Purple And Yellow Tang compatibility

[Breakbeats2334]

I currently have a yellow tang in my 120 gallon Im aware that the Zebrasoma species like scopas are very nasty to yellow tangs but im unsure if purple tangs are as aggressive to establish fish any thoughts would be great id like to add one if they're compatible.

[sandwi54]

purple tangs are very very aggressive, pretty much the most aggressive tang, other than sohal perhaps. i would not try a yellow and a purple tang together in a 120g. it's barely big enough for just one of them.

fyi, not sure if you are aware, but yellow tang is a zebrasoma too.

[Breakbeats2334]

Oh and one more question if these 2 fish are compatible to be kept together would you suggest getting same size or different sizes?

[Breakbeats2334]

Originally Posted by sandwi54

purple tangs are very very aggressive, pretty much the most aggressive tang, other than sohal perhaps. i would not try a yellow and a purple tang together in a 120g. it's barely big enough for just one of them.

fyi, not sure if you are aware, but yellow tang is a zebrasoma too.

Yes im aware yellow tang is a zebrasoma reason i asked about zebrasoma compatibility

[reeferstace]

I would only keep a yellow and purple together in a very large tank- 300g+

[MrTuskfish]

Two Zebrasoma (almost, cma) tangs never works----these fish hate each other. However; in large tanks, 3 or more often does work out. I sure wouldn't do this in a 120, though. Its common to see a LFS with many Zebrasoma (usually yellow) tangs---but you'll never see just two. A YT and a PT in a 120 would probably be a death match, I've seen it a few times. A very bad idea, IMO & IME.

[nsmith_mma]

My cousin, who is an EXPERT aquarist regardless of the responses I'm about to get, has a purple tang, a yellow tang, and a blue hippo tang in a 60 gallon cube in his office and has no aggression issues. He introduced the tangs all at once. I'm not saying this is always advisable (so the tang police don't arrest me) but I'm using this point to illustrate the fact that these tangs can get along even in a fairly limited setting. Your tank is twice as big as that. Not that I'm telling you to do it, just that some of the tank sizes for tangs on this board are a little silly in my opinion, and the opinion of my cousin who again is an expert. His tank is maybe the most beautiful tank I've ever seen and is a true masterpiece as far as equipment, attention to detail, and keeping parameters in order go.

[hfleming]

I have a yellow, powder blue, regal, and a kohl in a 150. Probably over 3 years now with no issues. Not sure how a purple would do.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by nsmith_mma

My cousin, who is an EXPERT aquarist regardless of the responses I'm about to get, has a purple tang, a yellow tang, and a blue hippo tang in a 60 gallon cube in his office and has no aggression issues. He introduced the tangs all at once. I'm not saying this is always advisable (so the tang police don't arrest me) but I'm using this point to illustrate the fact that these tangs can get along even in a fairly limited setting. Your tank is twice as big as that. Not that I'm telling you to do it, just that some of the tank sizes for tangs on this board are a little silly in my opinion, and the opinion of my cousin who again is an expert. His tank is maybe the most beautiful tank I've ever seen and is a true masterpiece as far as equipment, attention to detail, and keeping parameters in order go.

I doubt any "EXPERT" would keep 3 tangs in a 60 cube, let alone 3, with 2 of them being a purple and yellow. Sorry, but your cousin is not any expert in any sense of the word.



After watching a purple tang draw blood on a male clarkii clown, there is no way I would put a purple tang in a 4 foot tang, let alone in one that contains a yellow tang.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

I doubt any "EXPERT" would keep 3 tangs in a 60 cube, let alone 3, with 2 of them being a purple and yellow. Sorry, but your cousin is not any expert in any sense of the word.

For sure.

After watching a purple tang draw blood on a male clarkii clown, there is no way I would put a purple tang in a 4 foot tang, let alone in one that contains a yellow tang.

For sure.
"EXPERT....3 tangs in a 60 cube" is a great oxymoron.

Keeping hardy fish alive, like the tangs in question, is quite easy. Having them thrive, long-term, is another thing. I'd like to see a pic of these fish next to a thriving specimen......well, maybe I wouldn't.

[MrTuskfish]

Originally Posted by hfleming

I have a yellow, powder blue, regal, and a kohl in a 150. Probably over 3 years now with no issues. Not sure how a purple would do.

A PT would probably be at war with the YT instantly. Your tangs are 4 different genera; a big reason it works. (IMO&IME)

[nsmith_mma]

He is seriously the most knowledgable person I know on the subject of reef aquariums and has like 20+ years of experience. Conventional wisdom is not the only way to go. Experimentation is always a good thing imo. He is actually such a respected aquarist (used to post here) that he gets to sample all different types of equipment from different companies (including Reef Octopus skimmers since he is good friends with the owner of the company) before they are available, often for little to no cost.

That said, I would like to clarify my earlier post. I wasn't saying you should just go out and buy whatever you want and put it in whatever size tank you want to. I'm just saying that when making your decisions on tank inhabitants, you take a look at it's minimum tank requirements and ask yourself "Am I willing to take the risk on the cost of the fish or the fish's health?" and seek the answer to that question ethically. Simply stated, not all 120s are going to have the same features. Some will be more cluttered and some will have more swimming room. If yours has plenty of swimming room, then I would say that drops the minimum tank requirement for the fish by a few gallons. I have seen Yellow Tangs thriving in 55 gallon aquariums that are lightly stocked and have ample open swimming space. Just take different variables into account is all. The minimum tank size thread overall is a fairly informative source, but again conventional wisdom is not the only way to approach things. You know your tank and you know the general requirements (hopefully) of the fish you are buying. I'll tell you one thing. I am getting ready to set up a 90 gallon tank and I'm going to be building it around having a Purple and Yellow Tang as well as either a Blue Hippo or smaller Acanthurus species. That means plenty of swimming room, larger than necessary skimmer, and a lighter than usual complimentary stocklist. And it's going to be fine, regardless of conventional wisdom.

[reeferstace]

^^
The only way to get "plenty of swimming room" in your 90g for the fish you listed is to stretch that tank out to 8+'.

[nsmith_mma]

Also, I would add that the reason people create these threads is to try and get some advice based on personal experiences. They have surely seen the sticky threads but posted anyway just to try and get more real responses which are dynamic and not static like the sticky threads. So when the first post in every one of these threads is a link to a sticky, it can get rather annoying. Again, different circumstances will produce different outcomes and experimentation is a good way to get solid, more dynamic information.

[Bigjacko]

I have no issues....

[sandwi54]

Originally Posted by Bigjacko

I have no issues....

How big is your tank and how big are the two fish?

[fishmanfabiano]

id reccomend a larger tank if this is what you want to do, if youx mix a yellow tank and a purple tang id bet they fight, however if you upgrade to say a 220, id say get a small school maybe 5 or 6 they will still nip, but with a larger number they lose track of eachother, also a good amount of cave structures helps out with this. i have kept a few tangs in a 75 with no problems at first but after about a year they started to rip eachother apart, each fish has its own persoanlity and some will be fine together and some will not be. if youd like to add these fish together add them as they are small and let them grow together youd have a better chance of happy tank mates that way also introduce at the same time because once 1 is established it may be very territorial towards any new comers. this even goes out of species, i had a sailfin tang a while back that killed every fish i added to the tank after him, but the ones that were there before he didnt touch it was weird. hope thisd helpe. -matt

[Bigjacko]

1000l and they are all 4''

There are actually 5 tangs in the picture

[Madjamey]

I asked this very question once and had very mixed responses , so I decided to find out for myself. In my findings , keeping the health of my tangs in high priority , if you can add all the specimens to the DT at the same time REDUCES the chance of aggression. and if any of them came from that DT in the first place , you will want want to rearrange some of your rock work so that it's new surroundings for all of them to explore. There will no doubt be a bit of chasing / tail nipping , but as I said in my experience , they will be fine. I added my yellow , purple , scopas , blue , and tomini tangs to my 180 (6x2x2) at the same time and have not had any issues. I know that eventually as they grow this size tank will not work for them , but for now it is fine. My yellow , purple , and blue are all around 3"-4" and the scopas and tomini are around 2"-3". I have tried to add another tang to that DT once , in bad judgment , and things ended badly. It was a sail fin and the purple and yellow tangs chased it so much it hid all the time and eventually starved to death. This again is what " worked " for me , I would proceed with lots of care and caution ! Good luck.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by nsmith_mma

.....I am getting ready to set up a 90 gallon tank and I'm going to be building it around having a Purple and Yellow Tang as well as either a Blue Hippo or smaller Acanthurus species. That means plenty of swimming room, larger than necessary skimmer, and a lighter than usual complimentary stocklist. And it's going to be fine, regardless of conventional wisdom.

Wow, so you can now see into the future???

[KingTang]

I have the aquarium channel on my tv and sometimes I spend hours watching it. It's always the same aquarium and they have a Purple and Yellow tang in the aquarium. I always noticed the Purple's fins are usually pretty roughed up so I'm guessing the Yellow does a number on it once in a while. But otherwise they seem cool!

[CHSUB]

Had a yellow, smaller purple and a hippo in a 92 gallon corner for 5+ years with no issues.....it is hard to say what makes an "expert" in this hobby?

[nsmith_mma]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Wow, so you can now see into the future???

Yes I am a psychic. I know what you're going to say next. You're going to say You're going to say that I'm not a psychic. Be impressed by my skills.

[Dragon moray ki]

Listen to todd I wish I did on my first tank and on this one I am no matter what

[jason2459]

The Scribbled Angel really won't do well in that 90gallon long term.