Purple and Yellow tang together?

[Avengerx77]

I just set-up a 200gal reef tank and the first two fishes I introduced were a Yellow and a Purple Tang. I put them at the same time but the Purple immediately started to bite the Yellow, so I had to divide my tank in two with a screen. The Purple is twice as big as the Yellow. After three days, they see each other through the screen and the Purple is showing less agression when they see each other.

Do you think they will get along at some time or should I start thinking in a different tang combination?

In the future I might add two firefish, one reef safe wrasse and one Yellowstripe Maroon Clown. Will they have any problems with the Purple Tang?

Thanks.

 

[DanK13]

Is the purple picking apart the yellow's fins and scales or just suppressing the other into a corner or otherwise not damaging the yellow? They may get accustomed to one another if you keep them separated with the screen but its not guaranteed. Adding any two fish with similar body shapes runs the risk of aggression no matter the size. Also adding one or two fish is tough. Adding more than that, depending on system size, really disrupts the tank dynamic and most times overwhelms alpha fish.

The other fish should be ok with the tangs, but in my experience the maroon clown will only have problems with other clowns and its owner. So dont add any other clowns like an ocellaris or percula later. I have one that tries to bite me and slap me with its tail every time i clean the acrylic. For the most part he does leave other fish alone and should be ok with your future stock.

 

[mtaswt]

I have had both in my tank since I first got it up and running and they seem to get along fine. There is an occasional disagreement, but not to the point to where they are fighting!

 

[MrTuskfish]

Its very common for two Zebrasoma genus tangs (the two you mention) to constantly be at war. One killing the other isn't unusual. Of course, there are exceptions. Strangely, your odds are better with 3 of this genus than just two. Its common to see groups of these tangs in the same tank, very rare to see just two.

 

[Apparition]

Adding both at the same time was a good idea, but one being significantly larger than the other hurt your chances. Keep the divider up and use a mirror on the purple's side so that gets his attention on the "new fish" and less on the yellow. Try to let them interact again in a week or so and see how it goes. Some posturing and a chase or two is fine, but actual attacking or nonstop chasing means one has to go. The purple is just doing what it naturally would to chase away a competitor for food. Removing the yellow and adding one of the same size as the purple might work better, but now that the purple is established that might be difficult. Best of luck.

 

[Avengerx77]

bump

 

[Avengerx77]

Here is a picture so you can compare their size when I introduced them. Tomorrow will be one week that I have them in the tank separated. I will take the screen out on Sunday and see what happens. As you can see, the yellow had in its tail the bite marks. If the Purple keeps its agression I will have to sell one, since I don't think that one more week separated might help, right?

 

[b2d2t]

i wonder what would happen if you added another yellow to this tank? i have wanted to add a purple and a yellow in the future to a 350 but seeing this makes me want to rethink that idea.

 

[Avengerx77]

i wonder what would happen if you added another yellow to this tank? i have wanted to add a purple and a yellow in the future to a 350 but seeing this makes me want to rethink that idea.

I wonder that to myself also I am thinking to add another yellow tang. Problem is that it would be bigger than the Purple Tang and my current Yellow Tang (there is only 1 left on my LFS). However, I am afraid that I would have now 3 fighting Tangs instead of two :uhoh3:. That should be a problem as I do not have a way to separate the tank in three, lol.

On another question, will the Purple Tang be aggresive towards other fish as well or this goes just for Tangs? I still have to add more fishes and now I am concerned that something similar happens. If this is the case, then I guess that the Purple is the one that needs to go.

Or... what would be my chances if I add tomorrow a another Yellow Tang. The Purple have their territory already established but the new Tang will be bigger and now there would be 3??? Thoughts on this?

 

[Avengerx77]

I just wanted to provide an update. And what I wanted to say first is "There is hope after all" :celeb3: I took the screen today after almost one week. At first, they look at each other for 5 minutes. After that, both started to recognize the other portions of the tank. After 6 hours they are now best friends, they even eat together from the same veggie clip So far, I have only witness a samll chase from the Purple but no bitting this time, which I guess is usual. Other than that, everything looks normal.

What I have learned from this experience: When aquascapping, always leave some room in the middle of the tank in case a screen is needed, you never know when you will need one, or at least something that you can easily removed.

Here is a pic of both of them swimming together:

 

[twelvejewelz]

In a case like this you can sometimes build up the rockwork high enough in the middle that it will break up the space so the fish cant even see eachother most of the time.

 

[sasharotty]

Hows the marriage going between the 2? Did you add another Zebrasoma? I want to add 2 yt and a purple to my 180 but i dont want any issues.

 

[dnLEDman]

Plus 1 how is it going?

 

[mattsilvester]

Hows the marriage going between the 2? Did you add another Zebrasoma? I want to add 2 yt and a purple to my 180 but i dont want any issues.

if you dont want any issues, don't put 2 YT's in a 180.
Sure, they "might" get along, but it is much more likely they will not.

 

[El richie]

Love the purple tangs!! How's the "pair o tangs" doing??