Thinking of Getting Achilles & Sohal Tangs

[FSOL]

I have a 180g tank (6'x2'x2'). Thinking of buying one medium sized achilles and one medium sized sohal tang from marinecenter.com

current list of fish are:

1 yellow tang
2 anthias
3 blue green chromis
1 fiji devil damsel
1 copperband butterfly
1 candy hog

Do you guys think adding the sohal and achilles at once together will be ok?

Both are expensive fish and I'd like to make sure I'm doing the right thing before ordering them online.

Thanks a lot
:rollface:

 

[Horizon Canopy]

i personally wouldn't, as they are two of the most aggressive tangs out there and would probably go at it in your 180 along with your yellow. from what i've seen, when the sohal and achilles are small they are not that bad, but when they grow larger they can get very territorial.

 

[FSOL]

Interesting. I was told that sohals can be aggressive, but never for the achilles.

If those two are strict no-no's, what other tang would be a great addition in the tank?

 

[Horizon Canopy]

how about a chevron, kole, naso, hippo, or dussumieri?

 

[FSOL]

Don't like the chevron at all.

I like the dussumieri but I thought it would be similar to the Sohal Tang.

Hippo - always getting ich.
naso - considering it.

 

[Brad Black]

I have a chevron in a 100 gal reef, just bought a juv yellow tang. The tank was just moved ans re-setup so I am hoping that the confusion will allow them to coexist while the dust settles. Have also added acouple of other new damsel types. The yellow is still in quarentine, let me know what you think. The yellow is only 2 1/2 " the chevron is still a juv also (but considerably larger)

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

I dont think a 180 is big enough for a sohal but the achilles should be fine.

 

[Dave Cox]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6637852#post6637852 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FSOL

Hippo - always getting ich.

I feel this is a bit of a myth... Sure they are susceptible when they first go into a tank (increased stress, probably), but once they settle down they are fine...

 

[Velcroflyer]

I've got a 7 inch Sohal in my 220g (72x24x30) and he is doing great. I will warn you that he is extremely aggressive towards my other tangs. The Sohal is constantly chasing my Sailfin and he shows no mercy on him. If you are going to do a Sohal just be careful what you add with him.

 

[Creetin]

I wouldent put any tangs with a sohal, I have a achilles and he is evil as well. He wont let any tang get near the nori clip.

 

[RLMainers]

My vote would be no on the sohal. Extremely aggressive and territorial.

 

[moonpod]

dussumieri's get HUGE.

Achilles are fairly aggressive when they acclimate. Very similar to Powder Blues.

Sohals can be on the psychotic side and in a 180 a Sohal could easily beat every fish in the tank into submission

 

[JIM260]

I am no prude when comes to tangs as i have a yellow, hippo, desi, purple, and p blue in my 300 L- shaped tank. Definitly a few tecniques involved. All have been together for 2 years and are fine. Butttt.... i say no to a Sohal in a 180 for size and no to an achilles for temper and delicasy. Hippo or sailfin definitly. Hippos are over rated for ich.

 

[Psyire]

I agree with a lot of the above, to keep the temper of the Sohal in check, you need something larger than a 180g, unless he's the only fish.

Achilles will be fine, so I'd try him and a different tang.

 

[RLMainers]

Right now my LFS has a sohal, orange shoulder tang, and maroon clown in a tank together. By accident she received a shipment of lots of yellow tail damsels, and she put them in the tank to add some color. She doesn't recommend people put damsels in their tanks, but she didn't want to kill these "accidents" either. They are all holding their own and doing well.

 

[toonces]

a fish not going berserk at the lfs and not going berserk after 6 months in your home tank is apples and oranges.

 

[Wolverine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6644485#post6644485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by toonces
a fish not going berserk at the lfs and not going berserk after 6 months in your home tank is apples and oranges.

I agree. Also, a fish not going berserk in your tank in 6 months and not snapping and killing everything after several years is also apples and oranges (or maybe pears).

Sohals can be super aggressive, and they can snap like clown triggers, where your first warning is several dead fish.

As for Achilles, remember that they also have a fairly dubious survival record.

Dave

 

[FSOL]

the only tang I have now is a yellow tang.

Does size make the fish more or less agressive. For example, if instead of a 5" sohal I got a 2" sohal, or if I got a small achilles instead of a large size one, would that make any difference as far as them being nicer to other fish?

 

[McCrary]

A 2" sohal probably wouldn't do harm to other fish, but he will grow. Try a Red Sea Sailfin, they are gorgeous. Another Zebrasoma shouldn't be a problem in a 180 provided you have plenty of hiding places and the new fish is a little bigger. If you have a really aggressive yellow tang, try putting the fish in a clear plastic critter keeper. The yellow tang will attack the critter keeper and after a while give up. You can usually put the new fish in after the other fish have gotten used to it being there. From my experience the plastic cage doesn't stress the fish too much and no damage comes from the new fish being harassed. Keep the cage at the top of the tank using string, if the cage flips it could suffocate the fish.

 

[JENnKerry]

I personally feel that a sohal or naso for that matter, shouldn't be kept in anything less than a 300 because of their adult size. Once sohals mature, that's when they start to show their true colors.

I would go with a powder blue or powder brown. Just my opinion. I have a powder blue with a yellow and absolutely love him.