Tang question

[ryno212]

I have a 4" blue tang that I have in my 120 for about 3 months, well I just put in a smaller purple in 2weeks ago. Well the blue rips the fins of my purple. At first I thought it was going to be a one time thing for control of the tank, but he does this every day. The purple looks fat and health but I'm afraid that he will eventualy kill my purple. Besides taking the blue out, is there any trick on how I can get them to stop. Should I add another small tang or a bunch more fish like anthais to keep the blue from focusing so much on the purple... (the tangs are the only fish in the tank right now) thanks for the help

 

[jnc914]

Are you able to switch up your live rock and break up the the blue tangs territory? Other than that you could try to separate them with an egg crate divider. Or put a mirror on one end of the tank and let the blue attack its own reflection.....

 

[ryno212]

I can't break up the live rock.. If I put a divider, how long do I leave it up for... I might try the mirror thing

 

[SDguy]

Purple tangs are pretty tough fish. I'd give it a week or two....the aggression should melloow out....

 

[minesinger]

I have a yellow that did the same thing to a purple I added. I removed him from the tank for 7 days..added him back with the same results. LFS recomended another tang...I added a sailfin and within 20 minutes everyone was getting along...they've been doing great for about 4 months now.

 

[cloak]

Time will tell. The tank might have been better off without the fish. Don't do nothing drastic...

 

[Shark Keeper]

I had the same thing happen when I added a few fish in my FO.

The solution that worked for me was to remove the aggressive fish. I put him in my quarantine tank for a week then moved him back.

Problem solved. I took him away from his "territory" just long enough for him to no longer defend it. Good Luck!

 

[Beach Bum 70]

the mirror worked here for me my sailfin the added a naso after 2 days they were cool!

 

[ryno212]

thanks guys I will try the mirror thing to see if it works

 

[petsarenice]

I have heard tangs of similar shape usually have a really hard time getting along. Good luck.

 

[ryno212]

they are not similar in shape one is a paracanthurus and the other a zebrasoma... now I know once the purple starts to get bigger it should be a mean SOB and stick up for itself....
I tried the mirror thing...it is too funny..the blue frills itself and runs back and forth across the tank all **** off....the purple goes right up to the mirror and stairs at himself and likes it....

 

[oceanparadise1]

lol thats to funny