Tangs introduction

[legacy2mj]

my tang population of 5 was reduced to 1 while on vacation a year ago. The tank was cared for by somebody experienced while I was gone, so it wasn’t neglect. I still don’t know how or why 4 suddenly died all together. The lone survivor was my purple tang, which immediately took the dominant role and established itself as the ruler of the reef. Introducing any tang has been unsuccessful, I made an attempt with a mimic tang of a much smaller size. Used an acclimation box and after a week the purple still was not going to let it happen. So the mimic was returned to a safe environment.

I could really use the benefit of additional tangs but don’t know how to go about it. For the fish experts out there. Would the success rate be better if I outnumbered the purple to submission? I’d like to get 4 scopas tangs, in theory the outnumbered intro would have the purple hit the pause button…. But I don’t know… looking for advise

 

[Tang fastic]

What tank size is it/ dimensions

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We need the tank size to know if it was overstocked or not

 

[littlefoxx]

I would not put 4 scopas together, they will probably fight, and especially the purple will not be happy with them. Tank size would help but I would not do that idea at all in my opinion. Typically you want to avoid sane shape and color tangs

 

[LPS Bum]

Generally speaking, I like to keep 1 type of Tang genus in a tank. So 1 Acanthurus, 1 Zebrasoma, etc. Helps to prevent conspecific fighting.

I had to use my acclimation box for over a month when I added my Emperor Angel to my large FOWLR. But eventually it worked. A week probably wasn’t enough time.

If you have a QT tank you can remove the existing Purple Tang, introduce the new group of Tangs all at once, and then add the dominant Purple a week or two later. I’ve had success with that approach as well.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

I've see other successfully overcome this problem by doing a switch of who is in the acclimation box. Putting the dominant tang in the acclimation box, and letting the new guy(s) get to know their new home.

Maybe someone who has tried this method can chime in and give you their thoughts.

 

[legacy2mj]

It’s your standard 120. 4x2x3.
Full SPS tank and grown out. The aquascape is all joined together permanently so removing the purple would be extremely difficult. I get what some are saying with the same species and their aggression in that manner. Makes sense. Iv never had the same interest or knowledge of fish as I do coral. To me, they have pretty much always just been considered a needed component for their utilitarian benefits for coral health.

 

[littlefoxx]

It’s your standard 120. 4x2x3.
Full SPS tank and grown out. The aquascape is all joined together permanently so removing the purple would be extremely difficult. I get what some are saying with the same species and their aggression in that manner. Makes sense. Iv never had the same interest or knowledge of fish as I do coral. To me, they have pretty much always just been considered a needed component for their utilitarian benefits for coral health.

Yeah this is too small for multiple tangs like this, 6 foot minimum works better for space, I think your plan of adding 4 scopas and a purple (all zebrasoma tangs) will end badly