Purple/yellow tang.

[fe342185]

In my tank (150 cube) i have a 2.5" yellow tang and 3" sailfin that has been there for about 2 months. A local reefer was selling a purple and sohal that i could not resist. I knew the yellow would be territorial. To what extent I was not sure until I introduced the 2 new guys.

Long story short the YT did not tolerate. Sailfin could care less. Sohal and purple came from the same tank and are getting along with everyone.

So I trapped the YT and placed it into QT and now the tank is peaceful again. But whats a reef tank without a YT?

How long do you guys think I should keep him out? The purple was slightly larger than the yellow. I really would like to place him back in the DT tank one day. Although if it fails again then the YT will likely be donated. I was going to do some minor reaquascapping and keeping the YT for a few weeks.

Ive been in the hobby for a while and realize the tang rules and guidelines btw. Im here just looking for success stories with this scenario.

Thanks you,

 

[kmbyrnes]

Not going to comment on your tang count.
I had a similar issue introducing a pair of sailfins in my 350 a while ago. The well established Powder Blue picked mercilessly on the smaller sailfin, even cutting a 1 inch gash on his side.
PBT was removed from the tank for a month. When reintroduced, the tank dynamics had changed so much that he was in no position to pick on anyone.
Now 2 months later, the sailfin is completely healed and everyone plays nicely together.
Good luck with your issue.

 

[fe342185]

Ty. Exactly what I'm looking for. I guess the longer the YT stays in time out the better. I really wanted a powder blue also but I know i am already over the recommended number.


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[fe342185]

It was strange to watch a 2.5" YT chase a 5" sohal.


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[jbvdhp]

Purple/yellow tang.

Here's my take.

I have these tangs, similar to you. Desjardini, sohal, purple, yellow... And Achilles, Naso, regal and chevron. In a 240.

I introduced the PT, sohal, chevron and desjardini at the same time. No issues. Then came the Achilles. Got beat up, now is the second meanest fish in my tank. Then Naso. No one cared. Then regal and yellow. Achilles beat up regal for one day. Then left it alone. Purple tang almost killed my yellow. I had to pull it. Twice.

The second time the Achilles and PT teamed up to want to kill the yellow. This was AFTER the yellow was in an acclimation box for over a week and all fish seeing it and getting used to it.

When I let it go, it was beat up relentlessly for HOURS. I pulled it again.

This time the yellow tang stayed I. The sump for a week. I was gonna sell it but decided to see if the aggression would subside, this would be the third introduction. And now.

I was afraid I would have to sell it again But luckily the yellow tang stood up for itself and now the purple tang, who would swim from one side of the 8' tank to the other to attack it, occasionally flexes on it and the yellow goes on the offensive.

This has been my "successful" attempt for 3 days.

Point being, in my tank, the aggression HAS definitely subsided. It's still there, but the yellow is becoming braver and braver and the purple is backing down. The Achilles just swims up to it now.

Here on RC, you're gonna get the tang police treatment. Some of these people regurgitate what live aquaria or RC "recommends" without having real experience with many of the fish they're even commenting on. Frankly, many could care less.

Now you do have some aggressive tangs, but be prepared to pull one or more out of it doesn't work out.

Btw, my sohal happens to be the nicest fish. It may turn, it may not. Who knows? Not me, not you or the next guy.

P. S. having these fish doesn't make one an expert, it just means you have an opinion or experience to share.

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[fe342185]

Thanks jb. This is really good info. I actually have a hippo tang that's in my frag tank that I wanted to introduce to the display one day. Maybe I'll add it at the same time as the YT in about a month. I will move it to the QT so they will be there together for a little while.

I will adjust the quantity based on aggression if needed.

Another option is to just trade/sell/donate the hippo and yellow.

I've been very lucky using a fish trap and have been able to catch any fish in my reef within about an hour.

I'm fully aware of the tang police. Funny how many people have no actual experience and write as if they are experts.

To be continued....


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[SaltyDoug]

Here on RC, you're gonna get the tang police treatment. Some of these people regurgitate what live aquaria or RC "recommends" without having real experience with many of the fish they're even commenting on. Frankly, many could care less.

Ive never owned a dolphin but i still wouldn't recommend stinking one in a tub.


That being said i hate when people nit pick other people stocking but you already have 4 tangs and have issues and are discussing adding a 5th from your frag tank?

Your going to have agression issues down the line even if you temporarily solve them. Especially with a cube you don't even have the basic swim room for the yellow tang which required 48 inches length if im not mistaken your cube only has 36 inches of swimming length. A sohal will eventually require a 10 foot tank!

Ill end the tang police rant by saying you COULD luck out but be prepared to make some hard decisions on who you want to keep down the line.

 

[jbvdhp]

Ive never owned a dolphin but i still wouldn't recommend stinking one in a tub.





That being said i hate when people nit pick other people stocking but you already have 4 tangs and have issues and are discussing adding a 5th from your frag tank?



Your going to have agression issues down the line even if you temporarily solve them. Especially with a cube you don't even have the basic swim room for the yellow tang which required 48 inches length if im not mistaken your cube only has 36 inches of swimming length. A sohal will eventually require a 10 foot tank!



Ill end the tang police rant by saying you COULD luck out but be prepared to make some hard decisions on who you want to keep down the line.

Man, that's irrelevant. Dolphin and tub? That's a dumb point. No need to even bring it up. Doesn't equate to the same thing. GTFO with that


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[SaltyDoug]

Was clearly an exageration meant to get a point across.

We are discussing potentially 5 territorial creatures being kept all within spaces unsuitable for all but 1 of them. He is going to have agression issues down the line.

Make sure to have a constant supply of Nori in the tank that may help. There wont possibly be enough natural algae for 5 grazers.

 

[BigBlueTang]

I think having more than two tangs in a 150 is a problem, plus adding probably the meanest tang, ever, bad idea.

This will end badly.


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[Vanpire]

Please let me know how your plans go.

I have three yellow tang (I love them), 2 regal and a sailfin in a 225. They are all doing terrific. I have been wanting to add a purple tang.

 

[OrionN]

I think it will end badly too.
If you want to add all 5 tangs, you better add them now when the Sohal still new in the tank. Once he is established, we will kill the yellow and the Regal on introduction to the tank, even if the yellow have been there before and in TO for 1 month.
5 tangs, including the Sohal, in a 150 cube (30X30X?) where the longest dimension is less than 3 feet is a worst than a bad idea and it will end very badly.

 

[cabinetman123]

Anyone having tang aggression issues put a mirror up against the tank. I will guarantee they will hate the reflection of themselves way more than anything and only pay attention to it. When adding new tangs to my tank that's what I always do

 

[kmbyrnes]

Anyone having tang aggression issues put a mirror up against the tank. I will guarantee they will hate the reflection of themselves way more than anything and only pay attention to it. When adding new tangs to my tank that's what I always do

This has worked out for me in the past, and not just for tangs.

 

[oseymour]

Here on RC, you're gonna get the tang police treatment. Some of these people regurgitate what live aquaria or RC "recommends" without having real experience with many of the fish they're even commenting on.

LiveAquaria is used because it's a trusted source, what would you recommend as a resource for someone who has no experience with a fish and want to see what it's care requirements are. We can't buy every fish to try it and see what it likes or doesn't like.

Really interested to see what your answer is here.

Man, that's irrelevant. Dolphin and tub? That's a dumb point. No need to even bring it up. Doesn't equate to the same thing. GTFO with that

I agree that the dolphin in a tub reference was dumb but it was just as dumb and silly as the advice you were giving.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Ty. Exactly what I'm looking for. I guess the longer the YT stays in time out the better. I really wanted a powder blue also but I know i am already over the recommended number.


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I wouldn't say the longer the better. At some point, the "new" tangs won't be so new anymore, and if they get too settled in, you will have the same issue in reverse.


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[jbvdhp]

Purple/yellow tang.

LiveAquaria is used because it's a trusted source, what would you recommend as a resource for someone who has no experience with a fish and want to see what it's care requirements are. We can't buy every fish to try it and see what it likes or doesn't like.



Really interested to see what your answer is here.







I agree that the dolphin in a tub reference was dumb but it was just as dumb and silly as the advice you were giving.

What advice did I give? I gave an anecdote to my experiences. Did I say "you should leave them in there and blah blah blah?" People are willing to try different things to succeed what they're comfortable and happy with. Who's anyone on the Internet to tell any other person what they can or can't do? "You need to get that fish a bigger tank cuz.." Well, how does THAT particular person know? Does that person have a fish that has grown 10-12" and knew it couldn't thrive in such a so and so tank? Get real dude.

Most people commenting on tangs don't even have those fish. So how does that person know what will or won't work? Anyone can spit out what they've read on the Internet and be deemed an expert, which on THIS whole forum, there may be only a few in the entire field.

This whole hobby has evolved and all through trial and error. I don't go strictly off of what LA says, because for years I've seen success thru my tanks and other reefers tanks thru the years, many years. I'll take real world experience over what some dated info says any day. LA isn't the bible on tang size (possibly an ok starting point to consider), because by that logic no fish should be stuck in a box as fish are free to swim the whole ocean.

What size box a fish should be stuck in is totally subjective, so unless there's some scientific research and proof, I'll stick to my experience and the experience of many around me and emulate the successes that other have.





Btw, OP, you're getting sound advice/opinion on this thread regardless. Orion has one of the nicest tanks I've seen and his thought process makes sense too, if you've read some of his posts. My experience is just that: my experience. I see the same posts all the time about tangs this and blah blah... Well it just happened to be I have those fish so I could add my experience to your issue. My tank is different than yours. I never mentioned your tank size (seen it work plenty of times) but you have to be prepared to act if things don't work. Simple.

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[scooter31707]

Point is, it's a dumb idea to stick 5 tangs in a cube. If this tank goes south with aggression and illness due to stress, I won't feel sorry because they were asking for it.

 

[fe342185]

I understand the risks but a lot of the information is a guide and is not set in stone. Example I have a pair of breeding percula clowns and decided to add 2 more males since I liked the look of lots of clowns in large ritteri anemone. Against all the advice that the breeding pair will not tolerate the new ones, I tested it and was successful. No aggression. I would have intervened otherwise.


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[scooter31707]

but if 90% of people suggest not doing it, because they have experience or know someone who has done it, why go out and waste your time, spend money, time with quarantine procedures, and most important why put a fish safety endanger, when they could go to be a better home? you may not have aggression now, but you are not out of the woods yet. They are still maturing.