Purple and yellow tank?

[Lorenz725]

I have a 150 gallon reef tank 6 foot long. I have a yellow tang and was wondering if anyone has had luck keeping the yellow and purple tang in the same tank? They would be about the same size and the only other fish I have in the tank are 2 clowns, mandarin, and a chalk bass. This is not a must have or must do just wondering. Thanks
Charles

 

[MrTuskfish]

I'm sure someone, somewhere has. But 2 tangs of the Zebrasoma genus will almost always hate each other.

 

[nsmith_mma]

I don't know if I would add one given that your yellow tang is already established. That just seems like playing with fire to me. If you added them at the same time, you would be more likely to have success keeping the two together.

 

[Lorenz725]

Yeah I am not going to take the chance thanks for the replays.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I don't know if I would add one given that your yellow tang is already established. That just seems like playing with fire to me. If you added them at the same time, you would be more likely to have success keeping the two together.

Very doubtful.

 

[bigdaddystar]

I have a yellow and purple...I got them from a fellow reefer so they were already paired up...that would be the best scenario...Mine even did go through a spat where they were tearing each other up for a couple weeks...Since though they have calmed...but its definitely a gamble

 

[nsmith_mma]

Very doubtful.

I don't think I need to bring up the 60 cube thing again.

Anyway, it can be done regardless of what you hear on here. Again, I would make sure to add them at the same time if you ever do. I have seen at least 3 reef tanks that have had a PT and a YT living together just fine and one was a 60g cube.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

It is extremely unlikely. Sure the tangs would be fine for a year if added at the same time. Once they are adults it would be one or the other because they look a lot alike. Not worth the risk IMO.

 

[albano]

without 'arguing' tank size...IMO the key to multiple Zebrasomas is 3 at a time!
I have 2 purples and 1 yellow in my 450g DT, without problems. There is a total of 10 tangs in the tank.

 

[Lorenz725]

Yeah I did not start this thread for arguments just wanted some peoples ideas and what they have done. I have a local reefer that is thinking about selling his purple tang and messaged me first knowing I have a good set up and lots of swimming room. I have had my yellow for about 4 months and got him from a local that had him for 5 years before I got him. I would not want to put stress on the fish. Thanks for the replies everyone.
Charles

 

[da6d2003]

I had the 2 in my larger tank for ~2 years. Then one day, the purple killed the yellow. It seems to be a matter of time.

 

[MrTuskfish]

without 'arguing' tank size...IMO the key to multiple Zebrasomas is 3 at a time!
I have 2 purples and 1 yellow in my 450g DT, without problems. There is a total of 10 tangs in the tank.

Yes, I agree completely. # or more is the key to multiple Zebrasoma tangs. I have 3 PTs im a 240. Its common see groups of YTs or PTs tangs at the lfs, but never just two.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I don't think I need to bring up the 60 cube thing again.

Anyway, it can be done regardless of what you hear on here. Again, I would make sure to add them at the same time if you ever do. I have seen at least 3 reef tanks that have had a PT and a YT living together just fine and one was a 60g cube.

There is a big difference, I think to most serious hobbyists, between what COULD be done and what SHOULD be done. Your posts always emphasize the former, I'm more concerned about the latter.

 

[koll12]

I have 2 purples and 2 yellows and they all get along great ... The yellows are smaller and the same size and the purples are about the same size

 

[nsmith_mma]

There is a big difference, I think to most serious hobbyists, between what COULD be done and what SHOULD be done. Your posts always emphasize the former, I'm more concerned about the latter.

Why shouldn't it be done if it can be? As long as the tangs are well cared for and have an adequate environment, I see no reason you shouldn't keep them. Especially if you are an experienced aquarist and can correct a problem should it arise.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Why shouldn't it be done if it can be? As long as the tangs are well cared for and have an adequate environment, I see no reason you shouldn't keep them. Especially if you are an experienced aquarist and can correct a problem should it arise.

An adequate environment would mean a large tank. I personally would never keep more than 3 tangs in a 180 gallon tank. I probably wound't even keep a tang in anything smaller than a 125 gallon tank. They are too active for anything smaller IMO, a 180 would be better yet because of the extra 6" of front to back depth. Tangs add a huge bioload to a tank which is part of my reasoning. I don't like having to constantly watch nutrient levels in the tank, and I am sure that I am not alone on this. Keeping a tang out of the equation, unless your tank meets the minimum requirement in the guidelines from RC, makes it way easier. If a fish eats all day, it is going to poop all day. That is just the way the digestive tract works.

 

[CHSUB]

An adequate environment would mean a large tank. I personally would never keep more than 3 tangs in a 180 gallon tank. I probably wound't even keep a tang in anything smaller than a 125 gallon tank. They are too active for anything smaller IMO, a 180 would be better yet because of the extra 6" of front to back depth. Tangs add a huge bioload to a tank which is part of my reasoning. I don't like having to constantly watch nutrient levels in the tank, and I am sure that I am not alone on this. Keeping a tang out of the equation, unless your tank meets the minimum requirement in the guidelines from RC, makes it way easier. If a fish eats all day, it is going to poop all day. That is just the way the digestive tract works.

i have to disagree with your "huge bioload" statement with regards to tangs, especially zebrasome, and ctenochaetus, their diet and constant forageing makes them a desired addition to a reef tank, much like a CUC; i would consider triggerfish and other meaty diet eaters as bioload addition...

 

[MrTuskfish]

i have to disagree with your "huge bioload" statement with regards to tangs, especially zebrasome, and ctenochaetus, their diet and constant forageing makes them a desired addition to a reef tank, much like a CUC; i would consider triggerfish and other meaty diet eaters as bioload addition...

I really don't know the answer to this. But, then I don't consider "bio-load" a really big deal in established tanks with mature and functional filtration. But herbivores. such as tangs eat a tremendous amount. Like cows, bison, sheep, and other herbivores. Their food doesn't have the nutrition of meat and they require much more of it to survive; that's why herbivores (tangs or cows) are constantly grazing. Because so much of their food isn't digested, more waste is produced. I would think a herbivore would produce a lot more waste that a similar size carnivore. I think any farmer knows this.

 

[CHSUB]

good point, maybe; but what do farmers do with cow poop? use it to grow plants.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

The only problem is the plants in your DT are algae... Algae in the DT doesn't look good IMO, unless you are going for a macro algae display. Corals may use some of the nutirents(PO4 and nitrate) but they don't use it fast enough to compete with nusiance algae. This is just my view on tangs. I over-exaggerated the bio-load thing, but they add more bio-load than a clown or goby does.