Will they play nice? First expensive fish being harassed :(

nightOwl · 08/04/2008, 10:50 PM

Well it may not be expensive to some but tonight I finally brought my Chevron Tang out of my Q-tine tank. I introduced him and fed the tank as food seems to make everyone get along. I did research before hand to see it they were compatable with the other fish in my tank. Other fish include mating pair of false clowns, Yellow Tang, 3 Glass Cardinals, and a Mandarin. I expected a little fuss from the clowns as they harass everybody now. Everything was fine until feeding was over then the Yellow Tang started chasing the Chevron Tang. The female clown also joined in. I cut the lights off on the tank but I am worried that when the lights come on tomorrow the fish will be back at it again. Any suggestions on making them play nice that does not involve tearing down the rock work. My clowns are spawning every 12-16 days and I dont want to disrupt the place they spawn in.

Thanks

Chibils · 08/04/2008, 10:52 PM

It often calms down after a few days, but rearranging the rockwork (try to work around your clowns' spawn point) always helps.

BurntOutReefer · 08/04/2008, 11:33 PM

2 tangs in a 90 is not a good idea.......
its one or the other......
quote Highlander..."There can only be one".

tanker · 08/05/2008, 12:28 AM

Where does it say that a cheveron tang is compatible with a yellow tang?? Yellows, Purples, and most other Zebrasoma tangs are very territorial.

mixed_reefer · 08/05/2008, 02:00 AM

put a mirror up against the glass where the yellow claims his ground, he will forget all about the chevron. Im not saying its a fix all but it should stop the harassment until the chev can settle.

nightOwl · 08/05/2008, 04:49 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone. I was told by several shop owners that they would be compatible. I was told that you can mix species of tangs as long as they are different in body shape and color, etc. This is just one of the places that said it would be okTangs Since the have different body shapes and colors I was told they would be fine. Today was better but I think things will settle down.

Thanks

Sk8r · 08/05/2008, 04:51 PM

Turn the lights out on fights. That stops it.

nightOwl · 08/05/2008, 04:55 PM

Sk8r,
It's weird the Yellow Tang kinda goes near him and then turns around and flares up. Then shakes but is not close enough to do anything. The Chevron Tang is just staying in the corner. The clowns have come to the conclusion its not going to bother their eggs so they are fine. I watched them today and they did not seem to care he was there anymore the Yellow is now the problem

. I hope it settles down soon I will turn the lights out when I see them getting aggressive.

Thanks

stanlalee · 08/05/2008, 04:56 PM

how you sequence adding them usually determines how compatible they are going to be. Its just about a given if you put another tang in with a yellow tang in a normal size aquarium (excluding huge enough to stay out the way) they are going to be territorial. In fact those two tangs added to a 90g would probably best work being added at the same time. chervon first with slightly larger yellow after would be the next best way.

nightOwl · 08/05/2008, 05:17 PM

stanlalee,
Sequence is mute at this point but good to know for the future. I think I will catch my Yellow Tang if he does calm down in a few days and get rid of him. I have had him for years now so if he can't play nicely I will be more than happy to be done with him

. His ship has sailed and its on to prettier fish

.

Mariner · 08/05/2008, 05:25 PM

Well, to each his own. I think if it was my choice, I'd keep my long time pet and move the newbie.

BTW, I don't know where all you did your research on Tangs, but it is a pretty well known fact that Yellow Tangs can be VERY territorial once established in a tank. And the behavior of turning around and flaring up, as you described it, is meant to show other fish the Tang's scalpel (located at the base of the tail) which it can use to slash other fish.
HTH,
Mariner

nightOwl · 08/05/2008, 05:37 PM

Mariner,
I read about Yellow Tangs being territorial and know first hand about his behavior. I have had him over 4 years

. So in that time I have seen him slash a few fish and show off but never this bad. I look at the fish as stepping stones. Start off cheap and work my way up. So if he can't behave he has to go

. It's like newbies and some of their first corals softies. Some later move to SPS etc as more of a challenge. I look at is a natural progression in the hobby. The more confident you are with your husbandry skills the more expensive things you will attemp to keep. He slashes my female clown about once every other month but they have a love hate relationship. I have had them both for over 4 years.

Thanks,

08/04/2008, 10:50 PM	#1
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Will they play nice? First expensive fish being harassed :( Well it may not be expensive to some but tonight I finally brought my Chevron Tang out of my Q-tine tank. I introduced him and fed the tank as food seems to make everyone get along. I did research before hand to see it they were compatable with the other fish in my tank. Other fish include mating pair of false clowns, Yellow Tang, 3 Glass Cardinals, and a Mandarin. I expected a little fuss from the clowns as they harass everybody now. Everything was fine until feeding was over then the Yellow Tang started chasing the Chevron Tang. The female clown also joined in. I cut the lights off on the tank but I am worried that when the lights come on tomorrow the fish will be back at it again. Any suggestions on making them play nice that does not involve tearing down the rock work. My clowns are spawning every 12-16 days and I dont want to disrupt the place they spawn in. Thanks __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

08/04/2008, 10:52 PM	#2
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	It often calms down after a few days, but rearranging the rockwork (try to work around your clowns' spawn point) always helps. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

08/05/2008, 04:49 PM	#6
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Thanks for the comments everyone. I was told by several shop owners that they would be compatible. I was told that you can mix species of tangs as long as they are different in body shape and color, etc. This is just one of the places that said it would be okTangs Since the have different body shapes and colors I was told they would be fine. Today was better but I think things will settle down. Thanks __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

08/05/2008, 04:51 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Turn the lights out on fights. That stops it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/05/2008, 04:55 PM	#8
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Sk8r, It's weird the Yellow Tang kinda goes near him and then turns around and flares up. Then shakes but is not close enough to do anything. The Chevron Tang is just staying in the corner. The clowns have come to the conclusion its not going to bother their eggs so they are fine. I watched them today and they did not seem to care he was there anymore the Yellow is now the problem . I hope it settles down soon I will turn the lights out when I see them getting aggressive. Thanks __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

08/04/2008, 11:33 PM	#3
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	2 tangs in a 90 is not a good idea....... its one or the other...... quote Highlander..."There can only be one".

08/05/2008, 12:28 AM	#4
tanker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sf bay area Posts: 3,522	Where does it say that a cheveron tang is compatible with a yellow tang?? Yellows, Purples, and most other Zebrasoma tangs are very territorial.

08/05/2008, 02:00 AM	#5
mixed_reefer Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 516	put a mirror up against the glass where the yellow claims his ground, he will forget all about the chevron. Im not saying its a fix all but it should stop the harassment until the chev can settle.

08/05/2008, 04:56 PM	#9
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	how you sequence adding them usually determines how compatible they are going to be. Its just about a given if you put another tang in with a yellow tang in a normal size aquarium (excluding huge enough to stay out the way) they are going to be territorial. In fact those two tangs added to a 90g would probably best work being added at the same time. chervon first with slightly larger yellow after would be the next best way.

08/05/2008, 05:17 PM	#10
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	stanlalee, Sequence is mute at this point but good to know for the future. I think I will catch my Yellow Tang if he does calm down in a few days and get rid of him. I have had him for years now so if he can't play nicely I will be more than happy to be done with him . His ship has sailed and its on to prettier fish . __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

08/05/2008, 05:25 PM	#11
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	Well, to each his own. I think if it was my choice, I'd keep my long time pet and move the newbie. BTW, I don't know where all you did your research on Tangs, but it is a pretty well known fact that Yellow Tangs can be VERY territorial once established in a tank. And the behavior of turning around and flaring up, as you described it, is meant to show other fish the Tang's scalpel (located at the base of the tail) which it can use to slash other fish. HTH, Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

08/05/2008, 05:37 PM	#12
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Mariner, I read about Yellow Tangs being territorial and know first hand about his behavior. I have had him over 4 years . So in that time I have seen him slash a few fish and show off but never this bad. I look at the fish as stepping stones. Start off cheap and work my way up. So if he can't behave he has to go. It's like newbies and some of their first corals softies. Some later move to SPS etc as more of a challenge. I look at is a natural progression in the hobby. The more confident you are with your husbandry skills the more expensive things you will attemp to keep. He slashes my female clown about once every other month but they have a love hate relationship. I have had them both for over 4 years. Thanks, __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737