Purple and Achilles tangs together?

cnguyenl

Member
I have had the achilles in my tank for a while now. He's happy with my other 2 tangs (yellow & hippo). I came across a good deal on the Purple tang and would like to add it to my tank. I read somewhere that the Achilles should be the last tang added. So now if I want to add the Purple, would I need to take out the Achilles then add him back later? How long before he can go back in?
 
I have large rocks so moving them around would be difficult. I'm not sure if I can even take out the Achilles without messing up the tank :)
 
How big is your tank?

Yellow & purple tangs are the same genus and often hate each other. The bigger the tank, the better the odds.
 
I wouldn't do it, a 120 isn't big enough for an adult Achilles regardless so adding another tang will only worsen the situation I feel. On another note the yellow and purple will most likely fight to the death. Four tangs in a 120 is asking for trouble IMO.
 
not adviced.

but if you REALLY want to do it, then you need to put the purple through social acclimation. put it in a box or seperate the tank, till others get used to it.

I personally would remove the yellow and put the purple in, they are mean, and anchilles needs to be the boss, so make sure its smaller than the achilles.

I have a purple and a achilles in my SPS reef together, but introduced together as well

hth,
 
IMO & IME; you already have an over-supply of tangs. A 120 is simply too small for an adult hippo or Achilles. Three adult tangs in a 120 is way-over-doing it and four will almost certainly be a real nightmare. I wouldn't expect the truce your tangs have now will last as they mature; possible, but doubtful. Cramped quarters and semi aggressive, large fish don't mix. I think if you added a purple now, the yellow would be instantly in attack mode. The little mirror or rock rearranging tricks you may read about won't work long-term. ; you simply don't have enough room. I not only would skip the purple, I'd find a new home for the Hippo. I doubt anyone will talk you out of the Achilles, but I think his home is really too small. (LA suggests 180 gals as minimum for either the hippo or achilles).
 
Biggest mistake I ever did is when I got a large purple tang from a friend and it kills my beloved Achilles :(
 
I had a purple tang in my tank and than was able to add a borbonius anthia that i was searching for for about a year... The anthia is very calm and shy and added the anthia right with lights out and everything and the purple tang went straight for him for 2 days before I pulled it and said bye bye buddy! Shame it was a gorgeous fish!
 
Purple Tangs are Viscous fish with other tangs!! I have a 220 and have tried over 3 yellows, bigger than the Purple, and the Purple rips it to shreds... I did try the Achilles, and the Purple was ok with him.....
 
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