Tang Compatibility Question

cwschoon · 01/14/2020, 03:57 PM

I have a mixed 120 gallon with a great deal of live rock, lots of crevices and hiding spots. My Yellow Tang is 4 years old and I am thinking of adding a very small Purple Tang. My question is:do you think the little guy will stand a chance? Am thinking with so much rock and hiding places, there is a good chance that the answer is yes.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Dmorty217 · 01/14/2020, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwschoon

I have a mixed 120 gallon with a great deal of live rock, lots of crevices and hiding spots. My Yellow Tang is 4 years old and I am thinking of adding a very small Purple Tang. My question is:do you think the little guy will stand a chance? Am thinking with so much rock and hiding places, there is a good chance that the answer is yes.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

If you rearrange the rock work to break up the yellows territory it shouldn’t be issue. Add the purple after lights go off.

OrionN · 01/15/2020, 07:29 AM

You may want to have a mirror handy to distract the yellow tang. Also QT the purple tang and make sure he eats well and know how to eat nori on a clip. Sometime new smaller tang have to stay in the rock works for weeks. If he knows how to eat from a clip, you can put the clip on a stick and direct it to him.
I often use the methods above to add new tangs into a tank full of establish tangs. It works well for me.

cwschoon · 01/15/2020, 07:33 AM

I have used the mirror with this Tang, as well as Angels. I know the safe way is not to add the Purple and having slept on it, probably will not, not because of cost but because I do not want to mistreat a living creature.

OrionN · 01/15/2020, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwschoon

.......but because I do not want to mistreat a living creature.

LOL.
Not if you take good care of them. I immagine if you take good care of a small tang, the chance that he have along life in your tank is much better than he would in the wild. It is a Fish eat Fish world out there.

cwschoon · 01/15/2020, 11:49 AM

Agreed but you have not met my Yellow! Even with all of the rock work and tiny crevices, my concern is that the Yellow will never let the Purple alone.

five.five-six · 01/15/2020, 11:55 AM

You never can tell. This tank is about twice the size of yours and I think I got really really lucky. Had to use the mirror trick for about 10 days.

01/14/2020, 03:57 PM	#1
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Tang Compatibility Question I have a mixed 120 gallon with a great deal of live rock, lots of crevices and hiding spots. My Yellow Tang is 4 years old and I am thinking of adding a very small Purple Tang. My question is:do you think the little guy will stand a chance? Am thinking with so much rock and hiding places, there is a good chance that the answer is yes. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

01/15/2020, 07:29 AM	#3
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	You may want to have a mirror handy to distract the yellow tang. Also QT the purple tang and make sure he eats well and know how to eat nori on a clip. Sometime new smaller tang have to stay in the rock works for weeks. If he knows how to eat from a clip, you can put the clip on a stick and direct it to him. I often use the methods above to add new tangs into a tank full of establish tangs. It works well for me. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

01/15/2020, 11:55 AM	#7
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	You never can tell. This tank is about twice the size of yours and I think I got really really lucky. Had to use the mirror trick for about 10 days. __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

01/15/2020, 07:33 AM	#4
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	I have used the mirror with this Tang, as well as Angels. I know the safe way is not to add the Purple and having slept on it, probably will not, not because of cost but because I do not want to mistreat a living creature.

01/15/2020, 11:49 AM	#6
cwschoon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,318	Agreed but you have not met my Yellow! Even with all of the rock work and tiny crevices, my concern is that the Yellow will never let the Purple alone.