Achilles Tang Issue

Hi Guy's,

My Water Levels are fine, a tough high in nitrate around 40 but all else is spot on.

I just added a beauty 5" long Achilles tang to my tank.


I introduced him into the tank properly and right away our 3" purple tang went to work stressing him out. Ich broke out a bit so I had to partition the tank off.

My options are:

1. Remove Purple Tang
2. Give Achilles 5-7 days in the partition area
3. let them try to get along after 3 days apart or so.

I know many will suggest getting rid of the Purple but he has been a great fish, never sick, always nice and fat yet some what of a bully to other tangs. My worry is that the Achilles has not eaten during his first 2 meals.


They are getting garlic, spirula, nori, and mysis as their stack. This is the first fish I have had not eat off the start. He was expensive and is the most pretty in the tank.

If I return the purple and the Achilles dies I will be out two of my best fish instead of only one.

any suggestions 3reefers?

 

I would suggest getting rid of the achilles. Tough fish to keep from what I hear.

 

typically you want to partition off the bully not the new guy, achilles arent the easiest tang in the world to introduce, they get a bad rep because they die very easily when they are put in a new tank but once they are in and stable they are pretty hardy

 

I would get rid of the purple tang. They tend to be and stay aggressive so if you keep it, you may have a dead Achilles on your hands in the very near future.

 

dont know if its true but i was told by my lfs that you can stop fish fighting by rearanging your tank so no fish has a claim on any part, that way they have to establish the pecking order again.even if is true may not be practicle.

or there might be nothing in the tank to change lol:-/

 

Thanks Guy's,

I am going to put the purple tang on the small side of the partition for now.

If the achillies begins to eat then I think he will survive.

If he begins to eat and looks healthy I will remove the purple tang from the tank and he can be the top tang.

I would hate to remove the tang then the achillies dies.

In regards to mixing up the live rock, that has not worked in the past to tame this purple tang. he has stressed out 2 Poweder Blues and 1 Brown eventually causing them to die.

The Achillies is so much larger than my purple I figured it would hold its own.

 

Hate to be a bringer of bad news but if you don't get that purple tang out of there the achillies will NEVER make it. They need a very peaceful tank. They will break out with ick if you stick your hands in the tank and spook them but if you water quality is good then it will go away.

Always do research before buying fish.

Wish you the best.

 

What size tank are these two tangs in?

 

Good and Bad News,

I put the purple on the small side and the achillies gained some pep in its step and started to nibble on rocks quite a bit.

But he has still not eaten since going in yesterday afternoon. My fingers are crossed.

The purple will be going to the LFS tomorrow, It's a stunning fatty and will bring me a little credit.

Or I think I may have them just baby sit it for a month or so. Its 5 bucks a week.

Is the grazing enough nutrients to keep the achillies alive?

 

really depends on how much there is to graze upon, but generally I would say no or not for very long for a 5" tang.