Adding A Male Naso Tang

[mcrist]

My question is what are your thoughts on adding a male naso tang to an established tank with an existing female. I've had the female naso for 6 years and was hoping for some input on compatibility/aggression issues.

[TampaReefer79]

How big is the female? And how big will the male be? I think it's completely doable.

[mcrist]

The female is about 8-10 inches and the male will be about the same size.

[TampaReefer79]

I did it successfully years ago in a 220. They tussled at first for a little bit, but nothing major. Do it at night with the lights out. You should be fine.

[mcrist]

Thanks for your help TampaReefer79.

[sTefaniA]

can someone please redirect me to a thread or site that shows naso male-female differences?
i would love to do it too but first i have to find out if it is male or female :)

[mcrist]

can someone please redirect me to a thread or site that shows naso male-female differences?
i would love to do it too but first i have to find out if it is male or female :)
Males have streamers and females do not.

[michealprater]

It is most commonly determined on larger sizes. Tail on males has streamers, females do not.

[sTefaniA]

so from what size you can call a fish 'large'?
mine is about 6-7inch but doesnt have the very long streamers

so, what would you say, male or female?
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/sTefaniA_011/11439_224955620632_698550632_347497.jpg

we are upgrading to a 500 gallon and just love our naso tang
getting a mate for it would be really great and i think the tank will be big enough to support them

[TampaReefer79]

so from what size you can call a fish 'large'?
mine is about 6-7inch but doesnt have the very long streamers

so, what would you say, male or female?
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/sTefaniA_011/11439_224955620632_698550632_347497.jpg

we are upgrading to a 500 gallon and just love our naso tang
getting a mate for it would be really great and i think the tank will be big enough to support them

If you put a gun to my head and made me guess...I'd say it's a male with the beginnings of streamers. Nice blonde naso by the way. Also, adding a 'mate' in the sense you may be thinking probably won't happen. I HAVE heard of people having mated pairs from Hawaii, but they are purchased that way.

[sTefaniA]

i am not hoping on them spawning or anything
i just have the same question as mcrist, can i add another tang of the opposite sex? so they can co-exist in the same tank?

and thank you for the compliment on my fish :) allmost all naso tangs offered in lfs here are blondes
seeing a literatus is an exception, but not uncommon

[mcrist]

I would agree that it looks like a male. Very nice specimen.