Sohal tang vs. Swallowtail Angel

winland

winland

New member
I certainly understand that two Sohal tangs might fight and a pair of male Swallowtail angels might fight, but should a Sohal tang chase and beat the crap out of a male Swallowtail angel?
Yes, they are similar in appearance, but doesn't the Sohal know or realize that the other is an angel?

They are both about the same size, about 5" long. The Sohal was put in the tank about a week prior to the Swallowtail.

suggestions, insight, recommendations.

The Swallowtail has been in hiding for over 24 hours. I only get brief glimpses of him from the back of the tank.

winland
 
Sohal tangs are mean. One of the most aggressive fish I have ever kept. Yours is still smallish (although too large for your tank) but when it gets larger it will take out pretty much anything.
 
Not a good sign that your sohal is that mean after only a week in your tank, and at only 5". Then again, unlike most other aggressive or semi-aggressive fish, I don't think I've ever heard even one anecdote in which somebody says something like, "I know sohals are generally mean, but mine was just a big pussycat." Even in community reefs in which a sohal is kept, the sohal is almost invariably the king (or queen) of the tank. Although there are few absolutes when it comes to fish behavior, it seems that sohal = mean is about as close to an absolute as it gets. I would get that swallowtail out of there right away.
 
What about the Watanabei Angel ? I've always thoguht that it DID look like sohal.

watanabei_maleSM.jpg

roundish head ? check!
Caudal tail trailers ? Check
More pronounced black horizontal striping ventrally ? check
Orange streak near caudal penduncle ? check!
tang10.jpg
 
It would not make any difference to the Sohal. They will take out any fish they do not like. But that is one of the not so obvious problems about putting tangs in smallish tanks: it creates a more aggressive fish due to the territorial overlap. I had a Sohal in a 350g FOWLR tank and had to remove it as it was killing fish.

But WuHT is right, they are not dissimilar.
 
in the wild Sohal's defend a territory of approximatley the size of a city block where they farm algae. they do not allow invaders and attack viciously. in home aquaria they claim the entire tank as theirs and there is nothing you can do about it.
 
i think all things have different personalities, an lfs by me has a 300 gallon with like 7 or so tangs maybe more and a HUGE like 9 inch sohal and i go there alot and have never seen the sohal pick on any thing, there are also like 30 other fish in there.
 
Ive got a Sohal Tang and a Blackspot Swallowtail angel in the same tank - Both are abot 4" long, but because of the aggresion of the Sohal i made sure the main fish i wanted were all added at the same time. Mine have a few squabbles but generally get on ok.
 
Re: Sohal tang vs. Swallowtail Angel

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13028591#post13028591 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by winland
I certainly understand that two Sohal tangs might fight and a pair of male Swallowtail angels might fight, but should a Sohal tang chase and beat the crap out of a male Swallowtail angel?
Yes, they are similar in appearance, but doesn't the Sohal know or realize that the other is an angel?

They are both about the same size, about 5" long. The Sohal was put in the tank about a week prior to the Swallowtail.

suggestions, insight, recommendations.

The Swallowtail has been in hiding for over 24 hours. I only get brief glimpses of him from the back of the tank.

winland
Click to expand...

Sohal's are very mean, but IMO I think the two look alike in the sohal's mind. I would give it a day or two if swallowtail is in hiding still remove one.
 
The sohal will eventually take everything out in the tank, whether it looks like it or not. The only angel I'd trust with a sohal is a passer, I have a passer and he is down right mean! Someday I will get a sohal once I upgrade to an 8ft tank. I'd take the sohal out before it's too late. Go with a more peaceful tang.
 
It varies from fish to fish of course, but sohals are mean little SOB's.

I saw one in an aquaium in Tokyo that was close to 2 feet in length. By far the king of tank it was in. These fish get big and mean.

I've tried 3 times to keep one.

The last one I had was chasing everything from the wrasses to the chromis. THE CHORMIS!!!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I also go to the store that Rob mentioned, but that fish is in a 300 gallon display. The owner has mentioned on several occasions that the onloy reason he is able to keep the fish from being a bully was by introducing it last, and having so many other tangs in there, that it doesn't even know who to fight.

I will say that if he keeps that fish in there, there will be problems. Its inevitable with these fish.
 
The Sohal has been removed from the tank. Luckily he has a very good appetite and was used to hand feeding.
The male Swallowtail angel is slowly starting to come out of hiding and starting to eat when food is offered.
The Sohal is now in a large stock tank sump where he can be easily captured and awaiting a buyer with an appropriate tank and community. Anyone want a Sohal?

winland in NW Ohio
 
:lol:

I was in your shoes about 3 months back.... Luckily I found a buyer with a 300 gallon.

Good luck!!!
 
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