Purple Tang and his/her Tang potential companion

Chicagoreef2016

Chicagoreef2016

New member
So, I have a 127 gallon, 5 foot long tank. Right now I have the following fish:

1 purple tang
2 Oscellaris Clowns
1 Royal Gramma
4 Blue Reef Chromis (1 is on the downslope, getting picked on by other 3)

I know you are supposed to add tangs last, but want to add a 2-3 more fish:
1 wrasse, maybe Adorned
1 1 Spot Foxface
1 Tang: I like Powder Brown, or Yellow Eye Kole
- will either of these be ok with a purple, I have heard that Purples can be a bit mean. I have been told a Blue tang would be a good one to put with the purple.

Thoughts and experiences?

Cheers.
 
As long as the other tang is of a different genus, they are usually ok. But purple tangs are on the aggressive side, so who knows. Might be better if it were bigger than the purple.
 
It will most likely harass any other herbivore. including the foxface. It might be okay if you use an aclimation box, or if you luckly get a foxface that can fend for itself.

I would introduce a kole rather than PB, as kole do not exactly feed on the same type of food as purple tang but PB do. So it might be more tolerant towards the kole.
 
The 3 fish you mentioned should be fine with a purple tang, I'd go with a yellow eye kole over the brown tang but that's personal preference more than anything else.

Once you're ready to add the new fish I'd just make sure that the tang is well fed and add the fish after lights out. This will help mitigate any aggression, there will probably still be some when lights come back on but should only to establish a "pecking" order.

As far as the blue tang goes, I'm far from the tang police but I think those are best in at least a 6 foot tank and 200+ gallons, a 5 foot tank just isn't big enough for those beauties.

That said I have seen blue tangs in as small as 75 and 90 gallon tanks but they are usually still on the small side, it's just not something I'd do.
 
OK thanks. I do like the Yellow Eye Kole so maybe I will try that one at night time. May add a wrasse at the same time at night, to get a lot of new commotion there so not all focused on 1 newbie.
 
I have a smaller (2") Purple Tang with a medium (4") Blue Tang (Hepatus) and medium (3") "Philippine" Yellow Tang (maybe Acanthurus pyroferus) in a 4 foot, 88 gallon tank, and I see no real aggression between the tangs.

I've had the Blue tang for 5+ years, and originally had it in a 28 gallon JBJ tank for 2 years, then moved it into a custom 2' cube for a couple of years, before moving it to the current tank in January; so I'm definitely not the tang police.

I also have the following as tankmates:

- 4 lyretail anthias (1 male, 3 females)
- 1 flameback angel
- 1 royal gramma
- 1 yellow-tailed blue damsel
- 2 maroon clowns (1 GSM, 1 WSM)
- 2 banggai cardinals
- 1 mottled filefish
- 1 yellow watchman goby (with tiger pistol shrimp)
- 2 skunk cleaner shrimp

So, yes, I have quite a bit of bioload, but the tank seems to handle it well, and I have little aggression between the fish.

Kevin
 
In my 120 (48'x24"x24") added in this order.

1st: Added from old Tank
Royal Gramma
(2) Banngi Cardinal - paired and spawning
Mimic Tang

2nd:
Purple Tang

3rd:
Magnificent Fox Face

4th:
(2) Lamarck Angles

Last:
Six Line

The Purple Tang harassed everything after it. After a day or two, it subsided.
Now he could care less.
There isn't any aggression amongst any of the fish.

Your mileage may vary.
 
Your tank is too small for a blue/hippo. Whether the purple will be OK with additional tangs is hard to say. The purple is among the most aggressive/least tolerant of tangs …. but fish are also individuals, so YMMV. I'd certainly not attempt another zebrasoma, but those of differing genus are possible.
 
ca1ore said:
Your tank is too small for a blue/hippo. Whether the purple will be OK with additional tangs is hard to say. The purple is among the most aggressive/least tolerant of tangs "¦. but fish are also individuals, so YMMV. I'd certainly not attempt another zebrasoma, but those of differing genus are possible.
Click to expand...

Mr Purple seems fine with most of the existing fish right now, the clowns put him in his place when he gets too close to their hideout, but he certainly swims like he owns the place:) Do enjoy having a purple.
 
my purple harassed my powder brown for about a week... I just feed more nori on separate clips and they were fine after that
 
Chicagoreef2016 said:
Mr Purple seems fine with most of the existing fish right now, the clowns put him in his place when he gets too close to their hideout, but he certainly swims like he owns the place:) Do enjoy having a purple.
Click to expand...

Purple tang is a very handsome fish. Mine was on its way to killing my gem tang - I wasn't going to let that happen, so it spent a month in time out.
 
ca1ore said:
Frag tank actually. Now back in the display and there's an uneasy truce between the two of them.
Click to expand...

Cool, I have a 20 gallon sump, may have to use that if necessary when I go to add my fish. I like the White Tail Bristletooth Tang, will try that and a wrasse at the same time.
 
These two make a nice pair. Get along fine.

2018101210443592-IMG_1126-XL.jpg
 
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