Sohal Tang question!

[Pike614]

Anyone have experience with housing a Sohal tang (5" or so) with a naso tang, sailfin, andhippo tang? I am considering adding the Sohal as the last fish in the reef set-up but read they can be very aggressive.....the tank will be a 180g set-up.
thanks!

 

[SlowCobra]

Tank is way too small for that many other tangs with a Sohal. They are an extremely aggressive tang and need tons of space. Some people have luck with them but I personally feel a 180 is too small to house them with 3 others. As all of them grow a bit more, you will more than likely start to see increased aggression.

 

[Pike614]

I would assume a 220g 6' tank would also be small then?

 

[SlowCobra]

The extra water volume helps, but they are an open water swimmer that gets rather large. It isn't so much their size, though that plays a factor. It is the fact that they can be an extremely aggressive fish towards other tangs, particularly Acanthurus and Paracanthurus. It is not impossible to keep them together, you just stand a better chance at keeping them successfully with little issues in an 8ft+ tank.

I guess you can say they seem to have personal space issues.

I know others will chime in and say oh I keep them in a 180/210/220 with 5 other tangs and things are fine.

They may in fact very well be fine but as you know each fish has its own personality and Sohals, while definitely beautiful are known to have attitude problems.

It was on my list of fish for my 210 and I scratched it due to the reasons I have posted.

EDIT: I am not a member of the Tang police I just try to be realistic and provide the healthiest of environments for my glass cage prisoners. The healthier the inhabitants in the tank the less headaches and more enjoyment we actually get from this hobby. At least that is my opinion.

 

[Pike614]

Great info, I have too much $$$ invested in other nice show tangs, and to have the Sohal destroy them would not be fun...sounds best for a larger system!
thanks