Achilles Tang

[rcmania]

Well, its about that time now. My 220 reef tank has been up and running for a year. My main reason for a tank this size was to purchase the Achilles tang.

My current live stock is
Pair of true percs
3 yellow tangs
mimic tang
lawnmower blenny
wrasse
chromis
manderin

My only concern is the mimic tang. He isnt fully grown, about juvenile size (4 to 5 inches). Now due to my QT only being 65 gallon I was going to get a Juvenile Achilles. I planned on getting a hippo with him and QT both fish at once and introducing both fish into the DT, after 6 weeks; when lights go out.

He isnt very aggressive, in fact one of my yellow tangs is more aggressive than the mimic. And dont get me started on the female clown. She will draw blood.


thoughts, concerns and suggestions?

Thanks

 

[pinnatus]

That is a lot of tangs even in a 220.

Achilles are extremely active. In the wild they live where the waves smash on the coral, so they constantly bob and weave to avoid getting smashed. That is why they need a large tank. Hippos also need a lot of space, they get pretty big. Yellows can be very territorial and can be royal pains, especially when introducing new fish. I agree that the mimic is probably the least aggressive tang you have.

I am not saying that you can't do it, but you may have some problems, especially when first introducing the newcomers, and again later when they get some size to them. Achilles will become very aggressive once established.

I should also point out that tangs in general and Achilles in particular are ich magnets. Be prepared to battle the ich, hopefully in QT.

 

[rcmania]

Thanks for the feedback. I should add I dont have a ton of rock. The way I have my aquascape leaves plenty of room on the back side of the rocks and the front side (purposely done for this fish). There are plenty of caves and openings in the reef to swim thru and or around. These two tangs I just mentioned are the last of the tangs going in.

 

[pinnatus]

Be prepared for the aggression that will happen when you add the newcomers to the tank. Also be prepared to rehome someone if it doesn't work out.

 

[rcmania]

Yea I think I'll end up buying a trap also. Don't think I'll be able to net one. I'm afraid it will be the one yellow tang. The other two are fine and just mind there own. But that one yt even tries to bully the mimic. However the mimic doesn't let the shenanigans bother him.

 

[jda]

Get it eating out of the trap while it is in QT. This is the only way that I feed them in QT and after a while, the fish will race past my hand as I am putting some mysis or other frozen treat in the back of the trap.

 

[ca1ore]

I'd plan on QT for quite a bit longer than 6 weeks! I had my Achilles in QT for over 4 months, in a 30L, so I doubt your 65 will be any kind of problem. My experience with AT is that it can take quite along time to get them weaned onto prepared foods, so a nice long QT is a golden opportunity to get them ready for the DT.

 

[Dmorty217]

Too many tangs for 220g to live out in. Like Ca1ore said QT longer than 6 wks more like 8 wks

 

[Holsteiner]

I would definitely watch the aggression with all of those tangs. I QT'd my guy for about 10 weeks or so when I got him. 3 years later he's an almost 8" monster and I love him! Good luck!

 

[rcmania]

Well I have him!!

Well I have him!!

Kind of, He is still at the fish store but he is mine. Healthy juvenile that is eating great. I had to break my QT down and set it back up again so I asked my store to hold onto him until its ready. Which it is ready now but wanted to be on the safe side. Ill bring him home Wed. Here are some pictures of him. He is a little camera shy.

 

[Dmorty217]

With that tear drop fully developed by the tail I would say that's a adult. Congrats on the snag either way, they are a conversation piece of any tank

 

[rcmania]

Thank you, he was ordered as large juvenile. He is about 4 to 5 inches long.

 

[jedi58]

I have a 3" achilles coming out of quarantine this week and have a mimic as the only tang so far in my 200... I will let you know how it goes but I also have a 2.5" vlamingi in QT with him so it may be a different dynamic than just introducing 1 tang. The vlamingi and achilles are best buds and will work together to demolish whatever food is put in the tank. Also, I have gotten the mimic used to playing in my fish trap in the big tank so if need be I can pull him for a day or two, toss him in the QT tank and then reintroduce.

 

[Stevenliu9]

how's the achilles doing with the chevron? looking forward to see them all in the main DT

 

[small alien]

My favorite tang. That looks like a beautiful specimen. Good luck.

 

[Iowafisher]

to me you might have one two many yellow tangs. but that isn't that bad as most of the time yellows just hang by the rocks. I have had a lot more tangs than that in my 180 at one time. only problem I had was from a powder blue towards a powder brown.

 

[jedi58]

Added the achilles and vlamingi in with the mimic. Had about 5 minutes of posturing with nobody backing down and then they all started grazing. So far so good. I think your yellows may create more issue than the mimic.

 

[DavidinGA]

Fwiw for those saying you have too many tangs... I have a 210gal and have 10 tangs in it (so far) and don't have any issues (yet).

Powder blue
Clown tang
Desjardini
Blonde naso
Hippo
Kole
3 yellows
Dussumieri

 

[SammyL]

Fwiw for those saying you have too many tangs... I have a 210gal and have 10 tangs in it (so far) and don't have any issues (yet).

Powder blue
Clown tang
Desjardini
Blonde naso
Hippo
Kole
3 yellows
Dussumieri

Which one is our favorite?

 

[DavidinGA]

Which one is our favorite?

Looks?
Tossup between the powder blue and clown tang


Personality?
Dussumieri (will probably win in the looks department as well once he gets his adult colors)