Tang Aggression - Understanding and Combating

cdnco2004 · Oct 3, 2024

2 Days ago I added a Majestic Angel and Queen Angel to my 220g with 5 Tangs, one of them a Powder Blue Tang infamous for their aggression to new tank mates they see as competition. I was concerned about the PBT and how it would act toward the two new Angels. Sure enough it was very aggressive towards them. I had them in acclimation boxes and the PBT was trying to go at them in the boxes. I have used mirrors with very good results in the past. I could not find my 2 hand mirrors that I would affix them to the tank to distract the Tangs. I went to Walmart to get some new ones. I found a 16"x16" mirror for $5.99 and decided to give it a try. It was MUCH bigger than the 5 and 6" mirrors I had before. In the past it would take me 4-7 days to get the PBT to calm down and leave the new additions alone. I put the mirror up on the right side panel and boy did that mirror cause a distraction. Over half the tanks inhabitants spent the next 24 hours glued to the right side of the tank inspecting them selves in the mirror with the PBT trying to kill its reflection. I released the two Angels and they were completely ignored. Today would have been day 3 of having the mirror up. I decided to see how the PBT would react if I took it down and sure enough, the PBT has ignored the two Angels since I took it down. This was the first time with any of the additions since I got the PBT that it ignored the newcomers in less than 4 days. I think the larger mirror was what did the trick.

Link to mirror below, not sure why it says Robot or Human.
Mainstays 16 x 16 Black Mirror:

Robot or human?

www.walmart.com

Lostoften · Oct 4, 2024

Planning for restocking my RS 625 attempt 2. Unfortunately, lost all the fish due to a disease outbreak. Prior to outbreak, I had a blue hippo, gem tang, purple tang, white tail bristle tooth and a tomini tang. The blue hippo was added first, and was extremely small. All the other tangs were added together couple months after the blue hippo. Reading through these post, it seems I was on borrowed time with the hippo in a 5ft tank. Would the other tangs be likely to succeed in a ~130ish gallon 5’ tank? Or better to stick to 3 tangs.

nick0206 · Oct 5, 2024

Hi. I'll share my experience with tangs first, and then ask a question.
My first tank had a Hippo tang and a Yellow tang. I had no idea that tangs could be aggressive. Then I added a blue powder to them and didn't see any aggression.
When I started the second tank, I was told about their aggression at LFS, and was advised to start Blue Powder first because of his tendency to stress and illness as a result.
A couple of months later, Yellow and Sailfin were added. I thought he would kill them, because he immediately attacked them. In the morning, all three swam like friends, but it was clear that they pronounced it as a dominant.
Moving to another city and another tank was a heavy price for me. Apart from sailfin, no one survived (it's a long story).
A Purple tang was added to the new tank. At first, there was some aggression, but it passed quickly enough. Next was Foxface, but he was able to fight off both thangs, so they still don't like him, but they don't bully him too much.

Now the question.
I want to add more surgeons. I have a list of those I like. Yellow and Achilles I am not considering yet because they are expensive. Of what I am considering
Blue Powder
Naso
Sohal
Clown
Should I add two thangs at the same time?
What size?
I don't have QT, so I think it is better to buy them not in LFS.
Thanks

cdnco2004 · Oct 6, 2024

nick0206 said:
Hi. I'll share my experience with tangs first, and then ask a question.
My first tank had a Hippo tang and a Yellow tang. I had no idea that tangs could be aggressive. Then I added a blue powder to them and didn't see any aggression.
When I started the second tank, I was told about their aggression at LFS, and was advised to start Blue Powder first because of his tendency to stress and illness as a result.
A couple of months later, Yellow and Sailfin were added. I thought he would kill them, because he immediately attacked them. In the morning, all three swam like friends, but it was clear that they pronounced it as a dominant.
Moving to another city and another tank was a heavy price for me. Apart from sailfin, no one survived (it's a long story).
A Purple tang was added to the new tank. At first, there was some aggression, but it passed quickly enough. Next was Foxface, but he was able to fight off both thangs, so they still don't like him, but they don't bully him too much.

Now the question.
I want to add more surgeons. I have a list of those I like. Yellow and Achilles I am not considering yet because they are expensive. Of what I am considering
Blue Powder
Naso
Sohal
Clown
Should I add two thangs at the same time?
What size?
I don't have QT, so I think it is better to buy them not in LFS.
Thanks

The LFS had it completely backwards. The PBT should have been the last to add. They are tied in the top three most aggressive tangs. Purples are also in the top 10 aggressive tangs. Naso's tend to be among the most docile of Tangs. For the last year Naso tangs having been having a very poor survival rate for some reason. I would add Naso first and PBT last. I am not sure between the Sohal and Clown. Maybe add them both at the same time. You are better off trying to get them all the same size. I would say start with them young and SMALL. Also since you can't do QT purchase them from a QT fish vendor like Fish Hotel, Dr Reefs and Marine Collectors. They will be much more likely to survive and thrive.

barrybaok · Oct 23, 2024

I had 2 X 1.5" clowns, 1 X 2.5" blue tang, 1 X 3.5" gem tang in my Red Sea 300xl with a 65g display tank
It was a nightmare after adding 2 x 1.5" clowns
1 of the new clown died, 1 of the old female clown died, gem tang was bullying the blue tang and ick occurred and blue tang died soon after. The gem tang, 1 old male clown, and 1 new clown survived after treatment. The gem tang will scare the 2 clowns away during feeding, and it bite the rainbow hammer torch and bothers others during coral feeding. I'm gonna trade/sell it or transfer to the 20g tank after new tank cycle. I love how tangs eat algae on rocks but this gem tang is annoying. Planning on adding 2-3 blue tang or 1 of each blue/gem/yellow tang after

cdnco2004 · Oct 23, 2024

Tangs are going to feel extremely cramped in a 65g tank and that leads to very aggressive behavior. Clowns are also very territorial. Even young tangs lash out and attack other fish when they are in tanks too small.