Purple Tang

[Tang tank]

How do Purple Tang's fair in home aquariums? Are the chances of them getting ich just as bad as a Regal or a Powder Blue? And could you have one with a Regal Tang?

 

[fish77]

Well it really depends on the tank they are in, But yes they usually do well in home aquariums.

 

[Monroereef]

One of my favorites. They are really very cool but also can be aggressive towards other tangs. Do you already have some tangs in the tank?

 

[Tang tank]

I currently have a Regal Tang in the tang along with 2 clowns. I know my tank isn't big enough to house a Regal and a Purple Tang at the moment but I plan on making a huge upgrade by the end of this year. I really like most tangs and have fallen for the Purple Tang almost every time I go to the store. I just can't handle the stress of ich and how likely they are to getting it. I have read that the Powder Blue Tang is the WORST and then the Regal coming in close second. I just haven't heard much about the Purple Tang.

 

[psusocr]

Just add the purple tang last and IMO they are much less aggressive than if they are added early and develop a "territory"

 

[agreeive?fish]

purples do well in home aquariums, but they are tangs and carry a higher probability of ich than some other fish..1 have had 2 purples in my life, and iam running 50/50 on purples and ich

purple #1 did not get ichand was the peace maker in the tank and would protect new comers from agression from tank mates, dided after about 2 years because he ingested the nori rubber band and it never passed and he got intestinal blockage

purple #2, got ich, pulled thru very well, is way more agressive than purple #1 was but he was also introed in to the big boys tank, aprox 1.5 years and counting

 

[Tang tank]

psusocr: would you recommend that the Purple Tang be the last fish in general to go into the tank or just put it in after the regal?
agreeive?fish:Thank you! I am so worried that my infinity towards tangs will land me in the hospital over stress. I hate that they are so much more prone to getting ich. Did you use a QT when introducing them?

 

[Blitzburggirl]

I have a purple tang that I love. I complain about her alot, but I do love her.

She had been in another hobbiests' tank for at least 2 years, now mine for almost two.

She runs the tank, and has a real issue with chalk basses. She killed 3 of them. I din't think she'd give them a second look. Not sure why. She was furious about adding a CBB to my reef, but, after one slash, and naming the CBB Zorro, they have made some type of peace.

She also likes to play chalice discus and fling any chalice smaller than 3 or more inches. This was an expensive lesson for me.

Anyway, after all my complaining about her, other people have told me that their purples have been terrorists, if they don't have a bigger fish to keep them from being the most aggressive fish in the tank.

Personally, I will keep this one, but I'll never get another.

 

[psusocr]

psusocr: would you recommend that the Purple Tang be the last fish in general to go into the tank or just put it in after the regal?
agreeive?fish:Thank you! I am so worried that my infinity towards tangs will land me in the hospital over stress. I hate that they are so much more prone to getting ich. Did you use a QT when introducing them?

I would try to make it the last fish in the tank period although if not at least the last tang IMO, this way everyone else already have their territories setup. If he then still bullies some fish change your rockwork up a bit so everyone has to start over. Its worked for me

 

[MrTuskfish]

PTs are wonderful fish, I have three. They're tough to find, like all Red Sea fish now, because of all the tension in the Middle East. IMO & IME, IF they have enough room they are easy fish to keep. If you QT your fish, ich isn't a problem, its very easy to cure in QT. If not, I wouldn't get one. But, I wouldn't get any fish without QT. Its too bad that your fear of ich determines what fish you can get. There are lots of other deadly parasites, diseases, etc, that can enter our tanks. Ich is only one. Again, QT is the answer.
BTW; its impossible to give any real opinion without knowing your tank size. If your profile is correct, and you have a 75, IMO that is too small for any of the tangs you're talking about and adding another would be a big mistake.

 

[AfricaOffroad]

I bought my Purple from another reefer, it was eating his Chromis !
Fortunately my Sohal keeps him in check.

He did cut up my sailfin pretty bad when I first introduced it, but after a day totally ignored it. Luckily it survived the initiation.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I bought my Purple from another reefer, it was eating his Chromis !
Fortunately my Sohal keeps him in check.

He did cut up my sailfin pretty bad when I first introduced it, but after a day totally ignored it. Luckily it survived the initiation.

The PT & sailfin are both Zebrasoma genus; and they usually hate each other. Strangely, tangs of this genus usually do well in groups of 3+, but seldom just two.

 

[agreeive?fish]

The PT & sailfin are both Zebrasoma genus; and they usually hate each other. Strangely, tangs of this genus usually do well in groups of 3+, but seldom just two.

i have not had a problem with my sailfin or either purple not getting a long.... but my sailfin hates yellow tangs or any fish with yellow on it, even a yellow dot the size of a pin head would set the sailfin off

 

[MrTuskfish]

i have not had a problem with my sailfin or either purple not getting a long.... but my sailfin hates yellow tangs or any fish with yellow on it, even a yellow dot the size of a pin head would set the sailfin off

Sounds like a secret gang symbol type of problem....

 

[agreeive?fish]

tang tank, yes on qt of the purples both times