Introducing 2 tangs at the same time?

[bigjohn]

I'm fed up with my LFS and I am getting ready to place an order with Flying Fish for some livestock. I would like to replace my recently deceased Naso and get a colony of yellow and a colony of star polyps, and maybe a mushroom rock. I would also like to have a Desjardin Tang. These 2 fish would be the only large fish in the tank. I think that I currently have a light bio-load, but I was wondering about the wisdom of introducing these two tangs at the same time.

Can anyone give any insight??

My Tank

[BrianD]

Hi John

You have picked two of the largest, most active tangs, especially the Naso. Personally, I wouldn't add them to both to a 135 gallon tank. If I had to have one, it would be the desjardin. Nasos just get too big for all but the largest tanks.

A captive raised hepatus would be a better choice than either the desjardin or naso, imo.

Brian

[Doug1]

Agreed on the Naso, I had one way back, that out grew a 125, it was 12" when he went back
No exp with the Desjardin but the regular sailfin tangs are not to difficult to keep, hardier than hippos IMO

[BrianD]

Hi Doug

I have had no problem with the captive raised hippos, which is why I mentioned them. They seem to be very hardy, much, much more so than wild caught. I rarely see a healthy wild-caught hepatus for sale.

For the 135 gallon tank, I mentioned the hepatus as opposed to the desjardin because it is not quite as active. However, for algae control the sailfin would be the better choice.

Brian

[ShirleyM]

Our Red Sea Sailfin Desjardin Tang is my favorite! We've had him a long time - couple years - and he's very hardy. He was added after a Pacific Regal Tang had already been living in our 120 Reef for a couple yrs. He's dominant, but does not harrass the Regal Tang.

We have had a Naso Tang in our 125-FOWLR for 2-1/2 yrs, and he's fine with the large Volatin Lion Fish, the Picasso Trigger, and the Red-tail Trigger.

He hasn't begun to outgrow the tank yet, although he has grown. He's very peaceful.

fwiw,
Shirley

[fishinchick]

I have read that sailfins are the hardiest of the tang group and the less agressive. I have still seen even captive raised hippos have ich problems. They are my favorite fish, so I hate to say anything bad about them.