Tangs Vs. Rabbitfish- Help...

[gofor100]

So, I'm finalizing both the equipment and livestock list of my upgrade (which will be approx. 84"L X 36"W X 24"T= 300+ gallon), and am having some trouble figuring out whether I should go with 3 tangs (Purple Tang, Powder Blue, and Blue Hippo) or just 2 tangs and a Rabbitfish (preferably a Purple Tang, Powder Blue, and Scribbled Rabbitfish).

My concern is the aggression between the tangs (even though I plan on introducing all of them at once, or the hippo first and then the other two) and the potential risk of putting in just two tangs (since I've heard its better to go with odd numbers of tangs).I do like the different look of the Rabbitfish, but don't want the tangs to be in a constant battle.

If you think it'll help, I can list the other fish I have on the list...

Any thoughts/suggestions on any of the fish I've listed (good/bad experiences)? Is the tank big enough to not be concerned over the tang aggression?

Thanks in advance,

Chad

 

[TampaReefer79]

Tangs in odd numbers is when talking about the same fish, IE: 5 yellow tangs is better than 2 yellow tangs.

With 7'x3'x2', I'd actually shoot for all 4 fish without question. I'd add the rabbit and hippo and then the powder blue and purple together, after a proper qt of course. The fact that your 3 tang suggestions are all from different families is good, the hippo being paracanthus, the purple being zebrasoma and the powder blue being acanthurus. That's not the only factor you must consider though. Tangs also don't like fish of similar color and also food competitors...which the rabbit fish is a food competitor. All that said, with enough live rock and plenty of hiding spaces, you should be ok with all 4. I hope you have a beefy skimmer!

 

[gofor100]

I hope you have a beefy skimmer!

Hahaha... yeah, I actually already have a BK Vertex Alpha Cone 200, but will be adding a 2nd equally rated (or greater) skimmer to assist and act as a back-up in case one of them goes down while I'm away from the house for any extended period of time.

 

[gofor100]

Tangs in odd numbers is when talking about the same fish, IE: 5 yellow tangs is better than 2 yellow tangs.

Aaahhhh... that's what I was thinking of... I knew there was some "rule of thumb" like that out there.

 

[TampaReefer79]

Aaahhhh... that's what I was thinking of... I knew there was some "rule of thumb" like that out there.

They are still going to fight, but when you have 5, all 5 are getting beat up equally as opposed to just 1 getting the brunt of it when you have 2 single fish.

 

[gofor100]

With 7'x3'x2', I'd actually shoot for all 4 fish without question. I'd add the rabbit and hippo and then the powder blue and purple together, after a proper qt of course. The fact that your 3 tang suggestions are all from different families is good, the hippo being paracanthus, the purple being zebrasoma and the powder blue being acanthurus. That's not the only factor you must consider though. Tangs also don't like fish of similar color and also food competitors...which the rabbit fish is a food competitor. All that said, with enough live rock and plenty of hiding spaces, you should be ok with all 4.

The different families was all planned, since I'm obviously trying to have some peace in my tank. I would definitely like to go with all 4, but I think this is where the rest of my fish list comes into play... I fear that with the fish listed below, it would be overstocked when it comes to territories (and I might even just stick with two tangs with no third tang or rabbitfish if this seems like too many fish in this size of tank).

Here's the list:

> Angelfish: 1 Regal angel, 1 Flame angel
> Anthias: not sure which type, but a school of between 9-15
> Starry Blenny
> Yellow Longnose Butterfly
> Orchid Dottyback
> Black Ocellaris Clownfish pair
> Small group of 4 or so Yellow-tail Damsels (not the satanic Blue Devils, but the "calmer" Chrysiptera parasema)
> Gobies: 2 Twinspot gobies, 1 Mandarin Goby, 1 Blue Neon Goby, 1 Randall's Pistol Shrimp Goby
> 3 Yellow Wrasse
> Flame Hawkfish
> Moorish Idol (that is, if I can find one that is eating and fat)
> Blue Chin/Throat Trigger
> Trio of Tangs or Pair of tangs with Rabbitfish described above

I chose this list based on aesthetics number one, but also because the different fish selected inhabit different parts of the tank... (i.e., the tangs, wrasses, and trigger are active swimmers, the angel and butterfly closer to the rock work, the other smaller fish act as either dither fish or are in and/or around the rockwork/sandbed).

Thanks again for the input!

 

[snorvich]

When I look at that list, it seems a bit much. There are some fish that are "holding spots" that will not be especially happy (e.g. clownfish pair) and there are some tangs that will be naturally aggressive towards fish in their same ecological niche.

 

[gofor100]

When I look at that list, it seems a bit much. There are some fish that are "holding spots" that will not be especially happy (e.g. clownfish pair) and there are some tangs that will be naturally aggressive towards fish in their same ecological niche.

Thanks for the response.

Yeah... I was hoping that the Ocellaris pair wouldn't be too bad since they are one of the least territorial of the clownfish (in my experience, but I may be wrong).

I could definitely pair down the list if that's what seems to be the consensus...

I don't know if this helps, but my aquascape plan definitely does not include a "wall-o-rock" look and will be a very open rockwork with some arches and valleys (one of the reason I'm choosing a deep 36" tank).

If I had to pair down though, I'd probably scale down on the tang/rabbitfish group and am not dead-set on the clownfish pair (although the wife might say otherwise )

Anymore thoughts/suggestions?

 

[wdt2000]

You have plenty of room for all the tangs and the rabbit fish imo.

I am not sure I am following why the clownfish would be a bad idea? I have a pair in a similar tank that breed all the time and seem very happy.

 

[gofor100]

You have plenty of room for all the tangs and the rabbit fish imo.

I am not sure I am following why the clownfish would be a bad idea? I have a pair in a similar tank that breed all the time and seem very happy.

I'm kind of in the dark on this as well... I think what snorvich is referring to is the fact that a pair of clownfish guarding their "nest" tend to be territorial and "shut down" a certain part of the tank by keeping all of the fish away. Ocellaris clowns are pretty tame for clownfish though, and that coupled with the fact that I'll have a pretty open aquascape (not a rock wall as stated above), I would hope can help with any aggression/territorial issues that is present.

As far as the tangs and rabbitfish, I'm still trying to figure that out (as I have not ordered the tank yet, so it is difficult to truly grasp the size that I'll be working with). I definitely don't want a "cramped" tank, but was figuring that with such depth (36") and length (84"), that the big fish would all get along.

More insight anyone?

 

[frankpayne32]

I have a sailfin tang (5"), hippo tang (5"), and one-spot foxface rabbitfish (4") in my six foot long tang with zero aggression for the past year or so.

 

[gofor100]

I have a sailfin tang (5"), hippo tang (5"), and one-spot foxface rabbitfish (4") in my six foot long tang with zero aggression for the past year or so.

I've always loved the sailfins (especially the ones from the Red Sea), but with the size they get when fully mature, and the fact that hippo tangs and rabbitfish can get quite big as well, I'm definitely trying to plan this out so the fish can live the rest of their lives (hopefully long lives) in my upgrade without me having to move them out when they get too big (esecially since I'll also have some other medium to large fish in there with them).

Thanks for sharing your experience though... as someone had mentioned before, the lack of aggression might be due to the fact that they aren't all from the same family of tang/herbivore. Hope you have continued good fortune with them!

 

[frankpayne32]

I've always loved the sailfins (especially the ones from the Red Sea), but with the size they get when fully mature, and the fact that hippo tangs and rabbitfish can get quite big as well, I'm definitely trying to plan this out so the fish can live the rest of their lives (hopefully long lives) in my upgrade without me having to move them out when they get too big (esecially since I'll also have some other medium to large fish in there with them).

Thanks for sharing your experience though... as someone had mentioned before, the lack of aggression might be due to the fact that they aren't all from the same family of tang/herbivore. Hope you have continued good fortune with them!

I understand your concern but you need to realize that the fish you mentioned almost never reach maximum size, especially in home aquaria. That would be like saying all humans will grow to seven foot. I've seen hippo tangs the size of dinner plates but never in home aquaria, even those well over 300 gallons. But of course you never know, you may get the Yao Ming of tangs. Best of luck.

 

[gofor100]

I understand your concern but you need to realize that the fish you mentioned almost never reach maximum size, especially in home aquaria. That would be like saying all humans will grow to seven foot. I've seen hippo tangs the size of dinner plates but never in home aquaria, even those well over 300 gallons. But of course you never know, you may get the Yao Ming of tangs. Best of luck.

You definitely make a good point... but I guess I'm trying to be slightly conservative in my planning (who knows, I might end up getting the fish we're discussing).

I'm gonna think out loud here... if I have a tank that has an 7ft by 3ft footprint, and with the fish mentioned above (minus the ones that stick close to or on the rockwork/sand), I'd have around 6 fish exceeding 7 inches (therefore a total of roughly 50 inches) swimming in the open water space of the tank (unless you exclude the Regal Angel and/or Yellow Longnose Butterfly because of the fact that they are not as avid openwater swimmers and typically can be found picking at the rocks most of the day). So let's just say about 40 inches of fish... subtract that from the cubic inches of the tank (roughly 72,000 give or take some for sand and rock) and you do have plenty of room left over... 'course, I know that space is relative, and they're used to much more in the ocean... I guess I might not get a great feel until I actually get the tank in the door.

Anymore input would be appreciated.

 

[bequvaious]

If you're trying to get a better feel for the size of your tank i'd google some pictures or watch youtube videos of people's established 300 gallon tanks. Even though they may not have the same fish you want they'll probably have similarly sized fish you can get an idea from.

 

[betamed]

I have a powder blue, purple, and hippo in my 285 (84 28 28). Added them all at the same time and its been smooth sailing. Can't say zero aggression, but nothing of concern the powder and purple are a pair most of the time and the hippo is ignored. In a tank your size I would not be worried at all. I'm considering adding another large fish or a few more small guys. Probably going to remove some chromis and more anthias too.

My current stocking list
3 tangs
1 bellus angel
4 wrasses
10 chromis
2 anthias
1 hawkfish
1 goby
2 damsels