Show Piece Tank mate for 180g and PBT??

[THP]

I'm looking for a show type tank mate for a PBT in an SPS dominated tank with clams. The fish I've had in mind were a MI or an Emperator Angel despite the fact that they may be harmful to clams. (PLEASE no comments on MI. I've read up plenty over the years and not sure that I'll proceed with one in any case).

I guess in one sense I've been avoiding a multi-tang setup but what are people's success with that given the size of my tank (std 6' x 2' x 2')? Simple to care for species such as the yellow tang are fabulous in my opinion, perhaps other types? Which tangs would you suggest? A school of small yellow tangs...about 3 would be incredible but probably too much for a 6' tank...dunno.

I've had a yellow tang in a 90g in the past and tried adding a PBT. The PBT lasted about a year before submitting to constant beatings. My thought from that point on was 1 tang per tank but maybe my other choices are worse? There is no doubt that my 90 probably could only house 1 tang anyway, what about a 180? 2 tangs perhaps?

This time I'd add the 2 main focus fish at the same time to avoid initial aggression as much as possible. What would you recommend as a second show fish to share with a PBT????

 

[NexDog]

My PBT is a wuss and the YT I have is not aggressive at all. I had an Emperor Angel for 18 months and had it from a juvie. It died a few months after changing into a full adult. I loved that fish so just recently added two more. One is a juvie and one is a young adult (halfway through the change). The 2 tangs were interested in the bigger Emp when I first introduced them last month but no real aggression. The esident BlueLine Angel gave it a severe beating for a few days and now they get on fine. Emps are pretty dumb and don't know when to back down.

So I'd say go for the Emp but how about a pair of Regal Angels? By far my favourite fish and I've failed a few times but definitely will be trying again at some point. Before I do I'll rig up some kind of container that I hang in the DT and place the Regals in there so the resident Angels get used to them before releasing.

I find my Yellow Tang isn't a vigorous swimmer like the PBT. I think you could do the trio of YTs and a pair of Angels.

My 340 is 6' too but 3' deep and 30" tall.

 

[flameangel9]

Well in a 180 2 shouldn't be a problem. I would either put them in together.
Or smaller first than larger. I had 3 in a 75(not recommended) but I did it with success.

I added a sohal when I upgraded to my 180. This tang is very aggressive so in this case I went with a smaller Tang. So far so good. My current Tangs can be seen in this group photo.

:wavehand:

 

[jda]

The ultimate show fish for me is a pair of watanabei angels. They are not aggressive, but are not pushovers either. Reef safe too.

I have had 3 PBTs over the years and all of them were wusses. They had their needs met with lots of food, room and good water quality. All three outgrew my tanks and are not all currently housed in a large display at a local hospital - all three looking good the last time that I was there.

I never had a large angel go after any of my SPS. I have had emps, asfur, chrysurus, goldflake, poma, a couple of flagfins and a passer. Most of them liked to nip at my clams when they were smaller, but never seemed to do any real damage (they are still alive). Do not underestimate how fast they grow and how much food they need - if you don't feed them well, they will get aggressive since they likely see their tank mates as competition for food. Other than my flagfins and chrysurus, none of them are with me anymore and had to find larger homes. This is another reason why I like genicanthus - they grow slow and stay smaller.

As for tangs, how about a chocolate tang? One of the most beautiful IMO, but some think that they are an acquired taste. They are not aggressive and stay pretty small for a tang. Purples are awesome too.

 

[IFbettas]

In my 180 I have 3 tangs: a powder blue, a yellow, and a sailfin. I'm considering adding a maculiceps too. My powder blue is the shyest fish in the tank and doesn't bother anyone. He was the last fish to be added though. How bold is your pbt? You could probably add a trio of yellow tangs because the aggression will be spread around. If you only get one new fish and your powder blue decides to be an a** to it, you might end up with a dead fish.

 

[RealReef7]

Purple tang!! Or a nice group of yellow tailed damsels would look sweet especially in a sps tank. Thats what im planning on doing a little later after I stock up with more some more sps frags.

 

[THP]

Well in a 180 2 shouldn't be a problem. I would either put them in together.
Or smaller first than larger. I had 3 in a 75(not recommended) but I did it with success.

I added a sohal when I upgraded to my 180. This tang is very aggressive so in this case I went with a smaller Tang. So far so good. My current Tangs can be seen in this group photo.

:wavehand:

LOL - love that pic!!!!!

 

[silverfly]

Chevron tang? One of my fav tangs. Regal angels are a lovely fish too or how about one of the friendlier triggers?

richie

 

[THP]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. There has certainly been a list of fine fish to choose from.

I don't have any fish in this tank at the moment so whatever I pick as a secondary fish will be added at the same time as a similar sized PBT. I also think I've decided on no other tangs so an Angel will likely be the choice. I'm torn between the Regal Angel, Emp Angel or a Moorish Idol (decpite the Idol's dismal survival rate).

The LFS that I stopped by at last night while looking for a check valve just so happened to have a huge selection of very healthy looking PBTs from the Malidives. Apparently one of the best places to get them. Their color was not the usual faded pale sky blue but rather a deep sky blue. I've read before that this is a sure indication of a much much healthier specimen. They are about 3" long - a good size in my opinion. They also had about 10 Regal Angels of similar size to choose from. Oh the temptation!!!!

 

[silverfly]

I have had an idol and regal angel now for8-9 months. Got them on the same day. They arrived in the store and didnt even leave their bags- i took them straight home. Both eat like pigs and i love them!