Is it Safe?

[ben jammin]

Sorry for the obscure Marathon Man reference, but I'd like some opinions. I have a 260 with an established yellow, hippo, powder blue and tomini tang. I have a new purple tang in a large acclimation box (which I made myself since no one seems to sell them big enough for tangs to spend any time in).

The purple has been in there only a couple days but the other tangs seem to be ignoring it. I know there will be battles when I eventually release it into the general population. Since nothing seems to be getting sorted out from the safety of the box, and the purple clearly wants to roam free, I'm thinking I should go ahead and release him tonight after feeding.

Any reason I should leave him in there longer if there's no visible conflict? I had originally planned on longer but I just don't know if it will accomplish anything.

 

[golferbud101691]

After feeding is a good idea like you said. Even if it does get ugly..a 260 has plenty of room for the victim to hide though. Go ahead and let that PT out of the box. If it gets beat up really bad..you could always trap the bully. Add/move a few rocks around to reestablish dominance..should help things out.

 

[Triton_Z]

Lights out are also a good time to introduce a new fish. I've had some good success with this method.

 

[ben jammin]

He's free.

Ten minutes in and it hasn't been that bad. The yellow tang hasn't been too interested. Just now starting to follow him around a bit. The tomini tang is the biggest aggressor. He went after him right from the start, but nothing bad, just some chasing. The hippo has shown some interest but mostly is just tailing him. The powder blue has probably been the least interested. Most of the chasing i am seeing is pretty half-hearted compared to what these tangs have done to some other fish I've introduced. Hopefully it stays that way. Lights will go out soon and that should settle everyone down a bit.

 

[deleau]

Sounds like it may be fine, but you could always try the "tape a mirror to the tank" trick to distract the aggressor(s).

 

[Dmorty217]

after feeding is a good idea like you said. Even if it does get ugly..a 260 has plenty of room for the victim to hide though. Go ahead and let that pt out of the box. If it gets beat up really bad..you could always trap the bully. Add/move a few rocks around to reestablish dominance..should help things out.

lights out are also a good time to introduce a new fish. I've had some good success with this method.

+2

 

[ben jammin]

As of this morning, the yellow had finally taken an interest and was following/chasing the purple pretty regularly, with an occasional attempt at slashing, but nothing real bad. I suspect they will work things out within the next day or two. If so, it will turn out to have been a much easier adjustment than I feared. It might even embolden me to add that blonde naso and desjardinii I've been contemplating... B-)