Multiple Tangs

Having recently started anew (a few months now), I'm picking my prospective lineup for new fishes.

I have a 90G tank. Yesterday I purchased a new pair of banggai cardinals and a kole (yellow eye) tang. The banggais replace the two killed by my percula who got uncharacteristically violent in a 2 day period.

Currently the percula is in a tupperware container with holes while the two new banggais and kole make themselves home. The percula will be heading back to the LFS for credit tomorrow.

I have seen multiple videos and pictures of folks on this very site who have many tangs sharing the same tank. I have read the excellent post "What About Tangs" by Craig Manoukian.

I know I want a powder blue, and a naso (my favorite by far). I like the sailfin too. I'll keep them all approximately the same size upon introduction. If I get no other fish in this tank, is there an order I should follow for the introduction of these species? Should I add certain ones first? All at the same time?

What's your experience with these fishes? How did you introduce them?

 

I introduced a flame fin and koles tang at the same time, the flame fin was slightly larger. They shredded each others fins for a few mins then stopped and had to contend with my super aggressive talbots damsel and yellow tail damsel pairs. After a few hours the disputes had stopped and the tangs have asserted themselves kings of the tank and wind the damsels up. They were added about 6 months ago.

 

I had 2 tangs in a 70gql tall tank.. Blonde naso and a sailfin... Both bought at the same day and of course put in tank same day... I had put in other smaller fish such as gobies and ect. And never had a problem with coral nipping or agression towards other fish.. They both was super kewl and had great personality to ... They would eat from my hand.. The Blonde naso in time after 2 yrs grew to bigg then went to a 180gal.. IN a year out grew that tank then to a 300gal.. Where last known grew to full size with streamers..



Good Luck..!!

 

i've always been told to go by different shapes and colors when it comes to tangs & as far as powder blue tangs go I would be care cause I have seen some get quite aggressive

 

Powder blues get aggro, and when stressed, get ich. As beautiful as they are, I don't know if I would get one. Although the local store has a nice fat PB taunting me.


I have a 90g, with a pretty big, like 6 inch sailfin and that tang had been the boss of the tank for ~3 months. Then 2.5 weeks ago I got a smaller kole tang, and while the sailfin left the kole alone, the maroon clown had a g or 2 at the kole, and after a little caudal fin dmage, the kole is now fine, provided he stays clear of the anemones that the clown hosts in.

The sailfin swims with the kole, and they actually seem to like each other with not one issue.

Keep in mind all of the tangs you mention get big, minus the kole. Nasos get like 18", sailfins get to a foot-14" and PB's get a good 10".

I am in process of building a 193g plywood 5 footer for the basement, and when that is not enough, I will get/ make a 300+ upstairs. So I plan on building new "homes" for my fish as they grow

 

I agree with horkn.

The flame fin and the koles tangs are two of the smallest tangs.

 

A guy in my local club has a powder blue, hippo, yellow, and scopas in a 135g... no issues with fighting. He keeps them fed well though

 

If you have to have the Powder Blue then add him last. That fish will be very aggressive once it settles in. Naso I would put in first.

 

My first Tang was my Powder Brown--Then added the Blue and Yellow a few months later. Added the Naso last, about 3 mo after that. The powder brown circled him a few times for about 10-15 min. Then they were swimming together like best friends. Never had a problem with any of the tangs since. I guess it all depends on the fish.

 

reef sparky - I cant offer any advice, never tried the combo your talking about, never had a 90 gallon myself

I can wish you all the best, and give you an early reminder that images will be required, when you achieve your ambition

Steve