[DrRatzlaff]

What size tank do you recommend for a Sohal tang? and could I house him with a yellow and purple tang....both well established? Let me know

[Poseidon]

300+ gallons. If you have 300+ gallons then yes, you should be fine with a yellow and purple tang. If the tank is smaller you will have many territory battles, I am surprised you don't have those now between your yellow and purple tangs.

[kevinpo]

Everyone I know that has a Sohal tang eventually regrets putting in the tank even on tanks larger than 300 gals. In about 4 years they mature and become very aggressive. They are the most aggressive tang I know. Not sutible for the home aquarium (IMO) unless it is 500+ gallons and it is the only tang in the tank.
They can even come after their owner when you put your hands in the tank

Regards,
Kevin

[Poseidon]

Kevin is right about that one! Their is a Sohal in the 800 gallon hex at the LFS I help out at sometimes, and he is a MEAN SOB!

[Reefland]

Unsuitable for home aquaria but very beautiful fish!

[almostdiva]

64Ivy has one in his reef. His tank is like 500 gals. His website is posted on the links page. He has lots of info about keeping the fish. Don't think I'd try to keep one with any other tangs.

[64Ivy]

I'm thinking that Attilla, my Sohal, is the exception rather than the rule. His current tankmates include a Purple Tang, a Chevron Tang, and a Striated Bristletooth. So far, he hasn't done any real damage to either them or me. He DOES get rambunctious at feeding time though. I mean, mercy on whatever fish goes after 'his' nori until he's had his fill. But maybe what makes my situation a little different is that I've had all four Tangs over 7 years and Attilla went in last. Then again, maybe I just got a 'good' fish from the start.

I agree that it would be preferable to keep a Sohal singularly, especially in a tank smaller than 500g. Mine is a foot long now and still growing.

[Reefland]

Stunning!

[DrRatzlaff]

nice fish.......My two tangs (purple and yellow) get along great. I will consider what is posted.

[kevinpo]

Great picture Michael! They move so fast and often that it's very difficult to get a clear shot.

Regards,
Kevin

[64Ivy]

Attilla can be pretty predictable though. After he's had his fill of nori, he'll usually back off and let the others go at it for awhile. However, the act of watching them eat DOES seem to annoy him so he'll just hover nearby and 'flash' as if he's going to charge but he doesn't...or at least, not yet.

[Poseidon]

That is a GREAT picture of a fast mover. They sure are pretty fish!

[Reefland]

Did anyone say Stunning?

[almostdiva]

Gorgeous picture of a fabulous looking fish!

[Ninong]

OK, me, too! Beautiful fish!

[BubbaWPB]

Ok... back to the yellow and purple tang... I've seen tanks with multiple yellow and purple tangs all co-habitating... and I've heard (but haven't verified) that tangs actually school in nature...

So has anyone got any experience with multiple yellow and/or purples in the same tank?

Bubba

P.S. Yes, the sohal is striking!

[Ninong]

Natural behavior and behavior in captivity are two entirely different things. It is well known that tangs of the same genus are liable to fight in captivity in a smallish aquarium. Tangs of the same species are even more likely to fight. A search of the boards will bear this out. There are numerous reports of this happening. We even had one member on this board make light of the fact that the two yellow tangs in his 130-gal tank were killing each other and he was waiting to see which one would be the victor. Needless to say, his post was not well received and the thread ended in a flame fest. That member stopped posting here at least four years ago.

Tangs become aggressive in captivity as they mature mainly because of the limited confines of the aquarium. The smaller the tank, the more likely it is that aggression will be a problem. Sohal tangs and clown tangs are notorious for becoming very aggressive once they mature if they are kept in anything less than say 500 gallons.

It is difficult for the beginner to find reliable, accurate information online about the captive requirements of the various fish that are available because many people have a vested interest in playing down potential problems that might cause a customer to not make a purchase. For example, the minimum tank requirements shown on most vendors' websites are almost always too low. Some vendors recommend outrageous minimum tank sizes in an obvious attempt to sell as many fish as possible to as many customers as possible.

For example: This vendor recommends a minimum tanks size of only 20 gallons for the purple tang! That's absurd! They do accurately report that the purple tang is among the more aggressive members of the genus (Zebrasoma) and that it may chase fish with similar feeding behavior or shape. They even advise you to "provide this active fish with some swimming room." How would you do that in a 20-gal tank?

That same vendor recommends the same 20-gal tank size for the yellow tang! They go on to say that it "can be aggressive toward surgeonfish tankmates, especially members of its own kind or members of the genus Zebrasoma." And again, they correctly advise you to "provide this active fish with plenty of swimming room." Yet they recommend a 20-gal tank!

And, for a really outrageous recommendation, the same vendor recommends 55 gallons for the sohal tang!!! They tell you that it is one of the "boldest members of the tang family" (= most aggressive) and that "this VERY ACTIVE fish requires plenty of swimming room." Yet they recommend a 55-gal tank so as not to turn off too many of their gullible customers.

A more accurate description of the requirements for keeping a sohal tang can be found on Robert Fenner's site. Fenner's tank size recommendations, when he gives them, tend to be on the smallish side compared to some other hobby experts but nowhere near as small as what most vendors recommend.

And, while I'm on the topic of vendor recommendations, I have noticed that some vendors (e.g., Drs. Foster & Smith) have come up with a new classification for problem fish: Reef Safe with Caution. Ha! Most of the fish they give that appellation to are not really reef-aquarium safe at all. And even the fish that they call "reef safe" are not necessarily safe from snacking on your ornamental shrimp, hermit crabs and snails. If a fish doesn't eat coral polyps, they call it "reef safe."