Killer Tang

[markc]

I have now had two very sad losses .My yellow tang has killed two yellow eye tangs .I was not sure about the first hence the second.
I would like to add another tang but do not want to be responsible for more deaths.
Tank volume is 120 UK gallons I was considering a Lipstick tang what do you think?

 

[Lynn]

You obviously have a very territorial and aggressive tang there and I would definitely not add any other tangs, you maybe have to be careful with any fish you add..even a non-tang.

 

[EmilyB]

It is quite common to remove a yellow tang to another tank, and reintroduce them after the newcomer has settled in. I did this at one point and it worked very well.

 

[Michelle50]

Once upon a time, I kept a hippo tang peacefully with a yellow but they were introduced around the same time. But, I would take EmilyB's advice.

 

[esmithiii]

There are several things you can do to reduce aggression:

1. Feed the fish heavily before introduction of the new fish
2. Turn out the lights when introducing the new fish
3. Rearrange the rock work
4. Remove the veteran fish to a quarentine tank and re-introduce after the new fish is accustomed to the tank (read at least a week)

I have had success in keeping a large yellow with a sailfin and a hippo tang. Both have somewhat different body shapes and color, although the salifin is similar. If you attempt another tang, make sure it has a different body shape and color.

Also, I assume your tank is 72" x 18" x24"?

Ernie

 

[markc]

Thanks for the advice the tank is 72x24x24 plus sump.

 

[Henry1]

The strategy offered by emilyB and Ernie will work. I have tried them before. Only thing is it require much manipulation like catching fish and rock rearragement.
Here is one more trick I have used that's much easier and effective.

Before putting in the new fish, stick a mirror outside the tank. Watch your YT going straight at its own image and start fighting frenzily.
Now you put in your new fish and watch the YT almost oblivious of its arrival . . . even if it notice it and make a threatening move, it will only be momentarily. It will still engage in mirror fighting.

After 2 days, remove the mirror and observe. Resume mirror one more day should aggresion recur then remove and observe.
That's about the longest period I've needed.

I have PT, PB, HT and Naso all introduced at different time with no problem.

Cheers
Henry

 

[o2manyfish]

For Reference: My tank is 72x24x30T

I have

(2) Lrg Blonde Naso Tangs (10-12")
(1) Lrg Sohal Tank (8")
(6) Med to Small Yellow Tangs (<3")
(1) Large Blue Hipp Tang (+6")
(3) Small Blue Hippo Tans (3")
(1) Lrg Purple Tang (+5")

You mentioned UK gallons -- Sorry I can't convert their sizes to metric for you.

In additon I have 4 sebae clowns, 1 porcupine puffer, 10 blue damsels, 3 cleaner shrimp, 1 Long Nose Butterly, 1 Asfur Anger, 1 Koran Angel and a couple of others.

The tank is a room divider, so it is clear on all sides, and it is decorated with 6 large pieces of various decorative corals.

With tangs, I always try to get them in groups of threes and in similar sizes. You usually have less issues with tangs of different body shapes. Once a tang becomes dominant it takes alot to break that habit. If you add a school of additional tangs, make sure they are his size, or he will take them out 1 at a time.

Good Luck - If you have a specific question from something I have said feel free to ask.

Dave
[email protected]

 

[esmithiii]

Thanks for the advice the tank is 72x24x24 plus sump.

That is known as a standard 180 gal tank (US gal.) I have never tried the mirror trick but it seems like a good idea.

I have

(2) Lrg Blonde Naso Tangs (10-12")
(1) Lrg Sohal Tank (8")
(6) Med to Small Yellow Tangs (<3")
(1) Large Blue Hipp Tang (+6")
(3) Small Blue Hippo Tans (3")
(1) Lrg Purple Tang (+5")

o2ManyFish: Your name is quite appropriate: You do have way too many fish. Your tangs do not fight?!??

Ernie

 

[Garry thomas]

you should have no problems putting a lipstick tang (naso literatus) with an existing yellow tang. Differant species and shape! moving the decor will help . I keep in my reeftank 8 yellow tangs , 1 emporer , 1sailfin tang (veliferum) , 1 regal , 1 pyjama/clown tang ,and there close relative the MOORISH IDOL (zanclus cornutus) with no problems at all.
Yellow tangs in my opinion should not be kept in numbers less than 4 or 5 ? i have also ordered a MUSTARD tang ! arcanthurus porphurus although i would not recomend keeping 2x arcanthurus species together unless in a large tank?

 

[esmithiii]

Gary- how big is your tank?

Ernie

 

[markc]

I like the idea of the mirrior as the option of a rock move in a 180 gallon tank is not a lot of fun.
Would the mirror contaminate the tank?

 

[esmithiii]

Mark- The mirror goes outside the tank.

Ernie

 

[SPC]

Would the mirror contaminate the tank?

-Probably, thats why it might be a good idea to put it outside the tank .
Steve

 

[CAT]

I've thrown in fake plastic plants when I introduced a new fish. Confuses the heck out of the resident, and since the newcomer doesn't know any better, they don't care. A couple of nets or anything reef-safe will work as well.

You could also trade the yellow tang for a more mellow rabbitfish - same colors but alot more peaceful.

 

[suckair]

I have mixed 3 Zebrasoma tang in one tank. "one purple and two yellow" and used methods described above. I have done this mixture in my 120 and also in my 105.

The 120 mixing went perfect and has been a nice peaceful tank with the tangs swimming together and having a great time for the past few yeras.

The 105 was rough and they would pick up fighting intermittently over the past year. For the most part they would get along but one tang "a yellow tang" was just agressive. Well I came in to work one day to find that the yellow tang had amost totaly killed the other one. Infact I removed the agressive tang and left the battered one in the tank but he was dead by the next day. I had to isolate this tang because it would just not play nice. Not all fish will have the same personality. I know it is strange to think if fish that way but it is something I have noticed over and over again. If you have a agressive tang or other fish that seems a little too agressive don't let the bickering between fish continue to the point I did. Remove that fish and try another one that may play nice.

Good luck

 

[Lynn]

I assumed that you had these fish together for sometime?? Were the koles new additions? is that when the yellow tang went after them? or had they been together for a while?

 

[Garry thomas]

Ernie my tank measures 11FT x 2.5 x 2.5 with a 7ft x 2 x 1.6ft sump of which 4ft is a refugium GT

 

[Anonymous]

wow, cool! by my calculations that's over 500gals, just in tank alone. that ought to give you a little room for a tang or two, yeah?

well, as pointed out by many others here, you can see that with aggressive tangs it comes to two factors - displacement of aggression - or - disparity between tankmates (size, shape, species all factor in).

dealers, when having to house many tangs, rely most often on displacement of aggression. that means that you have to saturate the tank with so many animals that no one animal suffers all the abuse. it works out in dealer's sys's because, usually, there are many displays/holding tanks being run on one system, therefore it wouldn't matter sys parameter-wise (i know, hardly a word!) whether the tangs were all together in one tank or separated into their own individual holders. that being said, few dealers have so many of one species on hand that they can't separate them easily, which is the preferable solution.

i've had a good bit of experience with tangs, and i've generally had no trouble with any one animal getting so aggressive that it's not easily handled. (though, i'll tell ya, i HATE baggin' naso's for ship! ARGH!! and porcu-puffs...double AARRGGHH!! thank god for newsprint) i prefer using disparity to my advantage, and it's worked every time. then again, i had an old-timer teaching me...not too many mistakes when you've got yourself one o' those. LOL!!!

however, i REALLY like the mirror trick! i think it's worth everyone (getting a new tang) trying and reporting results. it's something i never once considered, yet it makes SO much sense. when i get back to the aquarium i'm gonna talk to my super about setting up a little experiment (hey, at the aquarium of the pacific we are ALL about tangs..:lol: ).

 

[EmilyB]

I've used mirrors to aid my dismal photography, check out those angry irish redheads... :lol: