive with the Foxface, due to the same color (mimics juvenile colors) and same eating habits. I recommend adding the Foxface first or add them at the same time. If you really want a Purple Tang, PM me and I can give you a source for a nice price and good quality fish.
 
Good call, I'll work on sourcing both the foxface and the mimic at the same time and go from there to avoid aggression
 
I'd rule out the chevron. They lose those awesome juvenile colors as they mature and get quite large. Now that you say that your 125 is a 4 footer, I'd reconsider a tang.

Mines a 6 footer and the Tomini flys from one end to the other in no time.

I've never had tangs in anything less than a 6ft tank.
 
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I recommend the purple over the yellow also however the women seem to prefer the yellow! So depends who is looking! lololol Both the Purple and Yellow can fight like
Mahamad Ali !!!! I would never have a tank without the Yellow Eye Kole..when I first got in hobby they did not impress me now they are one of my faves..just the way they act in the tank is awesome. Powder Blue is a risky fish but gorgeous and nothing scraps very strong only second to a sohal tang in fighting... a Desjardini Tang is excellent but will outgrow the tank... Ideally one tang or two tangs would be enough for the tank...they really prefer 6ft+ If it was one tang I agree that the purple is the most beautiful fish for that size tank...orrr you could go JUSSSST a powder blue nothing else but..again it is a risky fish...stunning but prone to ick if not happy...I have had incredible luck with them but I really really pamper my fish...they eat better then many humans embarrassed to say. I agree that one or two tangs is ideal for that tank...personally I push the envelope when it comes to fish population but I have had excellent results with fish...I do not recommend anyone else do it. Yellows and purples together , although gorrrrgeous, is risky as they same body shape and may scrap..I seen two scrap so bad one
time it is where I learned the power of the yellow and purples.. NOTTT good fish to keep together in a 125 very very risky....

Tim
 
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