Purple Tang and Yellow Tang, can they be housed in the same reef?

[ZURCSREEF]

I currently have a Yellow tang along with many other fish and I was wondeing if a Purple Tang can be housed with the Yellow Tang in my 120g Reef. I have heard alot of controversy on this topic and wanted to get some voices heard from fellow RC members.

-Mike C. aka ZURCSREEF

[Johnsteph10]

Likely not as the 120g may not be big enough. They are very similar in appearance.

There's been a couple of threads about it....I would say no..but you can try:
1. rearranging rockwork before addition
2. get a purple that is larger than the yellow
3. add at lights out
4. even remove the yellow tang for a while to another tank or sump to let purple get established

just a few thoughts!

[ZURCSREEF]

I am soon moving to a 240, my 120 is basically a temp tank, I know that sounds bad as once corals/fish get established they won't do so good when moved/rearranged.. but I have been waiting for the right deal to come by...

[DaveG99]

It can be done. I have seen many people that have 2 tangs in a 120 gallon. Especially if its a 6 foot tank. Lots of people will tell you you cant. Especially the tang police.

[ZURCSREEF]

4x2x2, is the dimensions of my tank, I am getting a 240 though, 7ft long, if this other deal doesn't go through.

[DaveG99]

When you get the 7' 240 you will be able to add a couple more tangs if you want to.

[ZURCSREEF]

I am not really asking on how many tangs, but if the purple tang and yellow tang can be in the same tank together without ripping apart eachother.

[yoboyjdizz]

its risk it can go either way like others said try to get the purple bigger then the yellow and there is most likly gonna be some tension at the start but it should go away..the best would be to wait for the 240 and add them at the same time..

[Ken-21]

Yes you can do it. I have a 90 gallon and I had a Yellow with a purple, powder blue and hippo without any problems.

[ZURCSREEF]

I am going to attempt it, if I see they are getting fiesty, I will take one to a friends house.

[hulley]

I have a 90 with a purple, yellow and powder blue! They were all added at the same time. they all get along just fine.

[REEFERINDC]

I would wait until you get the bigger tank.That way its a new environment for both tangs and thet would both need to adjust.That would probaly eliminat the fighting and the risk of one getting killed or badly injured.

[ljsreptiles]

I have a 200 gallon with about 8 different tangs and i have no problems with any of them together

[Johnsteph10]

Keeping a single tang (usually yellow) in a 4 foot long tank...is ok but not great. Keeping a purple, PB, etc. (any tang that gets bigger) or keeping multiple tangs in a tank that small is not ok. There is no argument about it.

Tangs are extrememly territorial, open water, active fish that need a large amount of space. Replicating this in an aquarium is obviously impossible, so you have to do that best you can. 6 feet long minimum.

You say you have kept them together in small tank successfully - for how long? How big are they? How fast are they growing?

Unless you have kept them together for years and they are all growing quickly it is not success. Be responsible and do research before you buy.

:)

/soapbox

Zurcsreef - that is good to hear. You'll appreciate all of the xtra room!

[ZURCSREEF]

I have had my yellow tang in my tank for about 7 months now, she has almost doubled in size and is fat and her color is great. This is in a 4x2x2 120g tank.

Very happy fish, always wanting me to pet her when I am cleaning the glass.

-Mike C. aka ZURCSREEF

[Johnsteph10]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7315047#post7315047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ZURCSREEF
I have had my yellow tang in my tank for about 7 months now, she has almost doubled in size and is fat and her color is great. This is in a 4x2x2 120g tank.

Very happy fish, always wanting me to pet her when I am cleaning the glass.

-Mike C. aka ZURCSREEF

:lol: That sounds like a happy fish.

[marinelife]

When my friend purchased a used 260 it came with a yellow and a purple, they were fine in the 260 but we had to put them in a temp tank for a few months. It was a 120 long and they started to fight after a few weeks, but once back in the 260 they stopped

[roons]

every tang has different space requirements................yellow can deal with less space than powder blue, powder blue with less than achilles , achilles with less than sohal.................ive had these guys in a 120 for 2 years now, they fought for the first 3 days........................every fish and every environment is different.....................would i put them in a 90 or less? no, but saying all tangs need a 6 ft tank is poopy http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/3120/minip31600139jm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[BEN BOGDAN]

I added my purple tang from another tank into my 180 that had 2 yellow tangs already established. It was a warzone for a few days. My purple tang loved the fighting and since they were all the same size it was good competition. Usually things will work out.

[scottief]

I have had a yellow and a purple tang together in a 100 gallon for a year with no problems.

[FastUno]

I have 4 tangs, but shhhhhhhhhh don't tell the tang police!
-yellow
-purple
-desjardin
-brown scopas

2 bottom ones in first & then yellow & purple at the same time. They get along just fine, only problem now is that I want a chevron tang. I hear those sirens....better make a run for it!