yellow tangs

[karun]

I have a 120G tank with no fish at the moment. I was thinking of adding 3 yellow tangs. I remember reading that there should be one or three in a tank and not two.

Would this be too many for the tank?

Later I expect to add 2 maroon clowns, 1 angel and a lion.


Karun

[Ninong]

Karun,

I cast my vote for only one Zebrasoma sp. tang in a 120-gal tank. It would be risky to go with more than one in that size tank as they are usually aggressive to other members of the same genus... to say nothing of other members of the same species. You are correct about the fact that three would be better than one but I think you would need a somewhat larger tank to try that.

Ninong

[alf3482]

I agree with Ninong. also I would add the tang last as they become territorial. And will claim the tank as there's.

[Northman_with_reef]

I've seen scopas, flavesens and Xanthurus together at my lfs, They seem too be very peaceful together.

[IgorH]

Fish seem to behave differently in the tanks at the store than they do once they are installed in a tank long enough to feel "at home" and stake out a territory. I have a Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) and a Pacific Blue Surgeon (Paracanthurus hepatus) in the same tank, and they bicker quite a bit. I see them as the odd couple: there are plenty of nice caves I have created for them, but they insist on sharing the same one - and confronting each other over it. Anyway, the Yellow is one aggressive and fearless character (if I sit near the tank, it slashes at the glass w/ its scalpel and glares at me until I produce food - and I am a tad bigger than the fish). Only the fact that the Blue is bigger, stronger and less aggressive keeps the whole dynamic in check. I've not tried it, but given their history towards conspecifics, you should at least be prepared to pull two of them out in the event of trouble.

[Northman_with_reef]

They've been in the store for 4months......

I know a naso hepatus and a flavescens wich has been kept in the same tank for a year, is this unusual????