2 Purple Tangs together?

Wet Sleeve · 12/29/2017, 10:37 PM

So i have a small maybe 3" Purple tang in a 40B right now while i cycle my 135G dimensions 72x24x18.

I have a friend who has a larger Purple tang, he claims 5" or so, also a Powder blue in a 90G and he does not plan to upgrade his system for a few years and asked me if i'm interested in the fish at no charge, Naturally i'm going to say yes as i already planned a powder blue for this tank and was going to do Multiple yellow tangs before i came across a Purple tang and the price of Yellow Tangs in Canada with Hawaii being closed is just gross (140-180$ CND).

Regardless, i'm looking for suggestions how i should make these guys first encounter each other, i was thinking of letting the smaller Purple tang establish himself in the 135 first and claim himself a home before adding the bigger more dominant Purple tang.

However i was also thinking of adding them at the same time to create confusion and have no marked territory.

Curious for some tips and suggestions, Thanks for Reading!

ReefkeeperZ · 12/30/2017, 12:30 AM

better off putting them both in at the same time imho once one establishes territory it'll exhaust itself defending it, then run but have no where to go. i

Wet Sleeve · 12/30/2017, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefkeeperZ

better off putting them both in at the same time imho once one establishes territory it'll exhaust itself defending it, then run but have no where to go. i

I've been thinking much the same, appreciate your input!

Happy reefing

Timfish · 12/30/2017, 08:41 AM

If the purple tangs were the same age/size I would say no way. Being very different in size and probably age also you have some chance of success but you're much safer just adding one. If you do decide to trt it you need to have a backup plan in place if they decide not to cohabitate. And don't assume if they don't show any initial signs of aggression that it's they've accepted each other. As the smaller one matures you may see increased aggression between them.

nereefpat · 12/30/2017, 10:02 AM

I would do the conservative thing and sell one of the purple tangs. They are worth big bucks.

Use the money for dwarf angel, a wrasse, and a frag or two

HBtank · 12/30/2017, 10:39 AM

Sell yours.

Wet Sleeve · 12/30/2017, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timfish

If the purple tangs were the same age/size I would say no way. Being very different in size and probably age also you have some chance of success but you're much safer just adding one. If you do decide to trt it you need to have a backup plan in place if they decide not to cohabitate. And don't assume if they don't show any initial signs of aggression that it's they've accepted each other. As the smaller one matures you may see increased aggression between them.

I Will likely try adding them both at the same time a hope my smaller one can live with not being king of the tank, he's already showing sign's of being dominant in a 40B but obviously that isn't a suitable home longterm. Should it not go well and the smaller one gets picked on badly i will transfer him back to the 40B while i line up a buyer for it.

Wet Sleeve · 12/30/2017, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

I would do the conservative thing and sell one of the purple tangs. They are worth big bucks.

Use the money for dwarf angel, a wrasse, and a frag or two

Yeah i know they're worth some cash, however i'm curious in giving it a shot.. hoping a 6ft tank will give them enough space to co-exist. However if it does not go over well i will re-home the smaller purple tang.

i personally am not a fan of Angels, i don't want to take the chance even if most are fairly reef safe.

Coral Beauty's are not for me, and Flame's fall into the Yellow tang price range now..seen them for 140$ CND...typically a 60$ fish.

Vinny Kreyling · 12/30/2017, 05:44 PM

I've done it with 6 & still had to move most out.
This tank had 1 as 1st fish & he was just too much trying to add anything so he is somewhere else now.

Sk8r · 12/30/2017, 05:46 PM

I'd worry about that combo in a 300 gallon tank.

Wet Sleeve · 12/30/2017, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

I'd worry about that combo in a 300 gallon tank.

I'll update this thread in the future on how it goes, i'm still 1-2 weeks out from a cycle and want to let it build more bacteria before putting two expensive, dirty fish.

Uncle99 · 01/03/2018, 08:32 PM

Agressive combo, but I have seen stranger things.
Love to know what happens, go with in at the same time...in for a penny.....ok....no penny...that's copper....

12/29/2017, 10:37 PM	#1
Wet Sleeve Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	2 Purple Tangs together? So i have a small maybe 3" Purple tang in a 40B right now while i cycle my 135G dimensions 72x24x18. I have a friend who has a larger Purple tang, he claims 5" or so, also a Powder blue in a 90G and he does not plan to upgrade his system for a few years and asked me if i'm interested in the fish at no charge, Naturally i'm going to say yes as i already planned a powder blue for this tank and was going to do Multiple yellow tangs before i came across a Purple tang and the price of Yellow Tangs in Canada with Hawaii being closed is just gross (140-180$ CND). Regardless, i'm looking for suggestions how i should make these guys first encounter each other, i was thinking of letting the smaller Purple tang establish himself in the 135 first and claim himself a home before adding the bigger more dominant Purple tang. However i was also thinking of adding them at the same time to create confusion and have no marked territory. Curious for some tips and suggestions, Thanks for Reading!

12/30/2017, 08:41 AM	#4
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	If the purple tangs were the same age/size I would say no way. Being very different in size and probably age also you have some chance of success but you're much safer just adding one. If you do decide to trt it you need to have a backup plan in place if they decide not to cohabitate. And don't assume if they don't show any initial signs of aggression that it's they've accepted each other. As the smaller one matures you may see increased aggression between them. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

12/30/2017, 10:02 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I would do the conservative thing and sell one of the purple tangs. They are worth big bucks. Use the money for dwarf angel, a wrasse, and a frag or two __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

12/30/2017, 10:39 AM	#6
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	Sell yours. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

12/30/2017, 05:44 PM	#9
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I've done it with 6 & still had to move most out. This tank had 1 as 1st fish & he was just too much trying to add anything so he is somewhere else now. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

12/30/2017, 12:30 AM	#2
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	better off putting them both in at the same time imho once one establishes territory it'll exhaust itself defending it, then run but have no where to go. i

12/30/2017, 05:46 PM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I'd worry about that combo in a 300 gallon tank. __________________ 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%.

01/03/2018, 08:32 PM	#12
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Agressive combo, but I have seen stranger things. Love to know what happens, go with in at the same time...in for a penny.....ok....no penny...that's copper....