Powder brown tang: as bad as Powder blue?

[LobsterOfJustice]

I found a great deal on a 2-year established Powder Brown that is gorgeous. I have already made the decision to avoid a Powder Blue in my tank due to their aggression and space issues. Do the same issues hold for a powder brown? The fish will be in a 180 with one other tang, 2 angels and a butterfly and various small fish.

 

[powder blue boi]

im interested in this one too

 

[luckyk0505]

I think powder brown will do just fine in your tank and it is hard to pass up on

healthy powder brown.

 

[LKGRenegade22]

Not all PBT's are like that. I have had 3 and none have been aggressive. The one in my 180 now is between 5-6" and he does not bother anything. It's my purple and red sea sailfin that rule the roost.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Bump

 

[maroon2]

Ran into this one out of pure luck. Only had him in the dt for a few days but is eating well.

 

[cortegro]

Beautiful Fish!
Quick question,
What is the tank size he is in? and tank mates?

I have been debating a Powder Blue/Brown for a while now.

Thanks!

 

[Stuart60611]

+1. I am very serously considering geting this fish for my system also. As such, any information about it would be appreciated. Do you think it would be a good addition in the below system with the below tankmates?

 

[matt frizz]

Ran into this one out of pure luck. Only had him in the dt for a few days but is eating well.

That's actually not a true powder brown because of the red stripe and white face. That is a hardier Acanthurus japonicus or White-Faced Surgeon Fish. They look almost exactly a like.

True powder browns have a higher mortality rate.

 

[MarcB]

Looks like a Powder Brown to me, or at least what is generally sold as such. The other species I have seen has a much smaller white area on the face (A. nigricans).

Anyway, FWIW, my Powder Brown is great in my tank with a Yellow and two dwarf angels. Doesn't bother anyone. Only annoying habit is that she gnaws at any algae on the front glass before I can scrape it, leaving scratches in the acrylic.

 

[Recty]

I think it would depend on the other tang in your tank, what is it?

At the LFS here in town, they have a 600 gallon reef with quite a few large tangs and a somewhat smaller powder brown, maybe in the range of about 4 inches.

ANY new fish that get added get chased and harassed by the powder brown for days and it eventually settles down. I think the only reason the new fish live is the tank is so big and has so much rock they can hide.

Based off that, I wouldnt add a powder brown unless it was going to be my last fish. However, other people have different experiences, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[matt frizz]

Looks like a Powder Brown to me, or at least what is generally sold as such. The other species I have seen has a much smaller white area on the face (A. nigricans).

Anyway, FWIW, my Powder Brown is great in my tank with a Yellow and two dwarf angels. Doesn't bother anyone. Only annoying habit is that she gnaws at any algae on the front glass before I can scrape it, leaving scratches in the acrylic.

Correct that it is sold as a powder brown but it is not actually a powder brown. '

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/marine/tangs/japonicus.php

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm

*reasons why true powder browns are harder to keep and can bring parasites to an aquarium easily*


I also have a true powder brown and he's doing well thus far.