Aggressive tang

SaltwaterDan

New member
Yesterday I added a powder brown tang to my 225 gallon reef display from my quarantine and almost immediately my Tomini Tang started being aggressive with it. I also have a mimic and sailfin tang in this tank and they are all cool together and the latter two seem fine with the pbt. Should I expect this aggression will pass? I hate to tear the display apart to catch the tomini and I appreciate its algae cleaning ways, but I much prefer the pbt, if I have to choose, and I don't want him to spend all its time hiding or getting bullied.
 
I had a Tomini at one time. He was an ***-hat to the other fish after his addition. When I had to tear down my 220 for the move, he went to a new home.
 
Thanks for the responses! I tried the mirror and it has been four days today, but the bullying continues. In fact the Tomini seems to have increased aggression towards all his tankmates now. So tomorrow I will be tearing the tank apart, as little as possible, to catch and trade him in at the lfs.
 
If you like to keep the Tomini as well, you might try a few other things:

If you have a large enough sump or another tank, you can keep the Tomini in there for a week or so. Once the PBT seems like he's adjusted, then reintroduce the Tonini.

Also make sure you feed in different areas and feed well. Maybe two or three different algae clips at the same time.

There are a few YouTuber's out there that have videos on keeping multiple tangs. Might Glenn some knowledge from them too.

Good luck!



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You might not need to tear tank down to catch him. Maybe try making a trap out of lighting grid and tie wraps. Put a clip with Nori in there. He'll probably come right in.
 
Pulled apart my reef this evening to catch the tomini who had gone bizerk killing my mimic tang and terrorizing my foxface and powder brown. My reef is trashed to say the least! Lots of frag pieces! Threw the Tomini in the sump on the return side and what happens...he gets himself sucked into my magdrive pump. Amazingly he lived, but the experience pulled the eyes right out of his head. I feel so bad!
Then when the tank is finally back together my son points out that the powder brown has spots on him. Will have to tear the tank apart again to return him to quarentine.
Sometimes I wonder why I stay in the hobby!
 
Hang in there. Powder blues are ich magnets. What makes this hobby rewarding is when you struggle and overcome. You'll get your reef back the way you want it. All great things require great perseverance.
Keep us posted.
 
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