Added new Regal Tang with existing Yellow Tang

evilredhead · 08/31/2012, 07:46 PM

Hello! I currently have a yellow tang and two clowns that get along wonderfully! Well today I added a new yellow belly regal tang. I have re-arranged rockwork so they can establish new territory (I did leave the one spot that the yellow prefers alone) and turn the lights out as directed by my LFS! I did have the lights on while redoing rockwork and noticed the yellow tang is wagging its tail at the new regal (the regal is smaller by the way) And the yellow darts after the regal but turns away quick. The regal seems to have found a comfy spot in his own space now in a nice rock cave, but he is going over and wanting to make friends with the yellow and the yellow just wont have it! Now I'm keeping the lights off as directed and I can't see whats going on and I'm scared to go to sleep! What will I wake up to in the morning?? Oh and this is a 6 ft tank.. the yellow is about 1.5" and the regal is about 1"... thanks so much everyone!!

Neptune_Fan · 08/31/2012, 07:50 PM

its a toss up. really depends on the "personality" of the fish. i would think the are going to be fine though. the yellow is just showing his dominance. kinda saying "hey this is my area back up cuz im the boss here". If the make if thru the first few days they will prob turn out to be best friends.

evilredhead · 08/31/2012, 07:56 PM

Do you think the regal will be smart enough to go back to his safe area if the yellow starts to hurt him/her? This is a new rock area so the yellow will not go near it as of yet... so the regal has a safe retreat, but it just doesn't seem smart enough, it really wants to make friends with the yellow... LOL!

syrinx · 08/31/2012, 08:04 PM

The fish was smart enough to survive in the wild up until a little while ago- if it is being bullied it will flee.

evilredhead · 08/31/2012, 08:35 PM

Oh thanks guys!! I shall wish for the best and will let you know how it went in the morning! I know its important to keep the lights out to reduce stress but it surely increases my stress when I can't see whats going on... LOL!

rotts4u · 08/31/2012, 08:51 PM

Does the rearranging really work? I have a bicolor and no matter what I do to the tank that fish is dominate and tries to kill anything new.

evilredhead · 08/31/2012, 09:08 PM

Well I can say my Yellow Tang is quite apprehensive to the new rock corner I created to be intended as a hangout for the new regal! So far so good, he hasn't gone near the new area! I've had him for about a month and anytime I add something new it takes him days to go near it! The Regal went right to that corner and found a nice cave... but it still keeps going to the Yellow Tangs hangout and just seems to be a bit dim in that respect! The lights are out but I can still see the yellow as he is so bright (hasn't ventured near it), but hard to see the blue so I'm not sure what he's doing now!

evilredhead · 08/31/2012, 09:10 PM

When I could see the regal earlier and when I approached the tank he runs right back to the cave, so Im really hoping if the yellow does inflict harm he will do the same!! I guess all I can do is wait it out now

evilredhead · 09/01/2012, 07:58 AM

Update: Well this morning everyone is alive and well! Lights are on and so begins the chasing and tail wagging! I managed to catch of picture of the yellow tail swatting at the regal... but shortly after the little blue went right back after the yellow! I guess he can hold his own! I was quite concerned with size difference but he has no fear! Neither have visable wounds despite the tail swatting! Here is hoping they will work this out soon and be friends!

Neptune_Fan · 09/01/2012, 08:37 AM

good to hear. right now there are working out who is gonna be the boss..they will be fine

dzfish17 · 09/01/2012, 08:54 AM

Yeah, I dont see a problem either... mainly because they are so small. If you tried this with tangs around the 3" or 4" range you would have a lot more aggression issues.

ajcanale · 09/01/2012, 09:53 AM

Completely normal behavior, it will eventually balance out. I remember adding a purple tang with my yellow tang.... it was vicious, for about 3 days. Now, they follow each other around the tank. The only time there is any aggression is when I feed nori sheets.

evilredhead · 09/01/2012, 10:29 AM

Thanks so much guys! What a relief to hear

A friend of mine mentioned that I need an odd number that 2 will fight but 3 or 5 will be ok?? I heard this is true with the same species but with different Genus? Please input!! You guys are great! Thanks!

08/31/2012, 07:46 PM	#1
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Added new Regal Tang with existing Yellow Tang Hello! I currently have a yellow tang and two clowns that get along wonderfully! Well today I added a new yellow belly regal tang. I have re-arranged rockwork so they can establish new territory (I did leave the one spot that the yellow prefers alone) and turn the lights out as directed by my LFS! I did have the lights on while redoing rockwork and noticed the yellow tang is wagging its tail at the new regal (the regal is smaller by the way) And the yellow darts after the regal but turns away quick. The regal seems to have found a comfy spot in his own space now in a nice rock cave, but he is going over and wanting to make friends with the yellow and the yellow just wont have it! Now I'm keeping the lights off as directed and I can't see whats going on and I'm scared to go to sleep! What will I wake up to in the morning?? Oh and this is a 6 ft tank.. the yellow is about 1.5" and the regal is about 1"... thanks so much everyone!!

09/01/2012, 08:54 AM	#11
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	Yeah, I dont see a problem either... mainly because they are so small. If you tried this with tangs around the 3" or 4" range you would have a lot more aggression issues. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

09/01/2012, 09:53 AM	#12
ajcanale Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Memphis 10 Posts: 1,098	Completely normal behavior, it will eventually balance out. I remember adding a purple tang with my yellow tang.... it was vicious, for about 3 days. Now, they follow each other around the tank. The only time there is any aggression is when I feed nori sheets. __________________ If the spirit moves ya, let me groove ya Current Tank Info: 150g Starphire Pensinula SPS

08/31/2012, 07:50 PM	#2
Neptune_Fan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 224	its a toss up. really depends on the "personality" of the fish. i would think the are going to be fine though. the yellow is just showing his dominance. kinda saying "hey this is my area back up cuz im the boss here". If the make if thru the first few days they will prob turn out to be best friends.

08/31/2012, 07:56 PM	#3
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Do you think the regal will be smart enough to go back to his safe area if the yellow starts to hurt him/her? This is a new rock area so the yellow will not go near it as of yet... so the regal has a safe retreat, but it just doesn't seem smart enough, it really wants to make friends with the yellow... LOL!

08/31/2012, 08:04 PM	#4
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	The fish was smart enough to survive in the wild up until a little while ago- if it is being bullied it will flee.

08/31/2012, 08:35 PM	#5
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Oh thanks guys!! I shall wish for the best and will let you know how it went in the morning! I know its important to keep the lights out to reduce stress but it surely increases my stress when I can't see whats going on... LOL!

08/31/2012, 08:51 PM	#6
rotts4u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 23	Does the rearranging really work? I have a bicolor and no matter what I do to the tank that fish is dominate and tries to kill anything new.

08/31/2012, 09:08 PM	#7
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Well I can say my Yellow Tang is quite apprehensive to the new rock corner I created to be intended as a hangout for the new regal! So far so good, he hasn't gone near the new area! I've had him for about a month and anytime I add something new it takes him days to go near it! The Regal went right to that corner and found a nice cave... but it still keeps going to the Yellow Tangs hangout and just seems to be a bit dim in that respect! The lights are out but I can still see the yellow as he is so bright (hasn't ventured near it), but hard to see the blue so I'm not sure what he's doing now!

08/31/2012, 09:10 PM	#8
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	When I could see the regal earlier and when I approached the tank he runs right back to the cave, so Im really hoping if the yellow does inflict harm he will do the same!! I guess all I can do is wait it out now

09/01/2012, 07:58 AM	#9
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Update: Well this morning everyone is alive and well! Lights are on and so begins the chasing and tail wagging! I managed to catch of picture of the yellow tail swatting at the regal... but shortly after the little blue went right back after the yellow! I guess he can hold his own! I was quite concerned with size difference but he has no fear! Neither have visable wounds despite the tail swatting! Here is hoping they will work this out soon and be friends!

09/01/2012, 08:37 AM	#10
Neptune_Fan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 224	good to hear. right now there are working out who is gonna be the boss..they will be fine

09/01/2012, 10:29 AM	#13
evilredhead Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 41	Thanks so much guys! What a relief to hear A friend of mine mentioned that I need an odd number that 2 will fight but 3 or 5 will be ok?? I heard this is true with the same species but with different Genus? Please input!! You guys are great! Thanks!