Purple tangs schooling

[JohnD]

This past weekend I was minding my business, like I always do. Suddenly, I looked up and saw I was at the door of my LFS. Innocently, I opened the door and went inside. I stumbled around and found myself in front of a tank with only 8 purple tangs. No other fish. Yes, yes, I know. The tank was too small for 8 purple tangs, but I watched in amazement as them swam very leisurely back and forth. What a sight!!

I became hypnotized. An absolutely gorgeous sight.

I need to go now and check my lottery tickets. The only thing seperating me, those 8 purple tangs and a 10,000 gallon tank are 6 ping pong balls!!

 

[davelin315]

Most of the tangs will school in large groups and fight in small groups (I would consider a small group 2 or 3, maybe 4). Yellows on the reefs will abound in huge numbers, and will not infight. I think this is generally true for most fish capable of aggression. I have seen large schools of tangs, triggers, angels, parrotfish, wrasses, you name it, while scuba diving and snorkeling, and they are always at peace with each other. Would look pretty cool to have school of purple tangs in your tank, though, wouldn't it?

 

[JohnD]

Dave,

I've seen yellow tangs school while snorkelling in Hanauma Bay - Oahu. I have never been to the Red Sea, nor have I ever seen that many purple tangs in a single tank.

Gotta go and check those lottery tickets!

Later,

JohnD