4 Tangs question

[Northside Reef]

I want to add four tangs to my 280

I have picked out

Powder Blue
Sailfin (Desjardini)
Atlantic Blue (Acanthurus coeruleus)
and a Purple.

Here is my problem/question. My goal is to grow the 4 from pretty small to full grown and so far the tank has a sailfin about the size of a silver dollar, an Atlantic Blue about the size of a quarter, and a Powder Blue about 2.5" long. He's king of the tank ATM.

I am having a really hard time finding a small Purple Tang. (less than 2"). I have one about 3.5" in QT but I am having a real hard time pulling the trigger on this fish. I think it is going to be a disaster if I add him to the main My fear is I will upset the balance in the 280 since right now there is no aggression at all amongst the current tangs other than half hearted attempts to chase the atlantic blue by the Sailfin. The Powder Blue just swims around and begs for food whenever he sees me. He is actually my biggest concern, I am afraid I will stress him with the larger purple.

I am looking for some experience here from some of the other multiple tang keepers. Do I find a new home for the tang in QT and keep looking for a smaller one? Or is it going to be safe (as safe as having four tangs in one tank can be) to add him some night when the lights are out?

 

[o2manyfish]

I got an email a couple of days ago that there is a shipment with almost 200 small purple tangs arriving in LA on either the 9th or 12th. Talk to your LFS and perhaps they can get you a smaller one from one of the Los Angeles wholesalers.

Good Luck

Dave B

 

[neoyhng]

If the other 3 have settled down I am pretty sure that you actually need a bigger one or else the new one will be bullied to death, especially the powder blue which can be extremely mean. I have 5 in my 300 (2 achilles, hippo, purple and chervo) for 1 year now and although one of the achilles is the biggest because it was the last addition it had been suffered from bullying for quiet a period.

 

[RayL]

I would say that if the three tangs are already comfortable in the tank and the fact that its a decent size tank with a lot of room, that you would probably be better off adding the purple tang you have. Not often does the new comer become a bully, it is normally the existing fish that bully the new fish. With the purple tang a little bigger then all the others, he should be able to defend him self pretty well.

 

[Northside Reef]

Thanks guys, I will feel a lot better about adding him. And I don't have to find a new one . I will let you know how it goes.

 

[footballdude2k3]

I would say that if the three tangs are already comfortable in the tank and the fact that its a decent size tank with a lot of room, that you would probably be better off adding the purple tang you have. Not often does the new comer become a bully, it is normally the existing fish that bully the new fish. With the purple tang a little bigger then all the others, he should be able to defend him self pretty well.

Great advice up in here

 

[Northside Reef]

If the other 3 have settled down I am pretty sure that you actually need a bigger one or else the new one will be bullied to death, especially the powder blue which can be extremely mean. I have 5 in my 300 (2 achilles, hippo, purple and chervo) for 1 year now and although one of the achilles is the biggest because it was the last addition it had been suffered from bullying for quiet a period.

I would say that if the three tangs are already comfortable in the tank and the fact that its a decent size tank with a lot of room, that you would probably be better off adding the purple tang you have. Not often does the new comer become a bully, it is normally the existing fish that bully the new fish. With the purple tang a little bigger then all the others, he should be able to defend him self pretty well.

Spot on advice guys, thank you both, the purple was added late last night and sure enough even with the lights out the Powder Blue saw him and felt he needed to bully him a little. I see a couple battle wounds on both of them but everyone is swimming together and there are only minor flare ups between the blue and the purple but overall the worst is over and I am watching them both pick at the same rock as if they do not even see each other.

Other than the occasional drive by "flash" of their fins balance seems to be restored.

Also it turns out the purple is pretty much the same size as the blue. He looks a bit bigger but it's mostly just his fins.

I am looking forward to these guys growing up together.

 

[RayL]

I wish you the best of luck with them, Both are very beautiful fish

 

[Northside Reef]

Thought I would update this post with a recent pic of all 4 tangs.

 

[Rea17]

That's a very beautiful group of tangs! Good job with them!

 

[wowkingjames]

Nice piture, let see the entire tanks I bet it awesome!!!!

 

[Northside Reef]

the tank is still pretty young so not so awesome.. Maybe one day.

 

[roenicknewf]

Gee ,wish my tank was not so awesome too..
Tank looks great !
Love the purple tang ,,i lost mine last year ..He was roughly 16 years old

 

[Northside Reef]

Gee ,wish my tank was not so awesome too..
Tank looks great !
Love the purple tang ,,i lost mine last year ..He was roughly 16 years old

Thanks but it's a new tank lol so it is going to look good. we'll see if I can keep it that way, and if my crazy build works over time or not. The purple is the new king of the tank. He figured out he does not have to take crap from the PB and put an end to it. now everyone gets along pretty well. still the occasional charge and dart into the rocks. But I hope my plan to grow these guys up together works out.