Callling the tang police.

[Jason Donohoe]

I am looking for advice on adding a new fish to an existing tank. I have a 72 bowfront (5') with a softie reef.

It currently has 1 yellow tang (which I know some may argue the tank is too small for), 1 perc, 1 blue damsel and 1 royal gramma. There is also a mix of inverts for the clean up crew.

Could anyone suggest a mid-sized fish (or another tang?) which would be appropriate to add? The other fish have all been in the tank for about 1 year.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Sardaukar]

A Ctenochaetus tang like Tomini or Kole would be your best bet as they stay smaller and the resident yellow may take exception to further Zebrasoma tangs.

 

[Amoore311]

+1 to the above.


What kind of softies do you keep? A dwarf angel might be possible as well.

 

[tcmfish]

That is a 4 foot tank just so you know. I would stay away from another tang especially with a resident yellow tang.

I second the idea of a dwarf angel, and if you decide on this route I would go with a pair.

Another idea would be a butterflyfish. Some like the zoster or pyramid are reef safe. Some others like the tinker's, burgessi, declevis, mitriatus, muelleri, copperband, and others are reef safe with caution. The butterflyfish will probably get harassed by the yellow tang pretty good, so if you go this route I would keep the new addition sectioned off or in a kritter cage (commonly used to keep reptiles) for a while so the tang and new fish can see each other but can't fight. When the new fish is let loose it you can also turn the lights off for a couple days to ease aggression.

Another choice would be a marine betta, they aren't very active, but they are attractive The fact that they aren't active also bodes well for your size tank. It gives you the option to have another largish fish. IME, they are more peaceful and aren't the huge shrimp predator people think they are, but every fish is different.

 

[MrTuskfish]

A trio of easier Anthias: Bartletts, Dispar, Red Stripe, etc.

 

[SDguy]

Redstripes get too big. How about a fathead?

 

[Jason Donohoe]

Tom,

I stand corrected on the tank length, it is indeed 4'. I want to avoid any species that is a 'reef caution'. I have had the experience of trying to catch a fish in that tank a few years ago, not pretty. I had come to the same conclusion about the tang but was hoping someone would strongly disagree and suggest one that would be great.

I like your idea of a marine betta. I don't think I have every seen one at the LFS (had to look them up to know that was what your avatar picture was), are they rare? The description I found sounds like one would suit my tank perfectly. PC lighting (dimmer than MH) and an abundance of LR with lots of various sized caves. I would miss my cleaner shrimp though if he ended up as betta food....

Amoore,

The corals in the tank are cabbage and devil's hand leathers, neon green nepthea, mix of 'shrooms and some zoas. There is also a green BTA I didn't mention. As in my reply to Tom I want to avoid any fish that would be a caution and I thought all of the angelfish were in that cateogory (or worse!).


Thanks for the replies.

 

[tcmfish]

They are a common fish. The marine betta article in CORAL in my signature is about my pair that I spawned and Matt Wittenrich raised because I was leaving for home. I tried to feed that pair and another single fish shrimp that I caught locally and they would only go after the tiniest ones! It seems in most cases with fish like these and others like hawkfish, if you add the shrimp first it will be fine, but if you add the fish then the shrimp then its a toss up as to whether the shrimp will be a meal. I think you would be totally fine, and pictures don't do this fish justice at all.

 

[Jason Donohoe]

I have been reading a few online articles about bettas and one suggested they are hesitant to eat when there are more aggressive fish. The damsel and perc are pretty bold, not to mention the tang and that concerns me. What has been your experience?

 

[tcmfish]

They will get their food. But can be shy. The best food IME for them is chunks of raw shrimp from the seafood market or grocery store about the size of one of your finger nails. Already shelled. They will eat most meaty foods though, such as mysis.

 

[Jason Donohoe]

Thanks Tom, I think I will my eye out for one of these guys.

 

[tcmfish]

Its Tim but good luck, if you get one you will be happy. I forgot to mention they are extremely hardy too and rarely do the sucumb to disease. Many people have them live through many tank moves, and tank crashes and you should have no problems keeping one.

 

[Jason Donohoe]

Thanks again, TIM. I need to stop working nights, it's messing with my attention to detail.....

 

[lostintheocean]

a wrasse flame or something of a similar size

 

[lostintheocean]

a wrasse flame or something of a similar size
or a nive big goby