Purple tangs: hardy?

[gusmanda]

Are purple tangs as hardy as yellow tangs? I usually hear about them due to their aggressiveness but I don't recall hearing about them being as ich-prone as some of the other tangs.

 

[Moray26]

They can be more aggressive especially with other tangs that have the same body style. They are more ich prone then yellow tangs I think because of their constant aggressive behavior. I still love purple tangs. Under the right lighting they really stand out! Just have to have a big enough tank!

 

[gusmanda]

Ok, so not as hardy as the yellow tang, is It hardier than acanthurus or hipo tangs?

 

[FWC]

I have one. It's thick, solid, juicy, and about 4.5-5 inches long. He squabbles a little bit with my Moorish Idol, but overall leaves the other fish alone. Seems about as ich prone as any other healthy tang.

 

[scooter31707]

IMO, they are hardy if you find one in good shape. I think they are a little more ich-prone and HLLE prone than Yellow Tangs and more aggressive also. But once you get one through quarantine and feeding the right foods and good water quality, it will be just fine. Every fish is different, but I would rate them in the top 5 for aggressiveness for Tangs.

 

[Jeff4777]

My purple tang is the most aggressive fish I have. Not that its out of control or is bullying, but its clear who is boss. It doesn't mind my 2 yellow tangs or other fish much at all. Only when a nice piece of seaweed breaks off and everyone chases it, he will assert his dominance. Not as hardy as a yellow probably due to their temper, but otherwise very similar aside being more prone to HLLE. Which can be fixed anyways.

 

[CHSUB]

i have had 2 PT; imo, they are no more aggressive than a yellow tang and no less hardy. i would not believe they are any more or less prone to ich.

my first i had from 2000 to 2005 and my second from 2011 to present.

here are some pics: first is in a 90g, second a 281g!

[URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/CHSUB/media/Picture033_zpscabd98c8.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/CHSUB/media/image_zpsswhtycfj.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

[GimpyFin]

Having owned both at different times, I'd say they are about as hardy as a yellow tang and fairly easy to keep. It depends on the individual fish, but my purple has been way less aggressive than my yellow was (I ended up selling the yellow because he was an a-hole.) I got my purple when he was fairly small and a little ratty looking. Now, about 1.5 years later he's about 4-4.5 inches and fairly plump. Adding them as one of the latter fishes helps with aggression too. Mine is pretty chill with most everybody. He chased my butterfly a little when I recently added him, but that's about it.

 

[solitude127]

My PT is definitely hardy. it's been though so many different outbreaks in my tank and it's still with me 10 years later.

 

[brett559]

Bulletproof. Mean. Awesome.

Get one. It'll be your favorite fish.

 

[gusmanda]

I was thinking of a powder-blue initially, I really like both, but I'm thinking purple tang might be less of a headache from a health-perspective. I've had yellow tangs in the past and those were bullet-proof

 

[Winwood]

I think once established purples are almost the exact same fish as a yellow. They just usually have a few more stops to make by the time they land in North America.

 

[brett559]

My understanding is that purples and yellows are the "same fish just with a different paint job." That's my LFS owner's favorite phrase.

 

[droth335]

I have had 2 PT's and 3 YT's over the past few years (never in the same tank) and in all cases the YT's were more aggressive. Today, in our 300 the PT is 3rd in pecking order behind our Naso and Powder blue who makes sure the PT knows his place as needed.