adding a blue tang to a tank with a large yellow tang

[eleyan]

I got a blue tang yesterday at the Maast meeting (Thanks Daniel) and added him to my 72G which has a large yellow tang (about 4.5"). I turned the lights off as soon as I put him in and kept them off till this morning. As soon as I turned them on my yellow tang started attacking him and cornering him behind a power head. I ended up moving the yellow tang into a 10G connected to the same sump. How long do you think I need to keep him there before re introducing him back (1 week) ?
Also, I've heard that tangs need to be in odd numbers. does that go for tangs from the same kind, or even when mixing different species like I'm doing? If I need to add another one, would a Kole be OK? and would these three be too much for a 72G (also containing flame angle, six line wrass, psudechromis, bicolor belnny, sleeper goby, clown fish and 2 small chalk bass)

[kaiser]

You need to build a cube out of eggcrate and put the yellow tang in it for about 24 to 48 hrs. He'll get over his "attitude" of his. The trick is he sees the blue tang, but cant do nothing about it.

[MikeP]

Segregate them for a while however you have to. Regals are more omnivorous but the yellow will still see him as food competitor (algae). Mixing tangs with different body types is usually easier than putting two of the same genus in (say a yellow and purple). Wait a week and put the yellow back in but if you can split tank with eggcrate so they can see each other but not attack so much the better.

[eleyan]

the 10G I have the yellow tang in is right next to the main tank, so he can see the blue tang. Will that work, or do they need to be physically in the same tank?

[Instar]

You are likely to get the same result adding the yellow back to the blue. The blue will be established and will attack the yellow. Tangs might work out when they are both added at the same time, however 2 of things that fight does not usually work as 2 is not a school.

[eleyan]

Just an update: after keeping the yellow tang in the separate 10G for about a week, the blue tang started looking more at home in the main tank. So I returned the yellow before the blue establishes teritory. I guess I added him to soon, because he went back to picking on the blue. He only let him swim in 1/4 of the tank without bothering him. as soon as he gets in the other 3/4 he will chase him out. I ended up rearanging the rocks a little and within a day or two they were OK. The blue is swiming all over the tank now and the yellow hardly seems bothered.