Second small tang

[lee_d_m]

I'd like to get a 2nd small tang for my tank. It would need to be compatible with my existing Kole tang and be one of the smaller varieties. What are my options ?

My tank is 4 1/2ft long by 2 1/4ft wide, total volume is 170G

Thanks

Lee

 

[rezaktp]

In my 180g I have a Kole, Powder Blue, Naso, and Purple Tang. The Naso is the least aggressive of all. They all coexist just fine. The initial week is the toughest to get them all accepting each other. A tip is to buy as many fish as you can from a local reefer who is getting rid of livestock. This way you can see that the fish is eating well and that it is in good shape, and most importantly it has survived at least six months in a home reef. I have never had any die off in buying "used" fish.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Adding a surgeon to a tank with a surgeon that has already established its territory is asking for major aggression, regardless if its the same species or not. I would use a acclamation box to watch for aggression. This way if things don't work out you can re home the new tang without tearing apart your rock work to remove him.

When adding multiple surgeons to a system, its best to add them at the same time. Given that the tank is large enough to house them.

 

[lee_d_m]

Thanks guys.

My Kole is very small, no more than 2 inches nose to tail, so I'm hoping that there will be minimal aggression, but that's a good tip about using an acclimation box, I'll see if I can find one.

Out of the fish mentioned, I'd love a powder blue, but I've always thought they might be a bit too big for my tank. I have no plans to upgrade so whatever Tang I get needs to be happy in my current tank even when it reaches adult size.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Others here have mentioned the mirror trick. Place a mirror outside the tank so the resident tang can see him/her self. Gives the new one a chance to get settled in while the resident battles for king of the tank with the reflection.

 

[Paaty]

You should not have any problems adding a second tang to your existing cole tang. In your tank you could go with a yellow tang, purple tang, mimic tang, powder brown, powder blue tang. MAke sure that the tang is you last fish addition as you might have trouble adding any new after esspecially if you go with the powder blue.