Does separating two tangs work for aggression

[Jwise]

Hey Everyone so as many know I have a tang tank with what was 8 but 9 tangs now because I recently bought a Gem Tang about three weeks ago.
My problem is that out of all the tangs my purple and White cheek tangs were relentlessly bullying the Gem when I put it in and didn’t chill out to the point where I had to intervene after about two days of it being in there. So I banished them both to my sump and needless to say they have been in there going on week three. I was planning on waiting one more week to make it a month before reintroducing them back into the system so that way they have been isolated for a month. I was wondering if anyone else has had any experience with this and how did it work out. My Gem is eating like a pig now and is starting to actually stand up for itself and now has its own territory/cave Which fortunately isn’t where the other two had their territory/ caves at. I was wondering if reintroduction with all my other tangs already still established will keep them distracted now or not because I have 1 Blue hippo tang, 1 yellow bellied hippo, 1 white tail Bristletooth tang, 1 Blonde Naso Tang, 2 yellow tangs, and then the one Gem and the other two make 9. Thanks for any advice/ suggestions!

 

[KrisReef]

You have a serious problem with Tang Admiration Syndrome. I also want a gem but after years of therapy and intense treatments I have been able to resist the store that currently has a dozen of them on sale for $399.00 each.

I would consider if I really wanted to keep the others, especially the Purple since they are known aggressors and currently not in the ring with the others.

I have been thinking about trading my Purple for the same issue.

Otherwise I would put the 2 back in now and hope for the best. We need pictures!

Good luck.

 

[Tamberav]

Maybe have egg crate divider ready in case you need to separate them in the DT again.

 

[Jwise]

I was thinking of maybe the mirror technique to see if that worked because I have heard of great success with that as well

 

[Jwise]

Here’s also a couple pics off my tangs from today

 

[Uncle99]

Bullying with damage?
Bullying with no peace at all?
Or chase and stop, chase and stop?

Mine still do that here and there after years being together for 7 years. They like to keep their rank.

But nobody bites or swipes with contact. It’s a flash, a chase and then peace.

I see two big blues (wow that’s gutsy) but can’t see the purple. Likely hiding right now.

 

[Jwise]

Bullying with damage?
Bullying with no peace at all?
Or chase and stop, chase and stop?

Mine still do that here and there after years being together for 7 years. They like to keep their rank.

But nobody bites or swipes with contact. It’s a flash, a chase and then peace.

I see two big blues (wow that’s gutsy) but can’t see the purple. Likely hiding right now.

It was to the point where there was fin nipping from both of them and constant badgering which resulted in the poor gem being stuck in the corner constantly

 

[Jwise]

It was to the point where there was fin nipping from both of them and constant badgering which resulted in the poor gem being stuck in the corner constantly

And yes the poor gems fins were ripped to shreds

 

[Jwise]

Once I noticed the constant trying to nip I decided to intervene before it got even worse and resulted in the Gems death

 

[Jwise]

Bullying with damage?
Bullying with no peace at all?
Or chase and stop, chase and stop?

Mine still do that here and there after years being together for 7 years. They like to keep their rank.

But nobody bites or swipes with contact. It’s a flash, a chase and then peace.

I see two big blues (wow that’s gutsy) but can’t see the purple. Likely hiding right now.

But they all do squabble from time to time but it’s like a couple seconds and then they swim in opposite directions which I know is totally normal as some of the tangs are smaller than other and still growing

 

[Uncle99]

It was to the point where there was fin nipping from both of them and constant badgering which resulted in the poor gem being stuck in the corner constantly

Ok, yup, that’s not going to work.

 

[Jwise]

Also my water parameters are solid my mineral side is a little off but I plan on corals at some point in the future so that will correct because my elements are a little high but phosphate read .03 and nitrate stays around 5-10 and I also feed the tangs heavy but I have extensive filtration on the system with a reef octopus skimmer rated a little bigger than my tank and a reef mat and a refugium as well

 

[Uncle99]

Once I noticed the constant trying to nip I decided to intervene before it got even worse and resulted in the Gems death

Completely agree!
I remove any fish that act like that.

My rule is set your heiarchy, get along, or back you go.

Out of 6 tangs, only the purple was returned.

There has been years of piece now.

 

[Uncle99]

But they all do squabble from time to time but it’s like a couple seconds and then they swim in opposite directions which I know is totally normal as some of the tangs are smaller than other and still growing

All good this behaviour.
But no pinning, no contact, and no constant.

 

[Jwise]

Ph also sits around 8.1-8.2 on a constant I also have a recirculating co2 scrubber

 

[Jwise]

Which like I said with my parameters at the levels they are that’s also not a stress point for the fish to want and attack each other because I know that sometimes water parameters tend to make things worse and could result in more aggression

 

[Jwise]

Like they try to take things out on each other for things that the other fish can’t help or control

 

[KrisReef]

Like they try to take things out on each other for things that the other fish can’t help or control

They almost behave like people then?

It seems like there is plenty of room but I would be concerned like you are after seeing the earlier damage to the Gem.

Maybe try the mirror in the time out tank to get the bullies worn out before they come back? And of course have the mirror ready in the dt to help them figure out how to behave together.

Thanks for the pictures!

 

[Jwise]

They almost behave like people then?

It seems like there is plenty of room but I would be concerned like you are after seeing the earlier damage to the Gem.

Maybe try the mirror in the time out tank to get the bullies worn out before they come back? And of course have the mirror ready in the dt to help them figure out how to behave together.

Thanks for the pictures!

Yes the tank is a 6 feet long 125 gallon with about another 40 gallons underneath with sump and refugium

 

[Nate Chalk]

Mirror