Yellow and purple tangs together

[yellowtruck75]

I am thinking of introducing a purple tang into my tank but I already have a yellow tang. I have had the yellow tang for roughly 6 months. What are my chances of them getting along in a 90 gallon?

 

[ace_92101]

Long term, I'd say not good. Purple Tangs get pretty big and a 90 gallon isn't that large. There're a few tricks you could try if they're both fairly small, but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[ca1ore]

Tough in a 90. I recently introduced a purple to my 265 with a resident yellow and they really did mix it up for a while. Things seemed to have settled down, but it is a big tank.

 

[meatball87]

I have both in a 220 and all is well now but in the beginning lots of fighting and they were introduced at the same time. I would say in a 90 I wouldn't risk it to much could go wrong

 

[yellowtruck75]

I don't want to hurt my yellow so I think I will keep looking for a different fish and steer clear of the purple with this tank.

 

[Incaico]

I have a 175 bowfront and within the next 6 months I am going to convert my 210 into a reef tank. I thinking of adding a purple tang. I have had my yellow tang in the bowfront for a couple of years. Any advice? I have a lot of rock work.

 

[Mike Ordner]

OP, I would say no. I have both in a 437 but they still can mess with each other. No real damage but fins on occasion get ripped and grow back. In my situation the yellow is actually more aggressive than the purple. Incaico, I would say you should be OK in the 210 depending on size difference of the two.

 

[BlueMac92]

I mixed the two in a 150 and it ended terribly. The yellow would not let the purple leave the rocks for 3 days unless it was time to eat. On day 3, the purple got fed up and hammered the yellow HARD before I could even grab a net. Yellow never recovered...

 

[michika]

I have 10 zebrasomas in the same tank, 450g; 5 yellows, 2 purples, 2 scopas and a red sea. It can be done. I've done this as far back as 2006/2007 with no issues in different tanks.

My advise on it is that fish personality dominates the whole thing; if your fish is a dick, your fish is a dick. If your fish is not a dick (that you know of); I recommend that every fish have adequate multiple hiding places, and a good regular diet. In my experience fed fish are happy fish.

Ultimately you know your tank best. There are very small tangs that come available from time to time. Use your best judgement.

A quick shot from yesterday. Apologies for the cyano and that none of the yellows are also in the shot, but it gives you an idea.

 

[SPotter]

I just introduced 3 purple, 3 yellow and 2 sailfins at the same time in my 360g and for the most part they are getting along. A little nipping here and there but all is good. I would suggest adding the purple and the yellow at the same time to the new tank.

 

[LukFox]

I think it can work in really large tanks with the right fish, with enough distractions.

In my experience, it worked at first but not long term in my 155g tank. I had a long established medium sized peaceful purple tang (think like 3 years at that point?) and added 1 large and 1 small yellow tang without issues. Things were fine for a bit over a year until the large yellow decided the small yellow had to die. The purple joined in on the fight, and they quickly tore that poor fish up. I ended up safely removing both yellows and just keeping the purple. Didn't work for me in the long term.

Would not recommend at all in a tank as small as a 90.

 

[ninjamini]

It can easily work short term but at some point they wont get along. This can lead to a sick dead fish or two battled and bruised.

 

[Incaico]

I have 10 zebrasomas in the same tank, 450g; 5 yellows, 2 purples, 2 scopas and a red sea. It can be done. I've done this as far back as 2006/2007 with no issues in different tanks.

My advise on it is that fish personality dominates the whole thing; if your fish is a dick, your fish is a dick. If your fish is not a dick (that you know of); I recommend that every fish have adequate multiple hiding places, and a good regular diet. In my experience fed fish are happy fish.

Ultimately you know your tank best. There are very small tangs that come available from time to time. Use your best judgement.

A quick shot from yesterday. Apologies for the cyano and that none of the yellows are also in the shot, but it gives you an idea.

great pic!