Tang War has begun!

[iriejp1]

Ok...I thought I planned this all out. I researched until my head was numb. Read so many reference materials about Surgeonfish I thought I was going to puke. And even with all that...I still have a problem.

I just introduced 3 tangs to my 150 at virtually the same time yesterday (within a couple hours of each other). First was a 5-6" Naso Literatus (Naso Blonde) with a 3-4" Acanthuras Japonicus (Powder Brown). This introduction went perfectly! Both interacted with no issue. Peace and harmony throughout.

Then came the 4" Acanthuras Leucosternon (Powder Blue) about 2 hours later. Obviously being so similar in looks and shape and both being from the Acanthuras family I knew there would probably be some static initially. So I turned the lights off and fed the tank just as I released the Blue.

GOOD GRACIOUS! The Powder Brown went bananas! He started chasing the Powder Blue all over the tank viciously. Wouldn't leave him alone. After a few mintues of watching the rumble I stepped in. I grabbed my fish net and cornered the Brown to try and let the Blue catch his breath and get used to the tank for a minute. I even tried grabbing a hand held little mirror and tried to distract the Brown with his reflection. The Brown couldn't care less! I pulled back after about 10 mintues of keeping the Brown at bay. They both kept attacking each other and swinging their tales around. The blue actually got bolder and finally cornered the Brown where it ended up staying the rest of the night.

The next morning I fed them all. Brown and Blue both ate well but were still going at it. Although not even half as bad as the first five minutes. My question here is...will this behavior go on indefinitely or will they both eventually learn to live with each other? The rest of the fish (2 clowns, the Naso, and a Bicolor Dottyback) all get along great. But just watching these two ambush each other whenever they get close to each other is stressing ME out. I can just imagine how they must feel. I'm wondering if I should try and remove one of them before they really injure each other or do you think I can ride this out? Any thoughts??

 

[dwilly]

They could just fight until 1 is dead. Like you said, since they are so similar it is hard to have them get along.

 

[myerst2]

Well I don't know where you got all of the mind numbing references from but you have misinformed. First and foremost your tank is too small for 3 tangs. Especially if one of them is a naso as they get huge. The other two tangs are of the same genus, a big no no, especially in that small of a tank. Acanthurus are especially territorial and will fight till it either kill the other or stress it out and kill it. Also you are dealing with two tangs that are somewhat delicate to begin with and then putting the added stress of competition in small quarters, you are asking for an ich outbreak or death. I would remove two tangs and stick with one before problems continue to deteriorate. So my little two cents of reference may be far smaller than all of the other references you have gotten previously, but IMO are far more sound. Where did you get this information that almost made you puke??? You may come back to me and say other people have had success with having this many tangs in a 150, but I am sure they are great minority. I am sure the people that say they have successfully kept three tangs in a 150, it was for a very short period of time. One person's success story could be another person's failure. Is success keeping them alive a few months or a few years??? Hope this helps. Regards, Tim

 

[iriejp1]

Well I didn't say I FOLLOWED all of the information I researched. But I am keeping it in mind as I move along here. I mean, let's face it...SPS wouldn't even be in tanks at this point if no one ever took a chance. It was thought to be impossible to keep at one time.

But with that being said, I did kinda figure there would be static between the two Powder Tangs. And truthfully I'm pretty sure I know what the answer to my question is already. I'm just reaching out to see if what I'm attempting to do has ever been done successfully and that maybe I'm just being paranoid as it is still early in the introduction process. But truth be told, if I get no signs of improvement by tomorrow and no one pipes up that it can be done, the Powder Brown will be going back.

 

[jpa0741]

I will say, I think 3 tangs are doable in a 150. I don't think you are going to get the Powder Brown and Blue to coexist in there.

 

[Tangwich]

I agree, I don't think 3 tangs is too much for a 150 but I also agree Myerst and say that the 3 particular tangs you chose aren't real good candidates for your tank. The Powder Blue and Naso are great in there by themselves, but the tank is probably going to be a temporary home for your tank as it will get real big eventually. My Blonde Naso is just about to start growing its streamers and already I can see that it will get too big for even my 225g. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[Tangwich]

Correction: the tank is probably going to be a temporary home for your Blonde Naso, sorry.

 

[mmotown]

I am tagging along but I have a question. I have a blonde naso and a yellow tang. If I was to introduce a powder blue would it get along with the rest? I to have a 150

 

[Untamed12]

The resident yellow tang will likely defend it's territory against the new tang. That is how it goes. The new tang will either die, or establish himself in the order of things.

 

[iriejp1]

Thanks for all the responses. I decided not to wait for the morning and went ahead and returned the Brown. Too bad cause it was a gorgeous fish. But I'm going to have my hands full just keeping the Blue alive and I don't need the extra stress working against me.

But reality is I knew better. Lesson learned I guess...

 

[BangkokMatt]

This is really common with multiple tangs. The fighting will subside in a day or so.
However, as Myers stated, having 2 Acanthurus in one tank will not help the situation and a 150g isn't big enough for a Naso in either the short nor long term.

 

[mmotown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12847721#post12847721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BangkokMatt
This is really common with multiple tangs. The fighting will subside in a day or so.
However, as Myers stated, having 2 Acanthurus in one tank will not help the situation and a 150g isn't big enough for a Naso in either the short nor long term.

so are you saying if I get a powder blue I may have a chance? Or may I ask what tang can I get to go with my 2 tangs?

 

[dcmander]

I would think the powder blue and powder brown would be the worst two to pick from the acanthus family...since they are the same fish with slightly different colors. they may be able to work it out.

how big is your naso? if he is still small, that is fine but he will grow fast and i would suspect that you will need to move him in 6 months to a year.

3 tangs is doable in a 150 IMO but the acanthus do like a lot of swimming room. i think if you do the 2 acanthus and then get a kole or tomini tang it would be fine.

 

[Neptune777]

Put a sizable mirror up against the glass and the aggressive fish will tucker themselves out fighting their own image. They will calm down and all will get along with minor fights now and then. I have an Achilles and a Powder Blue in my tank and they get along just fine...mirror trick works great!

 

[mmotown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12850136#post12850136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Neptune777
Put a sizable mirror up against the glass and the aggressive fish will tucker themselves out fighting their own image. They will calm down and all will get along with minor fights now and then. I have an Achilles and a Powder Blue in my tank and they get along just fine...mirror trick works great!

so do this and then get the powder blue?

 

[myerst2]

Please do not take offense to what I am about to say. I am saying this to try and save fish from being put in a stressful environment and die pre-maturely. Why are you asking people's opinions when the only answer you want to hear is that you can go ahead and keep these fish together. Just because the previous person had success with this "mirror deal". The "mirror deal" is the stupidest idea I have ever heard. To do that to a fish that by nature fights with other genus members to guard it's territory is absurd. How would you like if the person you hated the most just followed you around 24/7 and you can't even get to them. Sounds like hell to me. How about you get one tang and get something else. The amount of options for other fish are endless. So please don't ask for help when all you want to hear is that one person says it can be done and everyone else says its a bad idea. Thanks, Tim

 

[triggerfish1976]

I agree 110% with Myers last post.
This mirror trick is pretty cruel to say the least. The theory that a fish will become more docile because it is exhausted is just bad science. The stress being put on that fish will do more damage over the long run than letting them fight it out.
In some cases the aggression can subside but given the similarities between your two fish the chances are against you. You would have been better off trying a Zebrasoma Tang like a Purple, Yellow or sailfin but that might even be pushing it given the attitude of your fish.

 

[niles1967]

It is animal abuse to do that. Naturally territorial fish need to have those needs respected and other fish should not be held prisoner against the aggressor. Have some respect for these creatures. they have been through enough just to get to your tank for your personal enjoyment.

 

[myerst2]

Probably 95% of the people will agree with the last 3 posts. Unfortunately there is a trend of people posting questions only wanting to hear the answer they want to hear, usually being the wrong one. So someone will post saying it can be done and the poor tangs will have a real horrible life. Humans can be so irrational sometimes!!! Tim

 

[JRechcygl]

Working at a fish store I've seen more than enough near fatal confrontations. Some end up fine some end in splitting the fish or pulling a dead one out unfortunately. Just recently I added a pyramid butterfly to a 55 that had a purple tang in it. You'd think o.k, different genus,body style, food prefence,color.....they'd be fine. No, the purple hounded the butterfly for like a week, and now they are totally fine. Sometimes you need to let them "work out their differences" so to speak. Sometimes you need to know when it can't be worked out and you are going to kill a fish that you should have left at the shop or in the ocean.

With that said, I'd choose one or the other!