Another Tang Compatibility Thread

[bdunn13]

I am going to let my wife pick out our "pretty" fish. Right now, we have 4 Chromis, 1 Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, a good clean up crew and a Coral Banded Shrimp.

Those are all nice fish but we want something pretty now. I really like the trigger fish but they get too big and are not good for reefs. I was not planning on having a reef, but I was given some Coral by a guy that works at the LFS so now I do. I likely would say screw my coral and get this very small clown trigger(which I think looks awesome) from the LFS but I think its cruel to put them in a small tank(I have a 120g). IMO there is just not enough room for them to swim.

The fish we were thinking of getting are the Yellow Tang, Blue / Hiippo ( i know its technically a surgeon), and she likes the Yellow Eye Kole Tang.

Would these boys get along? Would I need to get them all together?

If I got them, I am pretty sure i would have to order the Yellow Eye Kole as I don't think I have ever seen one at the LFS.


Thoughts?

[platy ben]

I dont keep saltwater but my dad does, and hes experienced with tangs so heres what ive learnt

Tangs accept one another as companions and would be best added all at the same time, just watch out because yellow tangs rarely, but do get quite large sometimes.

3 Suggestions of tangs i would have in your tank:

Lipstick tang

Pastel blue tang

Sailfin tang

[Mike]

Skip the triggers and I don't recommend mixing tangs together... But if you're going to do it, having a larger tank (like your 120) and adding them all at the same time might increase your chances of success in keeping them together. I'd be watchful though as they mature as aggression amongst them may escalate. Many folks keep the yellow and blue hippo tangs together in large setups. That doesn't mean that everything is completely peaceful in those tanks.

Watch for signs of ich. Tangs are notorious for this and getting three that might be bickering with each other could raise stress levels and cause problems acclimating. Do you have 3 tanks for quarantine?

[sgould]

I would also be very leary of putting tangs together. They have a reputation for being aggressive with each other.

[marlow1008]

I tries a Poeder Blue and a Sailfin and it went very bad. I currently have my Sailfin in my 20 gallon reef tank so he could survive. The sailfin is such a beautiful fish, I am basically paying my friend to conver his 60 gallon tank to salt water so this fish can be happy. The experts say don't mix for a reason. My powder blue has not like additions to my tank before, but the other tang mad her nuts. there is a distinc diffference betweent protecting territory and out to kill, and you will know that if you mix rhw qrong tangs.

[bdunn13]

I did not want to post anything here too soon, but Sat I got a Hippo, Kole and a red sea sailfin.

All seem to be doing very well. I am a bad fish owner as I did not quarantine them. I have not seen any aggression out of any of them.

They have 3 distinctive personalities.

1. The Hippo is the looney fish. He just spends most of his time going up and down one corner of my tank trying to get out.

2. The Kole is the fat fish. All he thinks about is "food, food, food, food..."

3. The Red Sea Sailfin is the lion of the tank. He is confident and swims everywhere, knowing he is the biggest fish in the tank. But unlike Napolean, he does not have to display his dominance and prowess to other fish.......

[sgould]

Keep an eye on them. Aggression will usually not manifest immediately as the fish are too busy getting accustomed to their new home. As they destress from their relocation and get used to your tank, they will begin to show aggression if they are going to.

[bdunn13]

So far so good.

[fishrule101]

I don't get it many people say tangs are mean but many people have like 100-300 gallon tanks and have shoals of diff. tangs. Why is that??

[sgould]

It's not that they're "mean"...just territorial towards members of the same family. If you are going to mix them, introducing multiples at the same time is a good move as it means nobody has an established territory and everyone is starting out on equal footing.

[nemo addict]

Originally Posted by sgould

Keep an eye on them. Aggression will usually not manifest immediately as the fish are too busy getting accustomed to their new home. As they destress from their relocation and get used to your tank, they will begin to show aggression if they are going to.

move your rocks around every few months and this stops them getting aggressive and terrortorial,

try not to keep same shapes and colours ,

and only keep in larger tanks 5 ft minimum for multiples

this is not a full proff way but it can aid in mixing tangs