I am adding a second tang to a friends Reef Tank (125g standard) for him. He currently has a Kole Tang and bought a Tomini Tang to add. When the Tomini was added, the Kole Tang made it his mission to kill the Tomini. We were able to catch the Kole Tang and temporarily place it in a QT setup he has. This was yesterday. The Tomini Tang is healing his cut fin and few scrapes, but for the most part is happily swimming around, grading and eating free floating nori. My question is how long until I return the Kole Tang to the DT? How long will it take for him to forget his old territory? I want to wait long enough for him to forget but not too long that the Tomini Tang becomes territorial. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Adding new tang, temp removing old one. How long?
- Thread starter fredro
- Start date
CedzAquAddictio
New member
Hmmm. You are walking a tightrope here. Two very similar tangs in the same tank. As you already pointed out, you don't want to keep the old one out so long that the new one becomes territorial, but chances are that they will squabble for at least a little while being so similar.
Not sure if it's an option, but if I were in your shoes, I'd look at removing them both, re-arranging the rock-work, and then add them both back at the same time after a time-out period...
Not sure if it's an option, but if I were in your shoes, I'd look at removing them both, re-arranging the rock-work, and then add them both back at the same time after a time-out period...
CedzAquAddictio
New member
I was afraid of that. I can relate. Coral that have grown from one rock to another. Picking the right lighting for them, etc, etc, etc...
One thing that has worked for me in the past is to set up the QT tank directly next to the DT. This will give the fish a chance to see each other and get over the fact that the other exists before they share the same tank. Also, an acclimation box may be in order when introduced. The mirror trick has worked for me in the past as well...
Kind of far fetched, but another thing I've done is added a few other small fish at the same time that I've added a new tang. Spreads out the initial aggression to some degree...
One thing that has worked for me in the past is to set up the QT tank directly next to the DT. This will give the fish a chance to see each other and get over the fact that the other exists before they share the same tank. Also, an acclimation box may be in order when introduced. The mirror trick has worked for me in the past as well...
Kind of far fetched, but another thing I've done is added a few other small fish at the same time that I've added a new tang. Spreads out the initial aggression to some degree...
Sapelo
New member
I've HEARD six weeks tossed around as a time frame for "resetting" territory.
A couple other things would include redoing rock work and trying a mirror on the side of the tank to distract the aggressor.
Having said all of that, I tend to agree that your chances for success may be small. Good luck!
A couple other things would include redoing rock work and trying a mirror on the side of the tank to distract the aggressor.
Having said all of that, I tend to agree that your chances for success may be small. Good luck!
Adding new tang, temp removing old one. How long?
What do you mean by "resetting" territory? The new tang is in the display tank, but in no way is it comfortable and acting like it is in anyway sure of its territory. My hopes are that the tang I removed will forget about its original territory after spending a few days in the quarantine tank.
What do you mean by "resetting" territory? The new tang is in the display tank, but in no way is it comfortable and acting like it is in anyway sure of its territory. My hopes are that the tang I removed will forget about its original territory after spending a few days in the quarantine tank.
