Keeping 2 tangs, only two tangs

[kappaknight]

Have any of you successfully kept only two tangs (and other fish)? I forgot where I read it but the site recommended that if I wanted multiple tangs to get at least three so the two doesn't fight all the time, is that true?

[Hardhead Cat]

Depends on the tangs - do you mean yellow tangs? I've been told to keep odd numbers of them too. I have two tangs in the same 135-gallon right now - a Naso and a yellow tang. They do really well.

HHC

[seshapir]

I don't know about keeping three but I've read that if you want more than one tang they should be different types for example....a yellow tang is in the Zebrasoma family and a powder blue tang is in the Acanthurus family. This also depends on the size of your tank....how big is the tank?

[johnny505]

it really depends on the personality of the fish....as crazy as it sounds. I have a Clown tang and Chevron and they are great together. I also have other fish too and everything is ok.

[xtopher]

I think that rule only applies if you are putting more than one of the same kind in the tank, if putting like sizes and shapes of tangs in the tank eg chevron and a yellow or blue and powder blue it is a good idea to add them at the same time

[Twitterbait]

I have seen different types together without problems, i have also seen multiples of the same type together in pet stores. just make sure the tank is big enough.

[Hardhead Cat]

Yes, TwitterB makes a great point - the tank needs to be fairly large for any tang......

HHC

[Nyles]

Also each case will vary depending on a million variables including agressiveness and when the fish where introduced to the tank(same time or seperate). My yellow tang could have cared less when I dropped a blue tang in.

[Doug1]

LFS frequently have several smaller tangs in tanks that are not large enuff to support them long term, but since they will hopefully sell quick its a common practice
What happens is that ie 4 3 yellow or hippo tangs in a 20 or 29 shop tank with virtually nothing in the tank to hide behind, the fish will maintain a constant state of watchful wariness, no one wants to make the first over aggressive move, but if these fish dont sell quickly the stress will start to wear on them quickly. Ever seen a tang in LFS youve watched 3 weeks or so get more pinched looking in the abdomen and maybe display "flicking" behaviour even if no spots are showing?