Anyone with Mulitpule Naso Tangs in one tank?????-Tropical Fish - Page 2-3reef Forums

amcarrig · 01-13-2008, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otty

Aggression from the new Tang or all the rest of them??

Yes

Like I mentioned earlier, it can be done. You currently have 2 hippo tangs in your tank that get along don't you? Not the same species but goes to show that the books aren't always right. The 200 gallon holding tank at the shop has 2 large sohal tangs, 2 large Vlamingii tangs, 3 medium yellow tangs, 2 sailfin tangs and 2 hippo tangs. These fish have been together for almost a year and there isn't a scratch on any of them from fighting. I've seen large tanks support small schools of yellow tangs with no problems whatsoever, however, like I said before, your mileage may vary.

Scott Osborne · 01-13-2008, 06:16 AM

I've got some experiance with large tanks and tangs. I think that your tank is probably right at the point where it becomes ok to start going with mulitple tangs. I personally would try to stick with the same species. When going for multiples.

Naso's are't quite like Acanthuras tangs in the aggression. So it might work out for you. It would have been much better had you added both at the same time and had them both the same size. Not to mention I think that pairs are harder to do than multiples of 3 or 4. Aggression get better dispersed that way. And really it just all boils down the personality of individual fish. Is the current Naso the "alpha" fish? I notice that trying to slip stuff be the "alpha" fish is where things get squirrely. I had that problem with my 10" Hippo tang. It was so bad I had to get rid of it. However I had 5 hippos in a 450 before.

BTW Powder Blues can be done in pairs. And some tangs do better in groups. Like the Achillies tang and even the Powder Blues. The Atlantic Blue tangs are also stunning in a group.

Good Luck. From the sounds of it your gonna have a full tank once all those tangs grow in.

Otty · 01-13-2008, 08:30 AM

From the look of this picture I found I have a female.

So should I stay with another female or add a male??

Tangster · 01-13-2008, 09:53 AM

It matters not bout the sex its more about coloration and body shape.. As for adding a 2nd Naso go ahead .. There may be some chasing and darting and tail slapping with them for a few days but they will settle in and work it out, We bring them in and out all the time .. I would not worry about it . Once the pecking order is settled it will be fine.

In all the yrs with mixing tangs I only had one a huge single Yellow that a old lady had in a 55 all by himself for several yrs and he was the only one I ever saw that did not ever accept any tank mate of any type would kill anything put in there with him. The old lady passed away and I was asked to take the fish.. She brought the set up and fish from me. even in a new tank he would not accept anything in there.. with him period..

But that was in 72 and that was the first and last one I ever say to just not accept it ..He was a Baaad fish LOL

i think you mentioned and noticed those shoals in that tank that day and the 3 yellow's just one huge Vlamingii he and one of thre shoals where like nerf football size . 8 maybe 10 inches ? but all in that tank now are 4 to 10 inches long and all get along just fine..

Otty · 01-14-2008, 05:51 AM

So do you think I would be better off adding a small one or a large one???

coral reefer · 01-14-2008, 06:05 AM

I would think that the new addition would have to be bigger than the one you have now, to lower the chance of aggression.

Tangster · 01-14-2008, 06:25 AM

I really don't think it matters that much as I find larger established fish fine smaller newer additions as less of a threat or competition. We had a little smaller Shoal and a far smaller yellow to go into a tank with 2 much larger yellows and a about 1/3 larger shoal and not a problem .. I find more dense te community less singled out aggression.. Same can be said for Chromis schools . There are no gurantees but I never had but that one yrs ago and I have always mixed tangs at larger numbers then in any book would sugguest and I still have never had one to over grow the system.. Unless it was in a huge tank..

Otty · 01-14-2008, 06:54 AM

I would like to have a Shoal but I want him to be the last fish I add. I will put two or three more in then call it quits, don't need a high bio-load.

Tangster · 01-14-2008, 08:06 AM

Well I have several nice shoals if and when let me know But we bring them in and hold then until we send them out to a different system to change the looks of the systems of clients . We really have never had a issue with that much aggression and in that tnk we removed all the rocks as it was to much to catch them when needed .