Tangs?

[FishNutzBoi]

I've read that tangs are generally agressive toward other tangs with the same body shape. So my question is, how many different tang body shapes are there?

My guess: 6

_Yellow, sailfin, purple
_Sohal, achilles, clown
_Vlaminggii
_Powder blue, orange shoulder, blue hippo
_Naso
_Mimic, chevron, kole

 

[masterqaz]

its not just the body shape but the genus as well though the genus generally go's with the body type ie) zebrasoma >yellow tangs (flavescens), sailfin tangs (Desjardin)

 

[emperior911]

actually Fishnutz, there are 5 different tang species, i'd go by species not shape

zebra - yellow, purple, sailfin, black long nose, gem tang

naso- orangespine, unicorn, vlamingi

ctenochaetus -kole's, chevron, tomini

paracanthurus - blue tang

acanthurus- clown, sohal, powder blue, achilles, whitecheek, powder brown, atlantic blue, orange shoulder, chocolate mimic, convict, ebli mimic,

the list can go on

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Actually there are six genus of tangs, the five that were listed and the Prionurus genus. When you talk about tang shape and behavior all of the genus have pretty similar species within the genus with the one exception of the Acanthurus. This genus has the greatest variety of shapes, sizes and behaviors of all the tangs. Tangs also have a great variety of behaviors from pretty passive to very aggressive and nasty and a lot depends on the individual fish. A lot of tang compatability comes down to luck IMO, I had a very aggressive bristletooth tang that completely ignored a new addition of a small mimic tang. I have also seen tangs go to war and its not pretty.

 

[FishNutzBoi]

So, say that i have a big tank not huge tank. I can have 6 tangs in there?

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

What size tank are we talking about? There are some species of tangs that are pretty mellow and others that are very likely to go postal with a bunch of other tangs in the tank. There are a lot of tangs that really shouldnt be in any tank smaller than a 200 gallon, both for size and territoriality reasons.

 

[thor32766]

well i just happen to have 6 tangs check out the signature. they have all been together for over 2 yrs, the black tang was added about 3 months ago. They get along great, i watch them for atleast an hour a day of meditation. They eat like horses!!!

 

[vanmle]

What are your everyone's experiences with mixing clown tangs with other tangs? I have seen the clown tangs, and they just look great. I really want one. I will be setting up a 8' x 3' tank before getting the tang. I currently have a purple, sailfin and powder blue. All the current tangs are very mellow.

 

[Asuran]

powder blue and clown dont mix well. i have a sailfin, powder blue and just got a small clown (5 days ago) the powder blue doesnt like it one bit... lots of chasing, no physical damage but sailfin has somewhat started to protect the clown now and have buddied up.

but then during feedings the pbt is too busy chasing food that he doesnt notice the clown? the clown even steals the piece of flake/mysis that the pbt has its eyes set on