Adding tangs to tank first?

[Ryan15236]

I have a 125 gallon tank I am setting up as a reef. I am also buying a complete package 90 gallon from a guy to use the equipment on my tank and resell what I don't need. Anyways he has a blue tang, yellow tang, and two clowns with it and I want to add fish like that too my tank anyways would it be ok to go ahead and QT this guys and then add them to the tank? Or will this cause to many problems in the future with stocking?

 

[snorvich]

A P. hepatus needs a much larger tank. Those two tangs should be added, ideally to a mature tank but over and above that, they are highly territorial once established and will make additions difficult at best.

 

[Dmorty217]

A P. hepatus needs a much larger tank. Those two tangs should be added, ideally to a mature tank but over and above that, they are highly territorial once established and will make additions difficult at best.

+1 and adding a tang first will cause you problems with every fish you add after

 

[Ryan15236]

Alright I guess they will go to the LFS for some in store credit for coral

 

[CHSUB]

with the exception of a kole tang, i have never had a problem adding fish to established tangs: assuming not additional tangs, however. i have always felt returning fish to the LFS is just flipping a coin with their life? imo, two tangs in a 125 would be fine. i would give them a good home rather than dump them at the LFS and hope someone with a 40 g doesn't buy them!

 

[Ryan15236]

I have always thought that too if they don't meet their demise at the LFS. I don't purchase fish from there unless freshwater fish even then iffy, would hate to send 4 healthy fish that would go from a 90 gallon to a 125 so it would be an upgrade

 

[microlady]

I personally would keep them. The yellow will be fine, and maybe you could find a home for the blue tang with another responsible hobbyist down the road if it gets too big. Just don't add more big fish and don't build the rock work up so much so they will have swimming space. Good luck!

 

[microlady]

And I've observed that tangs usually ignore new additions with the exception of other tangs (of course), and maybe angels.

 

[drunkenclown]

Don't have much experience but bad idea

I have 6ft 125 after a tank crash I tried adding a purple tang, blonde naso, white cheek and two spot bristle tooth all juvenile 1"-2" against everyone's advice without quarantining them. One of them had a disease and all my fish except the purple tang, blonde naso and one yellow tail blue damsel died. it's been a nightmare trying to add any fish without all out brawls

I've only been able to add very aggressive fish a gold bar maroon a purple dotty back, a purple stripe dotty back I was also able to sneak in a yellow watchman with the clown before the dotty backs

Lost several fish in the process even with quarantine and getting ready to capture some fish n start over just my experience hope this helps you make your decision

 

[ca1ore]

125 is too small for a hippo unless viewed as a temporary tank (though OP does not say how large the tangs are). Hippo is an inherently neurotic fish, and can go psycho on you if cramped. Yellow can be very aggressive. Best advice is probably to sell them. Tangs will save most of their vitriol for other tangs (particularly those in their own genus), but can be tough on any new fish. Unless you plan to do a nice long QT to get any subsequent additions well conditioned, even a bit of aggression is enough to do in a new fish.