2 more yellow tangs to an existing one?

[LinkinReef]

I want to try to get move "yellow" in my tank as I currently have one yellow tang and I'm thinking of adding 2 more. My plan is to introduce both of them at the same time, keeps the lights off for maybe a day or two and at the same time I want to re-aquascape the tank a little bit to reduce any territorial aggression.

My current livestock consists of:

Yellow tang, Desjardini sailfin, Midas blenny, 3 lyrtail anthias, carpenter wrasse, firefish and a yellow goby.

Currently both tangs in the tank get along very well because they were both introduced at the same time when they were very little (about 2" each one).

Any thoughts on adding two more yellow tangs? The two new ones will be in a 29g QT cube for about a month or so first.

 

[milspec]

It is risky to do that. Yellow tangs are very aggressive toward tangs that are also yellow. If you can catch the one and sell it, you will have a better chance of it working. It still my not work unless all the tangs you get are healthy. If one is sick the others will kill it. Then the two remaining ones will start to fight one may die as a result. make sure they are all healthy and all added at once.

I had a 180 with one yellow and three purple tangs for a few years.
The yellow was already in the tank for a year before I added the three purple tangs at once.
It probably would have not gone as well if I added three more yellow tangs or just one purple tang.

Good luck.

 

[nonstopfishies]

This is a dangerous move IMO. Adding 2 more Zebrasoma's to 2 existing ones.
How big are the one's that are currently in the tank?
How big are the one's going in?
I agree that getting the one currently in the tank out before introducing the other 2 is a good idea. If you could even pull the yellow while changing the aquascape and keeping it in a separate tank for a week would help considerably. You could then introduce all 3 at the same time.

Without taking the existing yellow out, I don't think you will be successful. I think you will have a tough time being successful long term even if you get them all in together. If you had an 8 foot or longer tank I would be more likely to say it would work.

 

[Wolverine]

I agree with those above, in that size tank, you're potentially asking for war if you add more tangs.

 

[geaux xman]

my LFS has 6 YT(med size) in a 180g for a few months now. no problems thus far.

YT goes for about 40 bucks. i say if you really want them, get a pair and QT them to your methods and strategically add them. If it does work out, you can try other methods. If it still doesnt work out, you can always have them rehome.

The only thing you could lose is some time and effort. If it works out long term, you will have a lot of pleasure having your livestock just the way you want it. Sometimes you gotta go against the grain a little bit.

Theres quite a few guys in the Large Tanks section with mutltiple YT's.

he has 11 in a 220g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88EWBQn-IPo

 

[nonstopfishies]

my LFS has 6 YT(med size) in a 180g for a few months now. no problems thus far.

YT goes for about 40 bucks. i say if you really want them, get a pair and QT them to your methods and strategically add them. If it does work out, you can try other methods. If it still doesnt work out, you can always have them rehome.

The only thing you could lose is some time and effort. If it works out long term, you will have a lot of pleasure having your livestock just the way you want it. Sometimes you gotta go against the grain a little bit.

Theres quite a few guys in the Large Tanks section with mutltiple YT's.

The Yellow Tangs at your LFS were most likely put in together or a bunch at a time added to the others. The ones that have been there longer haven't been there very long. Also, there is most likely little to no decor(territory) to fight over.

The thing you could lose, and probably will, that you failed to mention is the Yellow Tangs themselves.

 

[LinkinReef]

Wow, that is a lot of yellow tangs!

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I'm going to try and catch the one in the tank and then re-introduce them all together. Or I might just not add any more tangs. I don't like the "war" scenario going on in my tank.

Any suggestions on other bright yellow fish that I could add to my tank?

 

[NeverlosT]

I have a 90 and have a yellow tang, an achilles tang, and a kole tang, and they get along great (minimal rockwork, lots of swimming space). That being said, any time that there is a tiff, it is the yellow tang who usually starts it.

You sound like a responsible reefkeeper. Do what you think will work best. It sounds to me like catching your current YT, moving things around, then introducing all of them at once will give you the best chances. In my experience, the only time they get really territorial is when they are trying to find nooks to sleep in (they have their favorites). So make sure that you provide plenty of hiding spots so that they have their pick.

you have a pretty big tank without a ton of fish in it. Just feed well and keep a close eye on the fishies health.

Other cool yellow fish, well you already have a midas blenny. Maybe a lemonpeel angel? or maybe a mimic tang (i think those are yellow sometimes).

Cheers

 

[Wolverine]

my LFS has 6 YT(med size) in a 180g for a few months now. no problems thus far.

In 5 or 6 years let us know if they've had success with that.

 

[29reef]

In 5 or 6 years let us know if they've had success with that.

This is very true. While I've had some success with keeping several groups of the same tang species in the past; as soon as they hit that "mature" age they would almost always seem to pair and get rid of any extra fish.

Three yellow tangs in a 210 will only work for so long. Why not introduce a harem of yellow coris wrasses? You can easily keep a male with several females. The males face looks fantastic when they are adults.

There are other yellow fish that would work long term as well.

 

[LinkinReef]

I have a 90 and have a yellow tang, an achilles tang, and a kole tang, and they get along great (minimal rockwork, lots of swimming space). That being said, any time that there is a tiff, it is the yellow tang who usually starts it.

You sound like a responsible reefkeeper. Do what you think will work best. It sounds to me like catching your current YT, moving things around, then introducing all of them at once will give you the best chances. In my experience, the only time they get really territorial is when they are trying to find nooks to sleep in (they have their favorites). So make sure that you provide plenty of hiding spots so that they have their pick.

you have a pretty big tank without a ton of fish in it. Just feed well and keep a close eye on the fishies health.

Other cool yellow fish, well you already have a midas blenny. Maybe a lemonpeel angel? or maybe a mimic tang (i think those are yellow sometimes).

Cheers

Would the yellow tang be aggressive towards the mimic tang as well?

This is very true. While I've had some success with keeping several groups of the same tang species in the past; as soon as they hit that "mature" age they would almost always seem to pair and get rid of any extra fish.

Three yellow tangs in a 210 will only work for so long. Why not introduce a harem of yellow coris wrasses? You can easily keep a male with several females. The males face looks fantastic when they are adults.

There are other yellow fish that would work long term as well.

I was on live aquaria and just checked about the coris wrasses, they say reef compatible with caution " It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. It may also eat parasites off of tank mates." I have one blood shrimp and 2 skunk shrimps, would they be in danger with the wrasses?

 

[Wolverine]

Would the yellow tang be aggressive towards the mimic tang as well?

Probably.

I was on live aquaria and just checked about the coris wrasses, they say reef compatible with caution " It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. It may also eat parasites off of tank mates." I have one blood shrimp and 2 skunk shrimps, would they be in danger with the wrasses?

If they're fairly large, they should be OK. If they're still pretty small, then they could be in trouble. I've seen it go both ways.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Would the yellow tang be aggressive towards the mimic tang as well?



I was on live aquaria and just checked about the coris wrasses, they say reef compatible with caution " It will eat fireworms and pyramidellid snails, protecting corals and clams. In addition, it may eat feather dusters, wild shrimp, tubeworms, and flatworms. It may also eat parasites off of tank mates." I have one blood shrimp and 2 skunk shrimps, would they be in danger with the wrasses?

What does it mean by the coris wrasse "protecting corals and clams"?

 

[nonstopfishies]

What does it mean by the coris wrasse "protecting corals and clams"?

Pyramidellid snails will eat clams and often times kill them. The wrasse eats these and prevents them from causing damage.

 

[29reef]

Your shrimp should be safe. You almost always see small yellow coris wrasses for sale. If you choose to go with them, try and find a few with different size to them. The size different makes it easier for them to sort out who becomes the boss.

I've never had a problem with them killing shrimp but I rarely keep shrimp in my tank as it's mostly sps and interceptor will kill them.