Overcoming powder blue/brown tang aggressiveness

[phoenix20]

Before I start, I know that putting a powder blue / brown together in a 120g is a really bad idea... They are two similar species and its asking for trouble..

Two days ago, I picked up a 3" powder brown and dropped him in the tank. He was the first tang.

Yesterday, we came across a powder blue tang about 3" for $30. My wife fell in love with the fish and said if she couldn't have it, then she wouldn't be ok with my "reefing hobby" because she wants a "say." If you're married and in this hobby, you might understand.

So I knew from the start, that this was an awful idea. The powder brown was in the tank first by about a day, and he had probably already claimed the tank as his own. Even if they were both introduced at the same time, this isn't going to be an ideal situation...

Anyways, I printed off about 30 pictures of powder blue tangs and taped them to the sides of the tank to try to intimidate the powder brown somewhat. The brown has definatly been the dominant fish in the tank.

The brown has been chasing the blue into the corner, trying to be aggressive by rubbing / flicking his tail, etc...

Since the brown has the blue in the top right corner of the tank, I took two fish nets and hung them from the canopy in the blue's "safe spot." The fish nets are something new / weird to the brown and he's leaving the blue alone somewhat more. Its giving the blue a place to hide.

Even if i'm able to keep the brown away from the blue for a while, i doubt this is going to turn out to be a happy ending for either fish. :sad: I'm going to try to give this a shot for a few days, but if the aggressiveness doesn't slow down, I'm going to need to find a new home for one of these fish. Does anyone else have any suggestions on what I could do to help out both fish from fighting?

Again, I knew that this was an awful idea from the start, so please don't unleash the hate.

Thanks
Mike

 

[cdub]

Take the brown out for a few days and then rearrange the rock work and put him back in.

 

[bclark7169]

I know everyone will disagree but I had a powder blue and a brown in my 125 and they fought for about a week or so then they called a truce I guess one stayed on one side and the other took the other side.

 

[jonathan]

Put the aggressor in "time out" of a few days. I use a tupperware container with 2 inch holes drilled in it for my clown when he starts to bully my sailfin. Rearranging the rocks may work but I didn't have much luck with it.

Good luck.

Jonathan

 

[tuckdaway]

Search my name for Copperbanded Butterfly vs. Tang solution of posting color photos on tank...make sure photos are of the agressive fish and larger than him....worked like a champ for me CBB is doing well after two months...do this quickly before stress and eventual sickness sets in...again search for my post...lots of good info.

And good luck.

 

[ga_daisy]

I'm no expert.....but I thought I had read on here that you are supposed to post pics of the more aggressive fish all over the tank. I've never tried it, just seem to remember that is what someone else did and it worked (not sure about your size tank with two closely related tangs).

I know that moving rocks around has helped me in the past with fussy clown fish. Once everything was moved, all chasing stopped.

Good luck.

 

[stacy22]

dawgdude;391202 wrote: You arent going to hear what you want to hear unfortunately. Regardless of aggression, That is too small of a tank for two acanthus tangs. Make a fish trap or borrow one and get one of them out. That is pretty much the most aggressive type of tang so two in a 120g just is not going to work at all IMO. You can try posting pictures all over the tank but I really doubt its going to help more than a couple days. IMO you need to pick one.

I agree with Charlie. I think you knew the answer before you even posted. IMO, one tang should go unless you get a much bigger tank. Also, you did not mention QTing these fish. Both are notorious for ich.

Good luck.

 

[ga_daisy]

ares;391245 wrote:

I hate taking people to the fish store with me, inevitably I end up the bad guy saying we cant get this or that.

AMEN! When I had my 75 gal years ago, I was with my exhusband......I had a few of these "lessons"

 

[drnecropolis]

I think the only way its going to work is having them apart.. Really don't see it working especially in a 4' tank.. Perhaps if it was longer and they could claim one end, but all tangs swim all the time.. Don't think its going to work friendo.. 1 needs to go back..

 

[hfleming]

Not that I want to get all the hate feedback but I feel I can contribute here. I have three tangs in a 150 gallon....a yellow tang, kole tang, and powder blue. Added to the tank in that order.

The yellow is the dominant fish in the tank. Has been in the tank almost 2 years.

The Kole was added about a year ago, no issues, they are buddies and are rarely seen apart.

The Powder Blue was added a few months ago. A lot of fighting with only the yellow at first but now they seem okay except some minor skirmishes just before lights out.

Most of the time the three tangs are nipping at the rocks together in the same place.

Some comments and information that worked for me and might help:

- After adding the powder blue I made some very minor rockwork changes in the area where the PB likes to sleep. I thinked this helped.

- I QT'd the Powder Blue for 6 weeks before added to make sure it was at full strength and healthy before adding.

- I used the pictures technique when adding the PB.

- The yellow came from another reef tank, the others from LFS

- Lots of open rockwork for swimming

- All three tangs eat nori together from the same clip daily

- I'm not sure why the minor conflict between yellow and PB just before lights out. If I leave the halides on and go straight to dark with no actinic period there are no skirmishes. My theory is the actnics highlight the colors of the PB more and make the yellow tang aggressive. This goes against the "low light is calming" theory.

- Also in the tank: 12" engineer goby, royal gramma, 2x osc. clowns, 2 gbta, green chromis, lawnmower blenny, scooter dragonet, cleaner shrimp, C. Clam, many SPS and zoanthids.

Good luck.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

No offense, but that was a terrible idea to do it. Wife "say so" aside, do you think shed feel the same if she knew one would likely be harassed and attacked to death? You will need to pick one. You shouldve gone with your gut instinct.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

hfleming;391269 wrote: The Kole was added about a year ago, no issues, they are buddies and are rarely seen apart.

What are "best buddies" in fish terms? To me, what you are describing (being inseperable) is hostility, not friendship. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

 

[phoenix20]

I think the best idea is to pull out the powder blue and let the brown be. Let me know if you're interested in a trip to Peachtree City for a $30 PBT.

 

[hfleming]

jmaneyapanda;391291 wrote: What are "best buddies" in fish terms? To me, what you are describing (being inseperable) is hostility, not friendship. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

I don't think it is hostility. I simply wanted to convey that there was the absence of any aggression on the part of either fish. None of the classic hostile actions are present, flaring of the dorsal fin, attacks with his scalpel, blocking or chasing.

I recognize that the fish are probably not "buddies", I merely wanted to convey that these two fish exist together no differently without conflict or aggression.

 

[rbredding]

phoenix20;391329 wrote: I think the best idea is to pull out the powder blue and let the brown be. Let me know if you're interested in a trip to Peachtree City for a $30 PBT.

maybe your compromise in this situation is to keep the blue since your wife wanted it and get rid of the brown (which I assume was your choice of fish)


I'm just sayin'

 

[phoenix20]

I was able to catch the powder blue tang and brought him up to Eric at the Fish Garden in Newnan.

Lesson learned: Don't let the wife dictate fish going into the aquarium.

 

[kvdigiulio]

He ate when i fed him after the transport to and before my shift there was over he was swimming happily! If that makes you feel any better.

 

[phoenix20]

Yes, thanks so much. =) I think he looked super happy to be in that huge tank up there. I'm glad that I was able to catch him. I'm sure he'll go to a better home.

 

[kvdigiulio]

just so you know im not aric. i was the younger one working in there.