Powder Blue Tang and Purple Tang?

[Mcbeezus]

Im a couple weeks away from being able to put fish in my 125 gallon. Can anyone tell me if a purple and powder blue would be able to be together? From what i read they are both aggressive fish.

 

[sanchoy]

no and yes.. If you place them together with other fish.. they might spread the hate around until one establishes dominance. If either is already established or if they are the only 2 in the tank.. one will stress the other out until succumbing to death.

 

[vaporized]

They are totally different species of tangs. Therefore, they "should" get along. They look nothing alike and IMO should work in your tank. I have a yellow, a powder blue, and a blonde naso tang and they do not scrap ever. I tried a school of yellows and it ended in disaster. Now if you were trying a yellow and a purple tang, that would be entirely different. Granted, keep in mind there is no guarantee of anything with marine fish.

 

[reefergeorge]

They should be fine, unless you get an evil one. My purple is a sissy, but others say they are dominant.

 

[betamed]

I've had these two for a few years. The get along OK. lately the purple has been asserting itself a bit. Its a 285g and I do have a regal as well.

I would add them at the same time. smaller specimens might be better

 

[scchase]

I think in this case the size of the tank is more important. I do not think they will get along in that small of an aquarium long term. I do have them together in my 480 and they mostly ignore one another but your mileage may vary.

 

[Below Radar]

I have 2 Acanthurus, achilles and powder blue. 2 zebrasoma, both chevrons...way different size. 1 paracanthurus, regal tang that is small and everyone gets along fine in my 170. I would say yes but I would also put them in at the same time, that's what I did with the achilles and PB. If that doesn't work, try splitting them up with eggcrate for a few weeks. This is how a fellow local reefer added his second achilles to his 180.

 

[Gogandantess]

Both are agressive. I had to get rid of my purple due to being too mean. It may or may not work. Good luck!

 

[anbosu]

I think in this case the size of the tank is more important. I do not think they will get along in that small of an aquarium long term. I do have them together in my 480 and they mostly ignore one another but your mileage may vary.

I agree, it might work in a 125 but it's definitely on the lower end of where I woudl feel comfortable recommending it.

 

[MrTuskfish]

50-50. A real "its the individual fish" question that just doesn't have an answer. Personally, I think a 125 is a little small, but I've seen (and done) worse.

 

[Below Radar]

I meant to say I have 2 Ctenochaetus, both chevrons. I have no zebrasomas

 

[cfredallen]

I have a Vlamingi, Naso, Yellow, Purple, Atlantic Blue, Hippo, Orange Shoulder and a Sailfin all in the same 265G Reef and no issues. They were all put in at the same time though. the yellow and the sailfin will fromm time to time show a little agression to the othere but even that s rare. Not sayong everyone can have that same mix with no issues.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I have a Vlamingi, Naso, Yellow, Purple, Atlantic Blue, Hippo, Orange Shoulder and a Sailfin all in the same 265G Reef and no issues. They were all put in at the same time though. the yellow and the sailfin will fromm time to time show a little agression to the othere but even that s rare. Not sayong everyone can have that same mix with no issues.

You've hit the key to multiple tangs of the Zebrasoma genus; have more than two. The purple, Sailfin and Yellow are all members of this genus and generally hate each other. But 3+ often works well, assuming they have room. Its common to see a LFS tank with several YT+s-, but never just two. (Yes, there are exceptions to everything.)

 

[Mcbeezus]

Well we will see...I might take the risk. I have two clowns and a hawkfish in my current 30 gallon system. Will there be a problem with my current fish and the two tangs?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Well we will see...I might take the risk. I have two clowns and a hawkfish in my current 30 gallon system. Will there be a problem with my current fish and the two tangs?

Shouldn't be.

 

[reef kid96]

In my lfs's display tank which is also a 125 gallon tank he had a purple tang and powder blue tang and they were best friends following each other around the tank so i believe you should be fine as long as you add the 2 at the same time

 

[cfredallen]

In my lfs's display tank which is also a 125 gallon tank he had a purple tang and powder blue tang and they were best friends following each other around the tank so i believe you should be fine as long as you add the 2 at the same time

Agree. Key to multiple tangs is adding them at the same time.

 

[Wind Seeker]

I have a yellow, clown, powder, naso and sailfin....no issue. PB is such a baby. Clown could care less about the others. It is so individual fish dependent. No hard rules in this, just guidelines and rules of thumb. However, if one ignores them, your risk of failure goes up....maybe a lot.