What can I get to go with a bully bristletooth Tang

[Naekuh]

But OP i feel your pain... which is why i gave up a tang tank, and went Anthias dominated tank instead.

I wanted a Wrasse combo, but well, i could not get all the wrasses i want, and they also have a stocking order too. Also the one i got jumped out of a hole which i swear was smaller then the fish itself.

The only reason why i kept my Tomini is after the time out, and after not introducing another fish, it seemed to have chilled out.

I wanted a Powder Blue like i had a long time ago, but i decided against it, because i remember the grief it caused me, and well, again, not worth it.

Also i really love Anthias.
They are such cool fish.

 

[SakuraSky]

How big is the white tail? Is it really that much of a bully? I thought they only aggressive towards other tatangs

He's small, maybe about 5" and when I had all my large fish in the tank he was totally fine but since my old fish have passed, him. Being the only one left he became super aggressive

 

[stewy14]

Emo girl…
Just kidding(I encounter these all the time in freshman year of hs)
Idk, don’t listen to me XD

 

[SakuraSky]

But OP i feel your pain... which is why i gave up a tang tank, and went Anthias dominated tank instead.

I wanted a Wrasse combo, but well, i could not get all the wrasses i want, and they also have a stocking order too. Also the one i got jumped out of a hole which i swear was smaller then the fish itself.

The only reason why i kept my Tomini is after the time out, and after not introducing another fish, it seemed to have chilled out.

I wanted a Powder Blue like i had a long time ago, but i decided against it, because i remember the grief it caused me, and well, again, not worth it.

Also i really love Anthias.
They are such cool fish.

I have always loved anthias as well and was originally thinking of getting a trio but not sure.
I made sure to research what tangs would be appropriate for the tank and it seemed like it would be a great fit (it was for a long time, until it became the single fish)

 

[SakuraSky]

Shoot it's a FOWLR? There are so many cool fish out there that are not reef safe. Lion fish, triggers, puffers, eels, several of the wrasses, large angels. Show him whos boss get someone meaner.

Haha I wish I had the space for some, but since I like my cuc I'd rather go with none aggressive fish. I had a huge bird wrasse and he was amazing. Sadly he died of what appeared to be cancer

 

[SakuraSky]

Emo girl…
Just kidding(I encounter these all the time in freshman year of hs)
Idk, don’t listen to me XD

Not sure I understand but okay

 

[SakuraSky]

Removing/rehoming the tang is one good one. I'm not sure the intimidation/overstocking/fighting fire with fire suggestions are as good as getting the fish into some more appropriate tank where it can do its thing. You mentioned that it is pacing -- it is clearly not happy in there (little wonder -- 90g is marginal at best for tangs).

You've noted that you realize the tank is too small for more tangs; follow your intuition on that. It apparently isn't even big enough for the one you have.

Well the bristletooth is reccomended many many places for 75+g and that is what i decided to go with, not wanting to put a tang in too small of a space so to my knowledge it was an appropriate choice. I wouldn't want to put another tang in there.
He only glass surfs when I dont have the paper up, other wise he seems pretty happy and doesnt pace, he just swims normally, unless again, attacking his reflection. just doesn't want to share the tank with anything else that can't stand up to him.
But yes I have thought about rehoming him. Which would be a darn shame

 

[Naekuh]

But yes I have thought about rehoming him. Which would be a darn shame

im pretty sure if you pull him out for a few days, and drop him in last, it will reset him.

Bristlenose Tangs are only mean to new people.
If there was a fish there before it was introduced, they tend to not care unless its another Tang.

I would first see if you can sump it, or get a 10gal and put it in there for a few days, while the new addition gets a foothold on territory.

If you do get rid of the tang, you will need another custodian fish for algae, so a foxface, or lawnmower blenny would be my recommendation.

 

[dank.reefer]

Haha I wish I had the space for some, but since I like my cuc I'd rather go with none aggressive fish. I had a huge bird wrasse and he was amazing. Sadly he died of what appeared to be cancer

One of these days I would love to set up a big fish only tank. It would be named the Thunder Dome and only bad A's would be allowed in. Triggers, Tangs, Eels, Dogface Pufferfish(pitbull fish), Wrasses, Lion Fish, Rabbit Fish. Oh yes it will be marvelous.

 

[SakuraSky]

If you do get rid of the tang, you will need another custodian fish for algae, so a foxface, or lawnmower blenny would be my rerecommendation.

I will definitely try this first (can't hurt except my bank account if the new fish dies lol) before rehoming, I really do like him! But can't have a jerk fish.
While he does do excellent on alage, my 2 urchins got the tank mostly under control, but I had planned to get a foxface regardless (and another reason why I had a Starry blenny)

 

[Naekuh]

One of these days I would love to set up a big fish only tank. It would be named the Thunder Dome and only bad A's would be allowed in. Triggers, Tangs, Eels, Dogface Pufferfish(pitbull fish), Wrasses, Lion Fish, Rabbit Fish. Oh yes it will be marvelous.

LOL...

Your gonna need these buff's

 

[stewy14]

Not sure I understand but okay

cuz they stick around bullies cuz they hate themselves
idk man XD

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Well the bristletooth is reccomended many many places for 75+g

Tank size recommendations are bare minimums (and a 90g isn't relevantly larger than a 75g -- that little bit of height doesn't change the situation). I don't think providing the bare minimum is a recommendation worth defending.

 

[SakuraSky]

Tank size recommendations are bare minimums (and a 90g isn't relevantly larger than a 75g -- that little bit of height doesn't change the situation). I don't think providing the bare minimum is a recommendation worth defending.

I'm certainly not defending it, but what im saying is I'm not sticking a queen angel or sailfin tang in here. I get the bare minimum, to each their own. However I feel a tang would still be territorial in a tank twice that size if he were the only one. The fish that were in this tank for over 10years before were a hippo tang, birdwrasse, foxface, heni, hawkfish and a maroon clown. They were all huge and I rehomed the hippo and clown and kept the rest until they passed of old age (this was an acquired tank and I moved everything)
To say the least all of those fish were way too big for that tank, but they lived peacefully. I would never put that many huge fish in a tank that small myself. I wanted a tang so I thought I was making an appropriate choice, considering the bare minimum reccomendations.
I have no issues with rehoming the tang if it becomes a problem

 

[SakuraSky]

Bummer, can you show a tank pic

As you can see my rock work Is very intricate, lots of hidden hiding spaces and caves, yet ample swimming space. I move a few rocks and the whole thing will collapse. A few months ago I redid the entire thing before adding the new fish (because I was also changing out the crushed coral the tank originally came with, with sand)

 

[SakuraSky]

heres a video of the tang and wrasse eating together peacefully. The paper on the side of the tank to stop his reflection really does work and he seems content. Just need to make sure the fish I add don't upset him! Lol
I will definitely purchase or build a custom holding container for inside the tank when new fish are added and see how that goes.

 

[Naekuh]

However I feel a tang would still be territorial in a tank twice that size if he were the only one.

150gal here, and my Tomini declared it all his.

This is a Tomini.. the same family as your tang. and not a Zebra like a yellow or purple.

So yes definitely, give a tang time to plant flags in your tank, they will even plant the entire ocean their's unless its mating season.

How long has it been since u rehomed a hippo?
Sometimes i noticed fish do not realize its a new fish if its the same fish.

Like for example, if you didn't rehome that hippo not too long ago, and dropped inthe hippo again, your tang will get confused and think his buddy came out of hidding.

I used to do this when a fish either jumped out of the tank and died, or something happened and it died (not from aggression).

The other fish didn't seem to notice its a new guy, they just assumed the old guy was acting a little funny.

 

[SakuraSky]

How long has it been since u rehomed a hippo?
Sometimes i noticed fish do not realize its a new fish if its the same fish.

The bristletooth was never in the tank during the time of the hippo. Within a week of having the transported tank set up (which was years ago) I rehomed the hippo (because the change of scenery made him go on a rampage) and I knew he was way too big for that tank anyway.
He used to live with a hawk and Starry blenny but they were already in there before he was added
(Long story short, old original fish died of old age, I got some new ones, they did fine up until 6 months ago and i lost the hawk and blenny suddenly) so I treated the tank and waited 3 months to add new fish and wanted to replace the hawk and blenny along with some other size appropriate fish. And well now it's just the tang and fairy wrasse lol

 

[Malum Argenteum]

I would consider putting a background (black contact paper) on the back, and moving the rockwork against the back wall. Building up the hardscape around the overflow works really well, as there are the dark corners where the overflow meets the back wall at a right angle that make a good start on a great little hideaway (and are a two-points-of-contact spot to help stabilize the rocks). There's really not that much for good hiding spots in there, judging from the photo -- it is all round rocks, with little in the way of dark crevices.

Just my opinion on fighting with trying to keep a couple tangs in a 90 for quite some time (my 15 year old yellow died within the last year, and my same-age scopas is still with me). If it helps you, great; if not, maybe it will another reader. Seems to be an extraordinary many tang issues reported here, so I think all possible improvements are worth considering.

 

[jkcoral]

I no longer keep tangs (except a lone flame tomini), but over the years I’ve kept many, from smaller peaceful guys to Gigachad “kill others on sight” purples and scopas, etc.

The only things I’ve found that help alleviate angry behavior are (a lot of) horizontal swimming space, plenty of places to sleep, feeding heavily (no one resource hoarding), and making (carefully chosen) additions at the same time if at all possible.

And sometimes nothing helps, and you just happened to get an individual that is a full time warlord.