Blue Tang and Yellow Tang

[DubT]

I have seen many tanks with a yellow tang and a blue tang living together in a reef tank. Many books and magazines have stated that they can co-exist within a tank.

I have a 75 gallon reef tank with a blue tang, 2 clownfish, and 2 gobies, and the one yellow tang (about the same size as my blue tang) that I purchased with put in my tank with the blue tang, and within a week my blue tang has stressed my yellow tang to death.

I really want a yellow tang in my tank. I want to try again. Any suggestions what I can do to better my chances that they will co-exist within my 75 gallon reef tank. Please advise. Thank you.

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEFLAND!

I'm glad you decided to post here.

Unfortunately, part of the problems between fishes are 'personal.' Even though the records and experience may show that certain species are supposed to get along, there are exceptions. Within species are the fishes that have a personality or mentality to not accept another specific fish or type of fish in their territory.

When it comes to tangs, there are some generalities as to what helps them get along. They include their order of introduction, size differences, availability of food, nutritious foods, tank temperature, and length/size of the tank.

I introduced a Powder Brown and a Powder Blue, both of equal size, at the same time and they seem to be totally oblivious to the other's presence. They swim by each other with absolutely no acknowledgment of the other's existence. They are neither friend nor foe. Part of this is their specific personality, that they were introduced at the same time, and the fact that the tank is a 180 gallon FOWLR aquarium that I keep well fed.

One genuine concern I have about your situation is your tank size. It isn't suitable for more than one small Blue Tang. I'm assuming by "Blue Tang" you are referring to Paracanthurus hepatus. If that fish is under 2 inches in length, the tank would be suitable for a few months. But that fish as well as the Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) needs space of no less than an aquarium at least 6 feet long and of no less than 150 gallons. They could live a long and reduced stress life in such an aquarium, together.

I don't know the tank temperature, nor what foods you feed, nor how often you feed the fishes in question. So I'm unsure if any of those may be contributing to their disagreeable behavior towards each other. But certainly space is a stressor.

I hesitate to give suggestions when the tank you've got for them is less than desirable and I don't know the other bits of information. However, removing both fish and 'starting over' with other fish is one option; another is removing the Blue Tang and putting in another Blue Tang of different (smaller) size. Whichever way forward you might choose, you want to trade in, sell, or give away the Blue Tang you have since it is not happy with the Yellow Tang's presence (or remove the Yellow Tang )

There are many sticky posts in this Forum that cover nutrition/feeding, stress, and other topics that may be of interest.

[CSeaSee]

I agree that you probably want to get a bigger tank for your tangs. Another way to get the tangs to co-exist is to remove the Hippo Tang to QT while you introduce the Yellow Tang to the display tank. Let the Yellow tang get used to the display for about a week, then toss the Hippo back in.

[Redskins]

I had a very similar situation. I have a 72 gallon bowfront reef tank. I already had a Yellow and Hippo or Blue Tang in my tank and they got along famously. I introduced an equal sized Powder Brown Tang and the other two decided to beat the crap out of the Powder Brown Tang, so much that they tore his dorsal fin pretty badly.

The way I fixed it was to put both Tangs in QT for two days, and rearranged the entire tank while they were in QT. I gave the Powder Brown Tang a whole day to get used to the tank, then reintroduced the other two during feeding. They chased each other around for a day and now they all get along just fine.

I know it is frustrating, it was for me! Take this advice and some time and I think you'll see that they seem to work themselves out.

Good luck!