Are yellow tangs mean?

I've been thinking about getting a yellow tang, but the ones I've seen were really mean. They would nipp at and pick on the clown fish and dragnet fish at petco. Even the yellow tangs at the LFS are a little too aggressive. Been thinking if it would be worth it getting on.

Other fish in my tank are: marine beta, 2 skunk clowns, dragnet, chromies, watchman goby, and some large hermits.

The only other tang I've tried was a yellow eyed tang, and he only lived for a about 10 days. Nitrates got a little high when a maroon clown died. But I do have a skimmer now and more micro algae.

Any input on yellow tangs?

90G tank with 55G fuge/sump

 

Never had a problem with mine!!

 

If they're cramped (like at PetCo), or already established in the tank before they add the other fish (like what can happen at any LFS), there's a possibility of it.

 

Mine is one of my original fish and he hasn't been mean to anything. Not even my hippo tang.

 

They can have a little attitude. Usually more towards other tangs though.

 

Mine has been great, and I agree with Blackraven. If cramped or already established, it can be a different story.

 

As already mentioned, if they are crammed in small spaces they can get aggressive. Also, if you add new fish to the tank they can pick on the new fish. I had this problem about 2 years ago when I added a blue tank to my tank, my yellow tang was in the tank for about 3 months prior to adding the blue tang...the yellow picked on the small blue for months...no the hippo has grown and he's king of the tank...payback's a biach. They don't fight, but every once in a while if the yellow tang steps up and pick on anything, he gets' checked by the hippo.

 

Mine gets along with everybody in the tank. Have never seem it nip at or bother any other tank mates.

 

I had one that was SUPER aggressive a while ago . . . it would try its hardest to kill any new additions to my old 125. IMO it depends on tank size, tank mates, order introduced, and the individual tang.

~Will.

 

Becareful when adding them- they can be agressive towards other like shaped fish- ie. purple tangs and sail fins - ect.

It took my guys (purple and yellow) a little while to "learn" to like each other, all be it big blue (hippo) runs the show and ALWAYS breaks up any quarrels- it's actually kinda cute to see the "sheriff" in action.