tangs

reefermike1 · 05-07-2007, 08:39 PM

made the decision on getting a big tank. either 125 or 180 gallons, mainly because i want tangs. i want a clown tang, achilles tang, powder blue tang, and a purple tang. and i want them all in the same tank. along with other various wrasses and clowns. i know they have a tendancy to fight but i also have seen it done successfully. so my question is what needs to be done for tangs to live in harmony? im not in any hurry, its just what i plan on eventually. i figure by this time next year ill have it, knowing myself it will be much sooner than that!

betamed · 05-07-2007, 09:05 PM

Hey,
I've not kept a clown or an achilles, but I think a powder blue and purple would be a good combo. Those two can be aggressive but since they are in a different genus and really are different in behavoir and color as well I doubt they would really go at it.

The clown tangs can be quite aggressive and the achilles have a reputation for dying in captivity. Would have to say that a 125 or even a 180 might be a bit crowded for all 4 when they get full size.

Reef-Keeper · 05-07-2007, 09:09 PM

first and foremost .... add them ALL at the same time for ANY chance of them all surviving. secondly, i would definately go with the 180gal tank (preferably bigger than that) for the tangs you mentioned. be ready to feed ALOT of nori AND meaty foods.

Geoff · 05-07-2007, 09:19 PM

a 180 would be a tough fit for all of those tangs. 2 in a 125 is about right. getting to tangs in a tank is a lot harder than it sounds though, expecially with the ones you have listed. i still very much so want a clown tang. i think i may have missed my oportunity though. the first one which was added at the same time as the gold rim worked great. adding both at the same time is the best way to do it. they are both uncomfortable so they get used to each other and do not fight. unfortunately the clown tang died from cyanide poisoning i am guessing. i quickly tried another clown tang knowing by time frame is very limited. the gold-rim kept it the clown tang in the corner.

it took 2 weeks before the clown was allowed to come out of the corner to eat. after about 3 weeks the clown was starting to eat well. once again it started showing the same signs as the other clown. it eventually died of starvation even though it was eating very well. my guess is cyanide poisoning again.

about the only way to keep two large tangs in a small tank like a 125, they need to be added at the same time and you just need to hope that they both survive. adding another tang later will be next to impossible.

G~

crvz · 05-07-2007, 09:22 PM

Get the longest tank you can accommodate. I would say six feet at a bare minimum if you really want to pull that off. The clown will be the dominate tang in the tank eventually, and the powder blue will probably not take this lightly. If anything, I would probably add the achilles tang in the tank first, make sure you've got a healthy specimen, then add the other two at the same time (the achilles probably has the least likelihood of being the agressor, and they have the worst reputation in terms of acclimation).

The purple should be the least of your troubles, but I've heard of some being just absolute stinkers. I'd probably add this guy last.

luvmylo · 05-07-2007, 09:35 PM

4 tangs+180 gallon tank= tough situation for the tangs. I would go with 2 of those neither being the achilles

reefermike1 · 05-07-2007, 11:29 PM

i havent heard anyone mention anything about size, and i thought that would be rather important. the way i was thinking was get the achilles first and pray i can get him acclimated. then get a smaller clown and powderblue and add them at the same time. if a 125 is too small ill be looking into a 180 then, i really dont want to go any bigger than that. out of all of them the achilles is the one i want the most, and a tough call between the clown and pb. also im not expecting it to be easy, as long as its possible.

crvz · 05-08-2007, 09:14 AM

Size in terms of what? Gallons? That's probably secondary to the dimensions of the tank. A 200 gallon cube would be hopeless (3' each dimension), but a 180 gallon at 8 feet (18"x24" side) would be great. The further away these fish can get from each other, I imagine the better success you would have. 8 feet is long, though, so a 6 foot may have to suffice (either the 180 or 135).

Your plan for adding them is similar to what I recommended, and as I'm sure you already understand you're going to have to be willing to accept casualties. Even if you get a good achilles and get it in the tank for a few months, dropping a grumpy clown tang or PB in there could spell the end of the achilles, especially if you don't QT. To me it's a huge risk (three Acanthurus in the same tank that's not in the 1000 gallons), but as you said it's been done. Just look at carl's 150 gallon reef (top left video). He's got 7-8 tangs in a 150, but I'm convinced he puts tranquilizers in his water (though there's no evidence to prove it

).

Geoff · 05-08-2007, 10:25 AM

size is totally irrelevent with the tangs that are being talked about here. once they are in the tank they will not be coming out. getting fish out of a tank that is longer the 4' on a side is a real chore.

you have one shot at this. the minute one of the tangs gets comfy adding another tang would prolly be the death of the new tang. the only other option would be to get the Achilles. get it settled, like for several months. then when you are ready to try another tank. rearrange the entire tank again when the new tang is introduced. hopefully this will not over stress the Achilles, but it will give the other tang a fighting chance.

tangs do not care what size another tang is. if it is in its territory, it needs to be gone. you tend to either end up with the big one living or both killing themselves if the sizes are close.

i have never tried putting a much larger tang in a tank with an established small tang. that might work. the tangs need to be quite a bit difference in size in order for this to possibly work.

G~

salt-rookie · 05-08-2007, 11:18 AM

I have broken ALL of the boundaries mentioned here and my 6 tangs live together well in my 180! I have a Black, Scopas Hybrid, Show Sized Yellow, Medium Yellow, Sailfin and Purple in my 180! 6 ZEBRASOMAS in a 6 foot tank.....It works, and they did NOT all go in together; HOWEVER they are well fed, with LOTS of cover!

Geoff · 05-08-2007, 11:25 AM

you are talking Zebrasomas. these are much less ich prone than the species that are discussed above. Zebrasomas also are not as large as the tangs discussed above. they also do not range as far as the tangs listed above.

i have seen multiple Zebrasomas in a tank. i am also guessing the purple was the last one introduced.

G~

faintreny · 05-08-2007, 11:37 AM

Hi,
I do have a purple, Kole and blue tang in a 140g, the purple is definitely the pain in the back side and killed a yellow one, as well as bother the more recently introduced kole.
No visible problem between the blue and the other.My advice is to introduce similar shaped tang at the same time, and definitely the smallest first if you have to.Similar shapes, irrespective of the color will fight occasionaly.
Nori helps but polute water also, it is not the ultimate weapon...

Good luck

harman · 05-08-2007, 12:15 PM

I can tell you from having most of these tangs that an Achilles and a powder blue tang will never survive with a clown tang unless they are in a very large tank 10 foot or more, clown tangs should be classified as super aggressive. I have one in a 6 foot tank that was added a year (against my better judgment but that’s another story) after my large purple tang and very large yellow tang had been in there, this clown tang was half the size of the other tangs six months ago and still pushed them around, now six months later the clown tang is larger than my yellow tang, They eat a lot and grow fast and when they get hungry they go from aggressive to super aggressive. Don’t get me wrong I love this fish and think it is one of the best looking tangs there is but IMO they should be in very large tanks, as mine will be when I find him a suitable home.

SPC · 05-08-2007, 12:48 PM

The last time I checked, the Powder Blue's were still considered to be a very difficult fish to keep alive long term in any fish tank. Is there something new that I missed?

Quote:

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

I have broken ALL of the boundaries mentioned here and my 6 tangs live together well in my 180! I have a Black, Scopas Hybrid, Show Sized Yellow, Medium Yellow, Sailfin and Purple in my 180! 6 ZEBRASOMAS in a 6 foot tank.....It works, and they did NOT all go in together; HOWEVER they are well fed, with LOTS of cover!

You have these in your SPS Exclusive reef tank, Phil? That sure seems like alot of organics for an SPS tank. How do you keep the organics in check (DSB, Skimmer, etc...), and how long has the tank been running with this exact combo of fish and SPS corals?

Steve

reefermike1 · 05-08-2007, 05:48 PM

funny when i look at a 180 gallon tank it looks huge to me. hard to believe it would be too small for anythng lol. from what i heard the clown would be the most aggressive. guess ill cancel him then. how bout hippo tangs, what are they like?