Fish Bullying

randychuah · 11/01/2020, 06:49 AM

So I have recently stocked up my new tank with fishes, and one of my Scopas Tang relentlessly chases the smaller Purple Tang, and for 3 consecutive days, been chasing non stop. The purple tang fins seems to be damaged from the scuffle. Attached photo of battle scars on the purple tang.

By luck I've managed to net the scopas and place him in the isolation tank (still within the DT). What are my options ? Assuming I don't want to return it to the LFS. Will keeping him in isolation for say, 5 days tone him down? Of will they start fighting again once reintroduced ?

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Timfish · 11/01/2020, 08:11 AM

Probably need to keep it in isolation longer. It's going to depend on the personalities of the fish however. Whenever you return the scopas be ready to catch it again and return it to isolation. All three tangs look skinny and the yellow tang looks like it might have the beginnings of HLLE. For most fish a healthy body weight indicated by the curve across the face onto the back. If there is a line demarking the edge of the skull there is a weight problem. If the back is pinched to any degree behind the skull accentiateing it's outline the fish is underweight. If the back starts to hump up behind the skull the fish is overwieght. Beside getting your fish to tolerate each other another problem will be getting everyone fed evenly. In some cases I've used autofeeders at opposite ends of the tank set to feed small amounts at the same time so timid fish are able to get more.

hkgar · 11/01/2020, 10:57 AM

Randy, how large is your DT that these 3 fish will be going into? Tangs are quite territorial and will go afterr others, specifically those of their species. All three of the tangs you have are the species Zebrasoma. They will not do well, IMHO.

Sk8r · 11/01/2020, 10:57 AM

You don't mention tank size. If the tank is too small for the number/disposition of the fish, there will be no peace.

randychuah · 11/01/2020, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Randy, how large is your DT that these 3 fish will be going into? Tangs are quite territorial and will go afterr others, specifically those of their species. All three of the tangs you have are the species Zebrasoma. They will not do well, IMHO.

Oh! Its a 120 Gallon tank

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hkgar · 11/01/2020, 03:50 PM

Here is a helpful guide to tank sizes for tangs.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1946079

sorinwilcox · 11/02/2020, 09:08 PM

You can try a mirror so they will go for the reflection. Or you can try re aquascape to get rid of there territory.

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monkeysee1 · 11/05/2020, 05:59 AM

Sounds like your tank is six feet long so you should have fewer issues with Tang compatibility than if you had a four footer (75 or 90 gallon tank) - IF you introduce BOTH tangs in the tank at the same time.
But you'll have other people here argue that tangs REALLY need 180 gallon or larger tanks to get along peacefully if you're going to put in more than one.
As for me I have a Scopas tang in my 90 but he's the ONLY tang in the tank. Too risky to have more than that.
So I'm afraid yours might never get along.

Michael Hoaster · 11/05/2020, 11:46 AM

Standard 120s are 4 feet long, which would be pushing it for one zebrasoma tang. You've got three. Your fish are miserable, stressed and starving. Do the right thing. Remove two.

zheka757 · 11/09/2020, 08:38 AM

I agree with others man, personally I want 15 tangs in my tank, just because I love how they look. Abd I learned it expencive way not to put alot of tangs in my tank. Lost over $2k worth of fish. Due to same reason I want them all in there. Right now I got 8 tangs in my tank. But I have 400 gallon tank. The only minor aggression I have is Achilles tank going after my gem tank. And it only happens just before they go to sleep.
As far as for you! You have more then 3 tangs in there. You have blue tang in there also. 4 fish in the 120 tank, yeah its going to be cramp for them. I mean, I hate to say it, but they will never get along. Its a fact for your tank. And just a thought, they are still babies in your tank, what will happen when they will grow up to 4-5"? (if they will make it)

Anemone · 11/11/2020, 03:51 PM

You CAN keep three tangs in a tank that size, but they really need to be different genera. You have a purple (Zebrasoma xanthurum), a blue/hippo/regal (Paracanthurus hepatus), and a scopas (Zebrasoma scopas). Scopas in particular are noted to be aggressive to conspecifics, so you're probably going to need to choose between the scopas and the purple.

FWIW,
Kevin

11/01/2020, 06:49 AM	#1
randychuah Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 12	Fish Bullying So I have recently stocked up my new tank with fishes, and one of my Scopas Tang relentlessly chases the smaller Purple Tang, and for 3 consecutive days, been chasing non stop. The purple tang fins seems to be damaged from the scuffle. Attached photo of battle scars on the purple tang. By luck I've managed to net the scopas and place him in the isolation tank (still within the DT). What are my options ? Assuming I don't want to return it to the LFS. Will keeping him in isolation for say, 5 days tone him down? Of will they start fighting again once reintroduced ? Sent from my SM-N986B using Tapatalk

11/01/2020, 08:11 AM	#2
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Probably need to keep it in isolation longer. It's going to depend on the personalities of the fish however. Whenever you return the scopas be ready to catch it again and return it to isolation. All three tangs look skinny and the yellow tang looks like it might have the beginnings of HLLE. For most fish a healthy body weight indicated by the curve across the face onto the back. If there is a line demarking the edge of the skull there is a weight problem. If the back is pinched to any degree behind the skull accentiateing it's outline the fish is underweight. If the back starts to hump up behind the skull the fish is overwieght. Beside getting your fish to tolerate each other another problem will be getting everyone fed evenly. In some cases I've used autofeeders at opposite ends of the tank set to feed small amounts at the same time so timid fish are able to get more. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

11/01/2020, 10:57 AM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Randy, how large is your DT that these 3 fish will be going into? Tangs are quite territorial and will go afterr others, specifically those of their species. All three of the tangs you have are the species Zebrasoma. They will not do well, IMHO. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

11/01/2020, 10:57 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You don't mention tank size. If the tank is too small for the number/disposition of the fish, there will be no peace. __________________ 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%.

11/01/2020, 03:50 PM	#6
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Here is a helpful guide to tank sizes for tangs. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1946079 __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

11/02/2020, 09:08 PM	#7
sorinwilcox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 18	You can try a mirror so they will go for the reflection. Or you can try re aquascape to get rid of there territory. Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

11/05/2020, 05:59 AM	#8
monkeysee1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: MERRIMACK NH Posts: 423	Sounds like your tank is six feet long so you should have fewer issues with Tang compatibility than if you had a four footer (75 or 90 gallon tank) - IF you introduce BOTH tangs in the tank at the same time. But you'll have other people here argue that tangs REALLY need 180 gallon or larger tanks to get along peacefully if you're going to put in more than one. As for me I have a Scopas tang in my 90 but he's the ONLY tang in the tank. Too risky to have more than that. So I'm afraid yours might never get along. __________________ Your "fair share" is not in my wallet; it's in my fish tank!! Current tank info: 90 Gallon saltwater 10 fish with a few inverts; NO CORALS! Tried to go reef; didn't work out so hot; FOWLR's for me! Last edited by monkeysee1; 11/05/2020 at 06:09 AM.

11/05/2020, 11:46 AM	#9
Michael Hoaster Registered Seaweedist Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 5,807	Standard 120s are 4 feet long, which would be pushing it for one zebrasoma tang. You've got three. Your fish are miserable, stressed and starving. Do the right thing. Remove two. __________________ As many naturalists and environmentalists have suggested, we should set aside our arrogance, our desire to conquer and control everything, and walk hand in hand with Mother Nature. -Walter Adey Current Tank Info: 180g Seagrass Sandbar Lagoon, START DATE November 28, 2018

11/09/2020, 08:38 AM	#10
zheka757 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Port Florida Posts: 283	I agree with others man, personally I want 15 tangs in my tank, just because I love how they look. Abd I learned it expencive way not to put alot of tangs in my tank. Lost over $2k worth of fish. Due to same reason I want them all in there. Right now I got 8 tangs in my tank. But I have 400 gallon tank. The only minor aggression I have is Achilles tank going after my gem tank. And it only happens just before they go to sleep. As far as for you! You have more then 3 tangs in there. You have blue tang in there also. 4 fish in the 120 tank, yeah its going to be cramp for them. I mean, I hate to say it, but they will never get along. Its a fact for your tank. And just a thought, they are still babies in your tank, what will happen when they will grow up to 4-5"? (if they will make it)

11/11/2020, 03:51 PM	#11
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	You CAN keep three tangs in a tank that size, but they really need to be different genera. You have a purple (Zebrasoma xanthurum), a blue/hippo/regal (Paracanthurus hepatus), and a scopas (Zebrasoma scopas). Scopas in particular are noted to be aggressive to conspecifics, so you're probably going to need to choose between the scopas and the purple. FWIW, Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s