Powder Blue vs Regal Tang

[Powder Blue]

I have a 200l(50gal) fish only tank and would like to know if there is any way I can keep these two Tangs togeather? I have seen bigger tanks with a big Regal and small Powder, no problems and seen others with the two in but my Powder hates the new Regal with a passion. They are the same size, both very healthy but after some time together after introducing the Regal the Regal backs off, stresses and hides with the Powder hunting him down. The Powder has done the same with a couple of Butterflies I added but it was a short term display of aggression and they get on well now. Should I hang in there and see what happens or get rid of the more aggressive Powder? Both are stunning fish and I would hate to have to loose either. "Never seen such radicle colour changes from the Powder when in conflict". Quite a display but I know and feel it is not natural or fun to watch. No serious biting or phisical contact but a lot of fin extentions and displays.

[patsfan1130]

I have a 200l(50gal) fish only tank and would like to know if there is any way I can keep these two Tangs togeather? I have seen bigger tanks with a big Regal and small Powder, no problems and seen others with the two in but my Powder hates the new Regal with a passion. They are the same size, both very healthy but after some time together after introducing the Regal the Regal backs off, stresses and hides with the Powder hunting him down. The Powder has done the same with a couple of Butterflies I added but it was a short term display of aggression and they get on well now. Should I hang in there and see what happens or get rid of the more aggressive Powder? Both are stunning fish and I would hate to have to loose either. "Never seen such radicle colour changes from the Powder when in conflict". Quite a display but I know and feel it is not natural or fun to watch. No serious biting or phisical contact but a lot of fin extentions and displays.

What else is in the tank? I guess it really doesnt matter as those two tangs wouldnt get along in a 100g. let alone a 50g. You could hang in there and see what hapens but I would remove one or the other.

Here is a good site to gather a ton of information

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/

[Reefland]

I think after the Powder Blue gets over its feeling of invasion, the fish will get along fine.

[Ninong]

I have a 200l(50gal) fish only tank and would like to know if there is any way I can keep these two Tangs togeather?

I wouldn't.

I have seen bigger tanks with a big Regal and small Powder, no problems and seen others with the two in but my Powder hates the new Regal with a passion.

The key here is the size of the tank. A 200 liter tank is really too small for these fish. Some people have been able to keep Zebrasoma flavescens in this size tank but that's about it. I'm not recommending a 200 liter tank for Yellow Tangs but that's about the only tang/surgeonfish species I can think of that might make it in that size -- OK, maybe Z. scopas, too. A better minimum size for ANY tang/surgeonfish would be 300 liters and most won't do well in that size either but it would work as an absolute minimum size for most of the genus Zebrasoma. The larger tangs/surgeonfishes really do require much more swimming space and minimum tank sizes ranging from 400-1500 liters.

They are the same size, both very healthy but after some time together after introducing the Regal the Regal backs off, stresses and hides with the Powder hunting him down.

I don't think you can keep either of these fish in a 200 liter tank but the Paracanthurus hepatus might survive longer than the Acanthurus leucosternon. I am deliberately avoiding common names because they are too confusing. As it is now you are using a common name for Paracanthurus hepatus that is one of at least four different English common names for this fish and the one you are using is not the prevalent English common name in the U.S.

Don't overlook the fact that the natural adult size for A. leucosternon is 30 cm. That's not something that would fit very well in a 200 liter tank. The usual adult size for P. hepatus is ~20 cm.

Even though both fish may appear healthy now that doesn't mean that their health is not in decline at this very moment.

The Powder has done the same with a couple of Butterflies I added but it was a short term display of aggression and they get on well now.

Which "couple of Butterflies" do you have?

Should I hang in there and see what happens or get rid of the more aggressive Powder?

There is no question about which fish is least likely to survive in your particular tank. The A. leucosternon is by far the more risky candidate.

[Reefland]

Ooopps, I didn't see that your tank was 200 liters, I initially read it and thought it was 200g.

[Ninong]

Oops! I just realized this was posted in the Reef Aquariums forum instead of the Fish-Only forum. I'll move it for you now.

[Poseidon]

yup 2 tangs in a 55 is asking for trouble, especially 2 that are so similar in shape and color...

[Powder Blue]

yup 2 tangs in a 55 is asking for trouble, especially 2 that are so similar in shape and color...

Thanks to all for your replies. I think the Powder has to go unfortunatly. The Blue Tang (Regal) is a stunning loking fish but a little shy and takes time to settle. I must say he did stand his ground though for a about 15mins and eventually backed off and hid in the rocks. The episode was not fun to watch but I had to try as I wanted both fish. I removed the Powder Blue into the holding tank for 3 days and tried again and there was no change. The Powder emmediatly hunted the Regal down and put on another display of agression and violent flicks of his tail and fins. We are fortunate that here in Durban South Africa, the Powder Blue Tang is fairly common in our waters and the Regal Tang has to come imported from Indonesia. So I will either give the Powder away or relrease him back onto our local reef. Sad thing is I have seen and read about the two Tangs living togeather in harmony but in a larger tank with one fish larger than the other so I thought I would try. I realise that the Powder is a one Tang per tank fish where as the Regal can live with a Yellow and posibly a Purple in harmony. I did have a small Convict with the Powder for a few months and there were no problems. He was tiny though. Also a very common Tang in our waters with up to 50 living in 1 rock pool at our beaches.

Regards to all
Sam

[Powder Blue]

I think after the Powder Blue gets over its feeling of invasion, the fish will get along fine.

Thanks Scott, I thought so aswell but the Powder is not interested with this new guy in his space. I took him out for 3 days and tried again and no change. Perhaps a tribute to the Powder Blue's agressive nature. I new in wonderfull hobby and learning as I go along. The Powder put on the same display with a small Butterfly I caught on our local reef but it lasted an hour and now they best of tankmates.

I thought I may be as lucky with my new Regal. P.S. Both are small Tangs and I will replace them when they get to big, or get a bigger tank.

Regards
Sam

[Powder Blue]

I wouldn't.


The key here is the size of the tank. A 200 liter tank is really too small for these fish. Some people have been able to keep Zebrasoma flavescens in this size tank but that's about it. I'm not recommending a 200 liter tank for Yellow Tangs but that's about the only tang/surgeonfish species I can think of that might make it in that size -- OK, maybe Z. scopas, too. A better minimum size for ANY tang/surgeonfish would be 300 liters and most won't do well in that size either but it would work as an absolute minimum size for most of the genus Zebrasoma. The larger tangs/surgeonfishes really do require much more swimming space and minimum tank sizes ranging from 400-1500 liters.


I don't think you can keep either of these fish in a 200 liter tank but the Paracanthurus hepatus might survive longer than the Acanthurus leucosternon. I am deliberately avoiding common names because they are too confusing. As it is now you are using a common name for Paracanthurus hepatus that is one of at least four different English common names for this fish and the one you are using is not the prevalent English common name in the U.S.

Don't overlook the fact that the natural adult size for A. leucosternon is 30 cm. That's not something that would fit very well in a 200 liter tank. The usual adult size for P. hepatus is ~20 cm.

Even though both fish may appear healthy now that doesn't mean that their health is not in decline at this very moment.


Which "couple of Butterflies" do you have?


There is no question about which fish is least likely to survive in your particular tank. The A. leucosternon is by far the more risky candidate.

Thanks for some valuable input. I agree that one of my fish would stress to death, prob the Regal(Blue Tang). I removed the Powder Tang and he will either have to go back into the ocean or be donated to a freind. The Tangs are both small and have a few years to go before they outgrow the tank. I would like to enjoy them for a while then replace them.

I am fortunate that I stay on the east coast of Africa where there are many stunning fish including the Powder Blue Tang redily avaliable with a short dive with snokle, flippers and net. I believe strongly in returning these wonderfull animals back to the ocean if things don't work out or donating them to fellow marine keepers. I am very new in the hobby and appreciate the input. There is certainly a huge difference in seeing them swimming in the rocks and keeping them at home!!!