Tang question

[kegogut]

So Ive had a yellow tang in my 220 for a couple months at least. This past weekend a purchased a purple tang and of course when I added him to the tank the yellow was quite aggressive to the point I had to remove the purple and toss him in my 60 for the time being.

Yesterday I caught the yellow and put him in the 60 and put the purple in the 220.

Sooo my question is; How long should I wait before I reintroduce the yellow to the 220 without him reclaiming territory and continuing to be aggressive towards the purple? I also dont want to wait too long so that the purple gets real comfy and becomes aggressive towards the yellow.

 

[Stevenliu9]

what's the size difference? Just wondering why won't you consider remove them both for a period then re-introduce them at the same time again so neither has the call for territory dominance?

 

[o2manyfish]

Having just two zebrasoma can be a challenge. There is no set order that is going to guarantee success when you have only 2. And there is a high probability that you won't be successful with just two.

Since it seems you caught the loser easy enough, try to catch the bully and pull him for a week and let the weaker fish get established and then add the bully back.

I've always had luck keeping tangs in odd numbers.

Dave B

 

[kegogut]

what's the size difference? Just wondering why won't you consider remove them both for a period then re-introduce them at the same time again so neither has the call for territory dominance?

Theyre about the same size 4-5 inches.

I dont have a tank big enough to hold them for long enough to reintroduce them together.

 

[kegogut]

Having just two zebrasoma can be a challenge. There is no set order that is going to guarantee success when you have only 2. And there is a high probability that you won't be successful with just two.

Since it seems you caught the loser easy enough, try to catch the bully and pull him for a week and let the weaker fish get established and then add the bully back.

I've always had luck keeping tangs in odd numbers.

Dave B

Thats exactly what I did. I took the yellow tang out and put the purple in the tank. I'll let him get comfy for about a week or two then re-add the yellow.

 

[jbvdhp]

Tang question

Thats exactly what I did. I took the yellow tang out and put the purple in the tank. I'll let him get comfy for about a week or two then re-add the yellow.

In my experience, purples are more aggressive. You may have a problem reintroducing the yellow, as the purple becomes familiar with the tank.

I think it's best to pull them both out and add them again at the same time, maybe re scape a bit. Maybe try an acclimation box?

 

[kegogut]

In my experience, purples are more aggressive. You may have a problem reintroducing the yellow, as the purple becomes familiar with the tank.

I think it's best to pull them both out and add them again at the same time, maybe re scape a bit. Maybe try an acclimation box?

I guess I'll wait until tomorrow and reintroduce the yellow and see how it goes. The purple seems to already be at ease with his other tank mates thus far so I think it will be ok to add the yellow back.

 

[kegogut]

So I added the yellow tang back to the DT and as soon as he got dropped in he started his aggressiveness towards the purple. lolz

I think I'm going to give it one more day and if he doesnt calm down he's going to get traded in for another.

The purple is eating fine whenever I put food into the tank though,thats the only reason I havent gotten the yellow back out yet.

 

[ca1ore]

Two zerbrasomas are going to fight, no two ways about it. But how bad is the 'aggressiveness'? As long as both fish are eating and one is not pinned into a corner or having its fins shredded, things may settle down. I had the same two fish in in 265 and they gradually came to tolerate each other. They still mix it up occasionally, but not to the significant detriment of either fish. FWIW, I did subsequently add a third (a sailfin) and that spread the aggression around a bit - though the salifin tries to attack me when I put my arm in the tank the ba$tard.

 

[brett559]

I just ended up selling my larger, aggressive yellow tang when I acquired the purple tang. It just wasn't working out between them.....

 

[kegogut]

Well Ive left yellow in and after a couple days theyre becoming tolerant of each other to the point Ive decided to leave them together. The yellow still chases every now and then but he gives up fast and the purple doesnt seem to be bothered by it anymore.