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I have heard different things regarding the placement of same species Tangs (yellow) . Some say incompatible, others say place them together in the tank at the same time. Any thoughts or observations?
Thanks.

In what size tank?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Oh, sorry. Sixty gallon fowlr.

Nope. Shouldn't be done.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Tangs in general are territorial fishes, and although it is possible to keep some Tangs together (and Yellow Tangs are among the species that will live together), they need space. LOTS of it.

To give an extreme example, the British aquarist David Saxby has 18 Yellow Tangs in his living room aquarium. But this aquarium is a monster - 10 feet by 3 feet by 3 - and it holds something like 1,200 gallons. It's also connected to a truly gigantic sump - 2,400 gallons!

Plus, his Yellow Tangs have a LOT of companions. As in 50-plus Anthias and 60+ Damsels. You wouldn't physically FIT his fish in your aquarium even if you had no water!

If you have a large (and by large, I mean over 250 gallons) aquarium, it's possible to have more than one Tang, provided you choose your species VERY carefully. In a 60, it would be extremely risky. Remember, even the less aggressive Tangs all possess those nice 'switchblades' in the caudal peduncle, and they WILL use them in combat if they feel threatened. Some Tangs/Surgeonfishes will use them on other fish species as well - the worst in this regard being the Majestic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus sohal (which in any case grows WAY too big for your 60 gallon setup!). This fish needs at least 80 gallons all to itself, and preferably more - anyone keeping this bruiser with other fish should be looking at a 300 gallon plus setup, and tough companions well able to look after themselves such as Triggerfishes. Even then, an adult Majestic Surgeon will eliminate competitors for space and food if it feels so inclined. Graham Cox (one of the hobby's veterans) had one that killed an adult Platax orbicularis Batfish and an adult Pomacanthus annularis Angelfish, both of which were larger than the Majestic Surgeon. He found them covered in slash marks from the 'switchblades' one morning. Those fishes were in a 250 gallon setup if I recall correctly.

Even the less aggressive Tangs and Surgeons need watching closely. In a 60 gallon, I'd play safe and only have one Tang or Surgeonfish, and make sure it isn't sharing its quarters with anything that looks like a conspecific to be doubly safe.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Wow, thanks so much. I think it's going to one tang, and one flame hawkfish. I want to play it safe, (bio-load wise).

If you do plan to get a tang for that tank, make sure you go with a small species. Tangs like their swimming room, and sixty gallons of water really isn't that much of it. Sixty gallon tanks are pretty much just taller versions of a fifty-five gallon. You may even want to think about eventually moving the tang (whatever type you get) to a larger tank.

Good choice on the hawkfish, those things are awesome. Just make sure you don't have any small motile invertebrates that it might eat.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Better still, re the Hawkfish and its taste for small inverts, cultivate some in a refugium for it. I'm sure that it would like regular amphipods adding to its diet!

Back to the Tang - I was going to say pick a smaller species, but according to my Burgess' Min-Atlas of Marine Fishes, the Yellow Tang, Zebrasoma flavescens, IS the smallest species. Mny of the others listed are a LOT bigger - Acanthurus sohal that I've already discussed above is a 40 cm behemoth, while Naso lituratus, the japanese Tang or Lipstick Tang (popular because of its outlandish colour scheme) reaches 45 cm. Among the biggest of all (and suitable only for a public aquarium or a truly colossal home setup) is the Unicorn Tang, Naso unicornis, which can reach 70 cm as an adult! Basically, most of the members of the Genus Naso are juggernauts, and many are best left in the wild for the moment (sigh) ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002