Attitude adjustmnet for Tang Tank

[slow_leak]

I have been putting together a reef tank after 8 years of lost growth.

I am quarantining tangs in a tank and introducing them every 3-4 weeks into a tank that was empty of fish for 5 weeks. I have no issue with disease or parasite. My fish though are just nasty.

First fish was a naso from another tank as he was almost killed originally He is healthy and active and eats well. Second fish was a juvenille yellow eye kole tang. They were instant buddies and juvy looked like an adapted kid following him around all day.

Yellow tank from Q-tank was introduced and he was instantly mauled or molested. Even the tiny Kole Tang got in the act. I took him out and put him back into Q-tank after a few hours. He share with last and final Atlantic blue. They are Ok together.

I think my only option to maintain the peace is put Naso in attached 60 gallon refugium. He is 6" and introduce Yellow and atlantic blue at same time in 2-3 weeks. I don't think the 2-3" yellow eye would go after both or read fear from both.

I then plan to put Naso back after a month alone to see if he loses dominance. That will be only fish in tank. Yellow eye is excellent form alage so far as books suggest.

Any other suggestions to keeping these fish together. I may give up on Naso if it is problematic and move permanently and have 3 tangs in a a180

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Tangs are aggressive. Come to terms with it!

Sorry to be blunt, but this is not something you can "take out" of the fish.

 

[slow_leak]

Yeah that was blunt and unhelpful

I guess I'll clarify by saying does order of addition of fish matter as a prevention to mauling. I've had tangs coexist Ok before.

 

[Kieth71]

One thing you can do in addition to the order you put them in the tank is to take some egg crate and divide your display tank in two.Keep the new additions to one side so they can visually aclimate to each other and usually they will get used to each other without being able to hurt each other.

 

[slow_leak]

maybe that would be OK.

I do suspect a territorial dominance issue based on order of addition. They are good observers and read fear and weakness well.

I think atlantic blue and yellow will go back and Naso will will go back to another tank. I think 3 in a 180 may be a practical limit. On the plus side they are expressive and can at least imagine they are glad to see me when other fish are just little predictable pigs.

 

[snorvich]

Tang aggression is progressive over time. While order of introduction can help, as they grow and feel that their environment is progressively inadequate (remember they compete for food), they will become more aggressive. What sized tank are they going into?

 

[slow_leak]

180 tank

Yes I have found it helpful to have one that is obviously dominant by size int the past

 

[slow_leak]

I've also had some luck with diffusing aggression by having darting fish be chased into very large staghorns. A tang would spend his time relocating pesky chromis, though I no longer want to keep them. I feel like a prison guard trying to prevent fights in the yard, when in the end they are going to shank each other anyway. (I watch TV)

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Sorry, you found my post "unhelpful". But based on title of this thread, and what I percieved you asking, Im still not sure you understand my point. Tangs are aggressive. Plain and simple. Particularly to new introductions, particularly to other tangs as new introductions. That si something that cannot be "erased" by introduction order, dither fish, or otherwise. As Snorvich mentioned, this aggression will not subside eventually. As these fish grow, amture, and become more competitive for space, food, or aotherwise, you shoudl expect it to increase, particularly in a 180 (which a naso will easily outgrow). You will need to accept it, and either weather the storm of aggression, or remove some fish from the collection plan.

Good luck.

 

[slow_leak]

I'm just joking around

I know Naso is in a temp tank. I have a 300 Naso can go seriously though.

Yeah your likely right. i was thinking 3 in 180 is the limit. I intend to have functional yellow eye cole, yellow and atlantic blue.. I lucked out with Atlantic so far. I am going with film eating algae fish instead of plankavores.