Is it common for an achilles tang to get along with a yellow tang?

[psimitry]

I remember reading somewhere that Achilles tangs don't like to get along with other tangs/surgeons in anything less than a HUGE tank.

I'd like to drop in a yellow tang, but I don't know if it would get along with my achilles tang in my 120G.

 

[tin can sailor]

If the Yellow Tang is the last occupant and a little smaller, it may be okay.

 

[vanillagorila]

when I added a yellow tang in with my achilles it disrupted everything, the achilles and the yellow don't fight but now the achilles attacks my chevron tang. (who he got along with fine before.)

 

[psimitry]

I'm just trying to decide what to do with the final "slot" in my tank. I was kicking around either a small yellow tank or a small sailfin tang.

Yes, I know the sailfin WILL get very large, but I plan on upgrading my tank in the next year (am saving for it right now).

 

[dmorel]

I remember reading somewhere that Achilles tangs don't like to get along with other tangs/surgeons in anything less than a HUGE tank.

They don't even really get along with them in a HUGE tank, it's just that they don't run into them as much

Most Achilles are pretty darn aggressive particularly when it comes to other tangs. They also can be pretty finicky, so I would be concerned about upsetting the balance of things with another tang. The one thing you have going for you is that the body types of a yellow and an achilles are pretty different which *might* help a bit. If you are committed to a much larger tank within a year a tiny sailfin might work, but your achilles if aggressive towards him could severely disrupt him, even kill. Personally I've had a PBT and a sailfin in the same tank and they got along well, though the sailfin was small and the PBT was the last fish introduced which makes it easier.

It's a tough call. How about a gobie instead?
hth,
-dm

 

[psimitry]

Tried a carpenter's flasher wrasse... my four-line didn't appreciate it. I knew that wrasses could clash, but I figured that a four-line was different enough compared to a carpenter's flasher. Apparently I was wrong. I think I'm pretty much SOL as far as new fish.

 

[vanmle]

I think you should just give me your achilles so you can have a yellow and maybe a blue tang also in there.

That would work out great.

 

[kirkaz]

Achilles can be very very aggressive toward any new fish, particularly toward other Tangs. I had one in a 6 foot tank for several years, I tried to add a Yellow, he killed it. The tang that worked was a Naso, the Achilles roughed up the larger Naso for a few days, but after that they were fine together for 4+ years. Definately don't try to do another Acanthurus Tang. I know someone that tried to add a much larger Spot Face Tang with an established Achilles in an 8 foot tank, the Achilles killed it...Pity, one semi-rare Tang killing another semi-rare Tang.

 

[Toplis]

Achilles Tang

Achilles Tang

We have 180

Achilles Tang, Yellow Eye Tang and Naso Tang along with fox face, pair sea bay clowns, Midas blenny, Hawkfish, orchid dotty back, two neon gobies, copperband and solarensis wrasse...everyone lives in harmony...the Achilles is the more aggressive...he took a little heat from yellow eye and female clown...but, he toughed it out...and Achilles gave copper band fits for several days... will not be adding any more TANGS

 

[vincent92]

Will buy your Achilles and give you my blue tang if you'd like

 

[tcamos]

They don't even really get along with them in a HUGE tank, it's just that they don't run into them as much

:lolspin: That's funny.
But true and it also depends on the particular fish, they do have "personality" too.
I have 4 tangs that get along and was really afraid to get the purple with the yellow but they are best friends. Took a week or so to work it out but they did. That's no promise that this is always the case either...

That goby might look awefully good if the tang doesn't work out.

 

[Holsteiner]

I had a purple tang in my 6ft tank before for almost 2 years before I added my achilles. Everything was fine with those two so I wanted to add a naso, bad idea! I have now learned I will never be able to add any fish to the tank...he'll even try to kill wrasses or clowns. I would advise adding an achilles last to any tank.