New Kole Tang With Bristle Tooth in the Thank. Help!

[ryanlala]

Ive had my 120 up and running for a month and a half or so. A few weeks ago i went out and bought a bristle tooth tang (tomini tang) he has been peacefull and even very social since i put him in the tank. He is 3-4" in size. Last night i brought home a 2-3" kole tang and the bristle tooth went nuts. He started to hunt down the new kole biting, trashing, and chasing him around the tank. I immediately fed the tank very heavly, which seemed to halt the agression but only for a minute or two. My next reaction was to turn out the light. After doing that the bristle tooth went to his sleeping hole for about 5 minutes. Then once again the fight was on. After letting this go on for 5 minutes or so i decided to take some action. the kole tang was laying againt my overflow with signs of exhaustion. I then removed the bristle tooth and put him in my sump for a little time out so the new kole would have a chance of survival. So with the light back on i decided to feed the tank again, and the kole finally showed signs of improvment. The bristle tooth is still in my 40g sump, and i am going to add him back to the main tank this evening. What can i do to make sure the war dosnt start again?

 

[flamron]

Both are from the Ctenochaetus family, so aggression is to be expected. When adding tangs into tanks, it is typically better to add them at the same time, especially when they are from the same genus.

Your best bet would be to return one and then select a different genus of tang.

HTH,

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Or in my experience, add'l fishes to be added should be larger than the ones already established in the tank.

 

[ryanlala]

Well guys thanks for the info. Sorry its tanken me awhile to repost, just been a little busy. When i got home that night the bristle tooth tank had been in "time out" for about 24 hours. I rearranged some of the rock work and placed him back in the tank. He than swam around as if he were just put into a new system. He saw the kole tang and didnt even bother with him. Now after 4 days they swim around together as if they were best buddies and havent had an issue since.