I have the aquarium channel on my tv and sometimes I spend hours watching it. It's always the same aquarium and they have a Purple and Yellow tang in the aquarium. I always noticed the Purple's fins are usually pretty roughed up so I'm guessing the Yellow does a number on it once in a while. But otherwise they seem cool!
Purple And Yellow Tang compatibility
- Thread starter Breakbeats2334
- Start date
nsmith_mma
New member
Yes I am a psychic. I know what you're going to say next. You're going to say You're going to say that I'm not a psychic. Be impressed by my skills.
Dragon moray ki
New member
Listen to todd I wish I did on my first tank and on this one I am no matter what
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Color me not impressed.
nsmith_mma
New member
By my grammar or my psychic skills? Man trying to post messages on an iPhone is a pain.
aandfsoccr04
Active member
What if the OP was to put a powder brown tang and a chevron tang in the tank instead of the purple and yellow?
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
I wouldn't put an Acanthurus nigricans or an Acanthurus japonicus (( not sure which one you were referring to, have seen both called "powder brown" )) in a 4 foot tank. I tried it with an A. nigricans many many years ago. It worked for a while, and then it started to grow, became more aggressive, and started passing back and forth.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Funny how often "long-term'' (or any time reference) is omitted from many ''success" stories.
Chromey316
New member
Purple and Yellow In a 135 for Over a year now, NO issues at all, And they swim together all day long.
jason2459
Well-known member
For some long term is a couple months to a year. For others it is a lifetime. I think it's really funny that just last night was another post about an Angel going into I believe a 90g(?) and was told their tank was to small. No hubbub about it. No arguing. Just, ok thanks I wont do it. No one else chiming in that they had one in their 40g successfully with no issues. No one calling other people names which I wont even mention the names given to those that post in threads like this.
I some times don't think people realize how big even a full grown 6" fish is let alone one that gets to a foot plus. Regardless of breed even the most passive fish/animal can become aggressive and a killer in cramped quarters.
I some times don't think people realize how big even a full grown 6" fish is let alone one that gets to a foot plus. Regardless of breed even the most passive fish/animal can become aggressive and a killer in cramped quarters.
jason2459
Well-known member
I think things spiraled out of control with the 60cube multiple tangs post. I personally think this could work with proper acclimation with either of those in a 120 or a 135 with a lot of luck involved as well but that would really push the limits with the purple. I wouldn't do it as they are both pretty aggressive and the purple would get to big for my liking in that tank and would suggest against doing it to others. Never know when one day one of them will just snap. I had a mystery wrasse do that. Peaceful as can be. Got along with everyone. I kept being told how my Fairy wrasses were in danger. I didn't believe it saying they're doing great together totally ignoring each other. One day I get home and one of my clowns is dead, both fairies dead, damage on my blenny, and my mystery wrasse on the floor.
nsmith_mma
New member
Well the tangs in that cube have been there for over 2 years now. I'm just surprised by how defensive people get when you challenge their conventional wisdom. The point is it CAN work. Is it an exception to the rule? Sure, maybe. But it is not any less valid because of that. It's like when an algorithm no longer solves a problem in all cases. Mathematicians hate that because it breaks their grip of control and authority on the subject. I think a similar thing occurs in these cases. When there are exceptions, and I assure you there are, then everyone gets bent out of shape and tries to discredit the aquarist. I don't need to validate his credentials to you because I know him and they are valid to me. I merely mentioned them just so you wouldn't assume he was some reckless novice, although that appeal apparently failed anyway. So no this certainly didn't "spiral out of control" because of my post. My post details an experience that is an aberration and something most people can't accept for whatever reason.
Also, another aquarist I would consider an expert told me last night that he once successfully kept a 90 gallon tank for over 5 years that had 4 tangs including a PBT, a Purple, a Kole and a Desjardini Sailfin as well as 3 different Rabbitfish species. Would I advise this? No way lol. But again, it worked for him and he had no issues. I already told the OP to weigh the decision financially and ethically. But I don't think a couple tangs of the same genus in a 120 violates either variable. Be responsible, but know that you can always find exceptions and that they can work and be just as valid as the rules that advise against them.
Also, another aquarist I would consider an expert told me last night that he once successfully kept a 90 gallon tank for over 5 years that had 4 tangs including a PBT, a Purple, a Kole and a Desjardini Sailfin as well as 3 different Rabbitfish species. Would I advise this? No way lol. But again, it worked for him and he had no issues. I already told the OP to weigh the decision financially and ethically. But I don't think a couple tangs of the same genus in a 120 violates either variable. Be responsible, but know that you can always find exceptions and that they can work and be just as valid as the rules that advise against them.
sandwi54
New member
I'm trying not to sound offensive, but please pause and think about what your so-called "experts" are doing, and use some common sense. You're probably aware that a desjardini salfin tang would grow to at least a foot in captivity. Does it make sense that it be in a 90 gallon? It would barely have room to turn around. You'd probably argue that your "expert's" salfin never grew to that size, and I'd bet it wouldn't, because it's severely stunted. A stunted animal typically has two kinds of behaviors: seclusive or aggressive. A baby salfin tang would surely get above 10" in 5 years with proper care and environment. If it doesn't, then something is wrong.
My point is that even though I see where you are coming from, I do not agree that the approach is appropriate. Keeping tangs (or other similarly large fish) in a smaller-than-recommended tank will not necessarily guarantee aggression or disaster, but it's simply not a good environment or welfare for the fish. I know people who've kept a hippo tang in a 55g for over 10 years. It never grew past 4". Is it surviving? Yes. But is the fish happy? I bet not. Being an aquarist, we should constantly have fish's welfare in mind instead of our own pure greed or desire to keep whatever we like in a small tank. People have different levels of "success," but for me, success is measured as the overall happiness and health of the fish, not whether the fish is surviving.
sandwi54
New member
I'm sorry but this doesn't mean much. Fish aren't usually aggressive when they are juveniles. The problem is when they grow up and mature, they can suddenly become very aggressive, especially towards similar species. You WILL have problems later down the road when the fish grow up.
nsmith_mma
New member
Aside from the subtle swipe, I will at least say now we're having a discussion. So thank you for that.
I would like to say that I already pointed out that I would never under any circumstances put the types of fish into a 90g that that guy did. I call him an expert because that's what he is. He is also the manager of the saltwater section of a LFS. What that means is that he always had the option of removing a fish and selling it in his store if it got too big (another issue of debate, I know). So he was comfortable with that idea and he stocked his tank the way he wanted to. And again, he said he had no aggression issues.
My cousin has the 60 cube in his office but he also has a 240g at home that is being rebuilt. He had something like 9 tangs in his 240 when it was running. No aggression issues. And to the person who said they would like to see his fish next to "thriving ones", I can tell you that if you did see comparison pictures, you would probably rethink everything you know about keeping tangs because they are some of the most beautiful and healthy specimens I have seen.
I guess I have a different idea of aggression since I have kept cichlids and I know how nasty they can be. So squabbling isn't a deal breaker for me I would say. If it got to the point of one particular fish being in danger, then obviously I would intervene at that point. But experimenting with these things should not be frowned upon. It should be encouraged because it only adds to our knowledge as reef keepers. If we can provide a fish with an adequate environment due to our already existing knowledge, then that already puts them in a better position than going home with a novice who has no idea how to properly care for a marine system. If there are issues, you simply remove the issue and take it as a lesson learned. So is there one ultimate, unquestionable authority on what is and isn't an adequate situation for a fish? I would say there are certainly guidelines that should be considered, but there is some plasticity there as well.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
So you calling him an expert is what makes him an expert? Having a hard time following that logic.
We should strive to provide more then an just "adequate environment", to only strive for that is doing your fish a dis-service.
It is one thing to experiment with fish that can be difficult to feed and the like, but it is not experimenting when putting fish in a tank that isn't large enough for them -- the difference b/t those two should be clear.
What did your friend prove by keeping a "Desjardini Sailfin" in a 90 for 5 years? All he proved is that he could stunt its growth, not a worthwhile experiment in my eyes.
We should strive to provide more then an just "adequate environment", to only strive for that is doing your fish a dis-service.
It is one thing to experiment with fish that can be difficult to feed and the like, but it is not experimenting when putting fish in a tank that isn't large enough for them -- the difference b/t those two should be clear.
What did your friend prove by keeping a "Desjardini Sailfin" in a 90 for 5 years? All he proved is that he could stunt its growth, not a worthwhile experiment in my eyes.
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