Introducing Tang Order

[Gtownguy487]

Alright so i currently have 2 small tangs that are juveniles.. 1 Lavender and 1 Hippo.. I have currently bought 3 more tangs Powder Blue, Lemon Peel, and Blonde Naso. The Naso and Powder Blue were shipped together and have shown no aggression towards each other so I was going to introduce them at the very last since they are the more aggressive tangs of them all....I was told to introduce the Lemon Peel in first and the others a day or 2 after words however the Lavender is nipping at the Lemon Peel and I can see on the fins where its getting him. I pulled the Lemon Peel back out and decided it post to figure out how i should introduce them since I was told in correctly..
Can someone please tell me how I should introduce these Tangs.

Long story short---
DT has Hippo and Lavender.. Wanting to introduce Lemon Peel, Powder Blue, and Blonde Naso that are currently in QT


Please help..

 

[TampaReefer79]

First of all...the naso is not an aggressive tang. Second, how is the mimic tang getting picked on by the lavender if the lavender is in the dt and the mimic is in the qt?? The powder blue should be added last to answer your question. Other than that, it doesn't matter if the naso goes before or after the mimic. I honestly think you should qt all 3 tangs if possible without stressing them out. (as long as you have proper room to qt 3 tangs) How big are all of the tangs? The naso will outgrow your tank...and it looks like you have quite a bit of fish in a 210. I hope you have great filtration and have a mature system...and aren't a newbie. These tangs you're adding aren't for the johnny come lately novice to be attempting...especially the pbt.

 

[thor32766]

Once again agree with Tampareefer. The PBT should be last thats for sure. Make sure and have plenty of nori and romaine readily available to helpe keep the aggression down. One last thing I think helps ease into the situation is having the lights off for like a day after introduction.

 

[Gtownguy487]

I introduced the Mimic 2 days ago and the lavender chased it around the tank and nipped its top fin and now the mimic has some small nips on upper fin.. I pulled the mimic back out and put it back in the qt thus the lavender and hippo only ones in the dt as of right now

If i introduced the mimic, naso, and powder blue at the same time would the lavender not be so aggressive u think?

im so confused on why the lavender is picking on the mimic

 

[Gtownguy487]

Bump pls help...

 

[TampaReefer79]

How long was the mimic tang in the display tank before you pulled it? I hate to say it, but qt'ing is pretty much pointless now, other than to observe the new fish. Any disease that the mimic may have been carrying (ich etc) could now have made it to your display. I'd add the mimic tang, then the naso, and then the pbt.

 

[anbosu]

I introduced the Mimic 2 days ago and the lavender chased it around the tank and nipped its top fin and now the mimic has some small nips on upper fin.. I pulled the mimic back out and put it back in the qt thus the lavender and hippo only ones in the dt as of right now

If i introduced the mimic, naso, and powder blue at the same time would the lavender not be so aggressive u think?

im so confused on why the lavender is picking on the mimic

They are both Acantharus (sp) tangs, so it makes sense. You are probably going to have problems when you have the Lavendar, Mimic, and PBT in the display tank as well, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't stop.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

IME all tangs in at once--them seeing all the others minimizes one tang from being harrassed by all the others.

ONLY time I didn't was when I added my sohal who was much smaller than the other tangs, but they all knew (including a large yellow, purple, and pbt) not to mess with him. He's now twice their size:lol2:

 

[Fishfirst]

how big are each of the fish?

 

[Gtownguy487]

I have pulled all the tangs out and put them in tank by them self.. I will introduce all the tangs to the DT at same time.. they are all juveniles at about 4-6 inches.. Maybe introducing all at same time they will be less aggressive with each other..?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Are you just mistaking normal 'pecking order" stuff for aggression? With these fish, there is going to be some nipping & chasing, but if it isn't non-stop & bloodless---let it go. Some of this behavior is normal in any tank when fish are added. The PBT, as mentioned above, should become the Alpha fish and introduced last. The natural re-establishing of the hierarchy will happen again at that time. Also; if the fish in QT haven't done their full sentence, the mimic shouldn't be returned until he does a full 30 days--or whatever you are using for a complete QT period.

 

[Gtownguy487]

thanks for all your guy's help...
The powder blue tang is the smallest fish i have thus far.. half the size of the other tangs.. I have been told by 3 local fish stores to introduce all at same time however ive also been told to introduce them in a certain order.. im just trying to decide which way is the best possible way..

Also they are in QT because its the only other tank i have to keep them together until i introduce them all at the same time or in an order... i see no aggression while they are in a 29 gallon tank at this time

 

[Gtownguy487]

Are you just mistaking normal 'pecking order" stuff for aggression? With these fish, there is going to be some nipping & chasing, but if it isn't non-stop & bloodless---let it go. Some of this behavior is normal in any tank when fish are added. The PBT, as mentioned above, should become the Alpha fish and introduced last. The natural re-establishing of the hierarchy will happen again at that time. Also; if the fish in QT haven't done their full sentence, the mimic shouldn't be returned until he does a full 30 days--or whatever you are using for a complete QT period.

When ur saying their full sentence with the qt do you mean that before reintroducing the tang to the tank 30 days must pass? I see many people in this thread get confused on why im using the QT.. QT is the only tank i have and it separates my tangs from the DT.. is only reason i use it at this time.... I had the lavender in DT and when i added the mimic "lemon peel" the lavender nipped continuously at the back top half of the lavender's fin.. thus pulling out both of them and putting them in the QT to determine what everyone in here agrees what the best possible way to introduce the tangs..

Still see no signs of aggression in the QT at this time..

Fish inside QT:

Naso
Lemon Peel
Powder Blue
Lavender

 

[TampaReefer79]

When ur saying their full sentence with the qt do you mean that before reintroducing the tang to the tank 30 days must pass? I see many people in this thread get confused on why im using the QT.. QT is the only tank i have and it separates my tangs from the DT.. is only reason i use it at this time.... I had the lavender in DT and when i added the mimic "lemon peel" the lavender nipped continuously at the back top half of the lavender's fin.. thus pulling out both of them and putting them in the QT to determine what everyone in here agrees what the best possible way to introduce the tangs..

Still see no signs of aggression in the QT at this time..

Fish inside QT:

Naso
Lemon Peel
Powder Blue
Lavender

You have a naso, lavender, pbt, and mimic tang in a 29 gallon qt tank? Your qt tank is not big enough to qt any of them singly, let alone as a group. I'd get them all into your display rather than chance stress and disease in such a small tank. I know a lot of people say they don't have 'space' or 'extra tanks' to qt big fish...but I don't get why they try to qt them in tiny tanks. I have a separate 125 gallon tank in the garage just for qt...not saying I'm the greateast reefer ever, just saying that when you deal with big fish, you should be prepared. A 29 gallon tank with 4 tangs in it isn't going to cut it for a full qt period.

 

[jaa1456]

You have a naso, lavender, pbt, and mimic tang in a 29 gallon qt tank? Your qt tank is not big enough to qt any of them singly, let alone as a group. I'd get them all into your display rather than chance stress and disease in such a small tank. I know a lot of people say they don't have 'space' or 'extra tanks' to qt big fish...but I don't get why they try to qt them in tiny tanks. I have a separate 125 gallon tank in the garage just for qt...not saying I'm the greateast reefer ever, just saying that when you deal with big fish, you should be prepared. A 29 gallon tank with 4 tangs in it isn't going to cut it for a full qt period.

I agree 100%, and also all of the tangs should have been introduced at the same time. Any tank I have ever set-up, I added all the tangs at once to the system, and they were always the last fish to go in. In my 265, which had the most tangs in it out of any of my tanks, I had 3 in there. A sailfin(largest tang), purple and a small PBT

 

[MrTuskfish]

I agree 100%, and also all of the tangs should have been introduced at the same time. Any tank I have ever set-up, I added all the tangs at once to the system, and they were always the last fish to go in. In my 265, which had the most tangs in it out of any of my tanks, I had 3 in there. A sailfin(largest tang), purple and a small PBT

I agree, if that is possible. But its hard to get all your fish at once. That brings back the other side of what's going on---QT. I would never introduce any fish (especially tangs) into one of my DTs without a full QT regimen. Having a QT large enough to handle a group of tangs, even very small ones) isn't possible for most folks. IMO&IME; QT should always be priority #1. If there is an aggression problem, a time out in the QT will usually help.
I don't want to sound overly-pessimistic; but I would be ready for serious trouble. All these tangs, no QT, constant stress (cramped space, moving, etc), etc., a real recipe for an ich outbreak.