I have a 350 gallon reef tank that has been up and running for about 6 months now. I currently have 3 yellow tangs, 1 blue tang, and 1 blonde naso tang inhabiting it and I'm looking for 1 more tang. I like Powder Blue tangs, Purple tangs, Blue Caribbean tangs, and Orange Shoulder tangs. I'm aware of some of the ich and aggression issues associated with PB tangs and that it's probably not a great idea to add the purple now that the yellows have established their territories and pecking order... Can anyone share their experiences with these fish? I haven't seen a lot of testimonials about the Orange Shoulder or Caribbean tangs, so any info specific to them would be much appreciated!
Last Tang Addition
- Thread starter lindfozs
- Start date
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
First I would caution you that ich has nothing to do with PBT, any fish can get it if not properly QTed. If you get the purple you should try and catch the three yellows and reacclimated them all together while also moving some rock around in the DT. I have a orange shoulder currently and love that fish. Always eager to greet me for food and is always watching what I'm doing when in the same room as the tank. The OS will get big but so will the naso you currently have. Feed lots of nori
When adding a new tang I have a plastic like turtle or lizard tank from the pet shop that I drilled 1/4 holes on bottom and all sides of for circulation. Lots of holes. That goes in the display with pvc cut that is just large enough for the new tang to hide in. The new tang goes into this and go into the pvc and hide undisturbed. It can come out and see and be seen by all the other fish when it wants to. This is where it stays till fish pay no aggressive attention to it and maybe a day or two longer than that. Feed it well and it is all ready used to the water. When ready let the fish out after lights are off and remove plastic tank. This has worked well for me good luck.
As far as tangs go the nasos, blonde nasos, and orange shoulder tangs have not had any aggressiveness even if adding another one like it. The by far largest is my mata tang and long as they move out of his way when he flys around their fine. Meanest tangs I have had are yellows and the scopas was so mean do not keep a scopas any more.
Thanks dmorty. I realize that pbt are not the only fish that gets ich... I've just come across a lot of comments that they seem to be more susceptible than others. The new addition will go through quarantine though so it should be healthy when going into the display... I guess the biggest concern for me is the aggression. How do pbt and blue tangs do together given how passive the blues are? I don't see them housed together that often.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
PBT do get ich a lot but then again so do a lot of other fish. The PBT and a Blue could be housed together provided you put the blue in first and let it get settled in and then I would get a small PBT and you should be fine. Anything that you add after that may get attacked by the PBT
