Multiple yellow tangs

[Turbo snail]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to fill up my 150 (72-28-18) gallon reef tank with some movement as it's looking pretty barren at the moment. Current fish stock is 2 percula clowns, 1 pink spotted shrimp goby, 1 flame angel, a canary blenny, a small yellow headed jawfish, and a lantern basslet. I'm hoping to buy a trio of yellow tangs to really help fill in the look of the tank and add some much-needed color and movement. Is the tank large enough to keep a group without infighting or should I just get one and look at some other fish to help fill in the aquarium?

Thanks a ton!!

 

[fishmanstan]

One yellow tang. Multiples need HUGE systems to coexist in. There are LOADS of fish that could also work.

 

[sbeason]

I have three yellow tangs in my 210rr. No issues since they were all put in at the same time. They wont have any issues with your current stock list either. I have mine with a queen angel, two clowns, and an orange shoulder tang. No issues whatsoever.

-Steve

 

[Vince272992]

i would do one or two and two would still be prett bad but it may work, one should fill up the tank just fine tho, if you dont think so then maybe do group of chromis or anthies along with one yellow tank, that would look real nice...

 

[sea of cortez]

I have 3 In my 125 and a 6" blue tang (Bought as a 2"). They all get a long fine. I think the trick is keeping them well fed, they are all fat fish.

There is 1 yellow that is the head honcho of the yellows and its not the biggest one.

 

[BigOldReef]

When I had my 72x24x30 FO I kept lots of tangs contently. You should have no problem starting out with 3 small ones in that size tank.

 

[MrTuskfish]

3 YTs usually work, just two seldom does. Also, I don't think you can change the behavior of aggressive fish by feeding it well. Aggressive fish aren't hungry, they're just aggressive.

 

[phk36]

you just never know . I had three yellows in a 180 all were on the larger side , three went to one

 

[fishmanstan]

My yellow tang has ZERO aggression. Nori apparently reduces aggression also.

 

[Gogandantess]

Why stick to 3 common yellow tangs when there's plenty of prettier cooler tangs to choose from?

 

[BrianD]

3 YTs usually work, just two seldom does. Also, I don't think you can change the behavior of aggressive fish by feeding it well. Aggressive fish aren't hungry, they're just aggressive.

Yes

 

[Turbo snail]

Hello again everyone and thanks for the helpful responses!! after reading everyone's comments I think I'm going to go for it. The tank is pretty empty livestock-wise and I have lots of live rock to obstruct the fish's view of each other if aggression starts occurring.

Gogandantess -- I always hear people say that yellow tangs are so common and that I should go for prettier fish, but I think I follow a different logic. I've been in the hobby about 4 years and my old yellow tang (lost to a tank move) was the favorite fish I have ever owned. Sure, there are prettier tangs, but many of them come in colors that I can get in LPS and SPS any time I want. Bright Yellow corals on the other hand are almost nonexistent. The way I see it, no matter what I fill my tank with, the yellows will pop out in contrast to literally everything else I have stocked. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Ambition]

Tank isn't big enough for more than one. As they grow each will need a larger territory, which isn't going to work long term in a 150. They may be fine with each other while they are small, but when they get larger they will likely turn on each other. I have seen a few threads here about people's YTs turning on each other after time has passed.

 

[fishmanstan]

tank isn't big enough for more than one. As they grow each will need a larger territory, which isn't going to work long term in a 150. They may be fine with each other while they are small, but when they get larger they will likely turn on each other. I have seen a few threads here about people's yts turning on each other after time has passed.

+1

 

[geaux xman]

If you like 3 YT's, just get it. If you do have to end up re-homing one, its not the end of the world. YT are slow grower and doesnt typical get all that big in the home aquarium.

My LFS main DT has about 5-6 in a 150g. They look very nice in multiples. I cant attest to how well they get along as I'm not there the entire day. I dont see any issues when I'm there visiting though.

 

[BrianD]

Anyone can make decisions based on what they "want". The original poster is asking for advice, not someone to tell him to "do it" because he wants to.

As for the rest of that post, I think it can be judged on its own merits.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Nori apparently reduces aggression also.

Maybe, if its laced with Valium.

 

[sea of cortez]

All I know is when I run out of nori I notice more aggression among the Tangs (Mostly out of the Blue Regal he or she even starts chasing the angles around). When they are feed their daliy fix of nori I dont notice the aggression.