Tangs and Firefish

chubby hugs · 03/11/2010, 12:23 PM

Who has done it? I ran this through the "check out your fish purchases here" thread and got the thumbs up, but have seen some contradictory information regarding housing them together. I have a 75G tank and am planning my stock list. I will be getting a Kole Yellow Eyed Tang and was hoping to get a pair of firefish gobies. I know the firefish are skittish and have seen some resources that say they do not do well in a tank with Tangs. So my questions to the rest of you reefsters is who has had them all together in a tank of this size and how did things go? Looking to make the best possible environment for everyone and will rethink my plan if I need to. I also plan to add the firefish first if the plan holds.

Zebodog · 03/11/2010, 12:30 PM

Every fish has a distinct personality and therefore each combination will be unique.

Assuming a mated pair of the firefish, there is a very good chance that everything will be okay, especially if you add the tang last and give the firefish sufficient time to settle in. If the firefish are not mated, you will likely end up with only one.

moonyrat · 03/11/2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebodog

Every fish has a distinct personality and therefore each combination will be unique.

Assuming a mated pair of the firefish, there is a very good chance that everything will be okay, especially if you add the tang last and give the firefish sufficient time to settle in. If the firefish are not mated, you will likely end up with only one.

i have 1 purple fire fish, 1 orange fire fish and 1 YWG in a 29gal rectangle long, the two fire fishes were the first to be introduced, they don't fight at all

leeit2me · 03/11/2010, 01:27 PM

your firefish will out swim and out wit the tang.. so there isn't any issue having those two type of fish in your tank.

bwiele · 03/11/2010, 05:07 PM

I have 3 firefish and recently added 1 yellow tang. For the first week after adding the tang, the firefish hid in the rocks 24/7 except when I'm feeding them. They have started to get more comfortable and come out more after about 9 days, but the firefish can disappear in the blink of an eye when they feel the need. Man, they are fast!

w16227 · 03/11/2010, 06:34 PM

with ample hiding places - should be ok

one red and 1 purple firefish along with 1 purple and 1 power brown tang

prickles · 03/12/2010, 12:29 AM

my first fish was a purple firefish...still have him (3 years) in a tank with a few tangs...and a half dozen helfrichi firefish. They seem like really hardy fish. Never seen the tangs bother anything other than each other and the starry blenny... boy do they hate that starry blenny.

jonbry123 · 03/12/2010, 09:50 AM

I've had firefish and tangs together for years. And never had a problem. One rule of thumb to remember is are they competitors in the food chain and do they both seek out the same areas in the natural reef for security? If not then as a general rule they should bet along but there is always a bad apple in the bunch but with these fish you shouldn't have any problem. Good luck.

Bryan

03/11/2010, 12:23 PM	#1
chubby hugs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 136	Tangs and Firefish Who has done it? I ran this through the "check out your fish purchases here" thread and got the thumbs up, but have seen some contradictory information regarding housing them together. I have a 75G tank and am planning my stock list. I will be getting a Kole Yellow Eyed Tang and was hoping to get a pair of firefish gobies. I know the firefish are skittish and have seen some resources that say they do not do well in a tank with Tangs. So my questions to the rest of you reefsters is who has had them all together in a tank of this size and how did things go? Looking to make the best possible environment for everyone and will rethink my plan if I need to. I also plan to add the firefish first if the plan holds.

03/11/2010, 06:34 PM	#6
w16227 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Burbs Posts: 479	with ample hiding places - should be ok one red and 1 purple firefish along with 1 purple and 1 power brown tang __________________ call me "w" - easier to remember Current Tank Info: 125g All Glass rr, 50g sump/fuge, RKE, T5 Retrofit Lights, Deltec Turbo Skimmer, PM Kalk Reactor

03/11/2010, 12:30 PM	#2
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	Every fish has a distinct personality and therefore each combination will be unique. Assuming a mated pair of the firefish, there is a very good chance that everything will be okay, especially if you add the tang last and give the firefish sufficient time to settle in. If the firefish are not mated, you will likely end up with only one.

03/11/2010, 01:27 PM	#4
leeit2me Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bklyn,ny Posts: 241	your firefish will out swim and out wit the tang.. so there isn't any issue having those two type of fish in your tank.

03/11/2010, 05:07 PM	#5
bwiele Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 94	I have 3 firefish and recently added 1 yellow tang. For the first week after adding the tang, the firefish hid in the rocks 24/7 except when I'm feeding them. They have started to get more comfortable and come out more after about 9 days, but the firefish can disappear in the blink of an eye when they feel the need. Man, they are fast!

03/12/2010, 12:29 AM	#7
prickles Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 1,138	my first fish was a purple firefish...still have him (3 years) in a tank with a few tangs...and a half dozen helfrichi firefish. They seem like really hardy fish. Never seen the tangs bother anything other than each other and the starry blenny... boy do they hate that starry blenny.

03/12/2010, 09:50 AM	#8
jonbry123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: allentown, pa Posts: 581	I've had firefish and tangs together for years. And never had a problem. One rule of thumb to remember is are they competitors in the food chain and do they both seek out the same areas in the natural reef for security? If not then as a general rule they should bet along but there is always a bad apple in the bunch but with these fish you shouldn't have any problem. Good luck. Bryan