Tangs

[jrhein]

I'm putting together a 100 gallon tank and mostly want tangs in the tank.
I was wondering if there are any "rules" of what and how many of each can you add.

I am going to put two yellows two blues and one sailfin and from what I hear I'm supposed to put tangs in threes or one.

Any advice???

[dan]

i have 4 yellows, 1 purple and 1 large powder blue. they all get along very well. i would'nt add all together at one time. maybe a couple a month.

[pilot_bell777]

JME, move the rock around before adding a new tang and then add with the lights out.....and add the most agressive tangs last.

[z28pwr]

I have 3 Yellows, 1 Sailfin, 1 Powder Blue, 1 Scopas and I will be adding an Orange Shoulder and a Purple Tang. I do recommend that you add them in 3's that way they aren't fighting so much. Currently they are all in a 92 gallon tank rubbing fins but soon they will be in the 380 so hopefully the Tang police won't pay me a visit.

[Dozer]

I have only two tangs- so not following the 3's rule, but I think it works because of the size of the tank (125L), and the variety of tangs I have (a yellow and a blue). The yellows can be a little feisty but mine doesn't give anyone trouble- likely because he's the only yellow in the tank. The blue is of course very mellow. Based on what I've seen/heard, given your situation, my concerns with your scenario would be 1) more than one of the same type- i.e. two yellows, 2) the sailfins can be aggressive and need a lot of space and 3) these will all grow up to be good sized fish and 5 full size tangs may be crowded in a 100. If it were me I'd cut down to one of each of those varieties- 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 sailfin (not what you want to hear I'm sure), and maybe mix in a butterfly or something instead of the second yellow tang, etc. Another advantage to this would be visual interest. I know you're thinking how pretty the tangs are- and I agree- however they also tend to act similar. It might give you more interest to mix in a couple of fish that act differently. For example, with my two tangs I have two large maroon clowns and a six line wrasse. The yellow likes to pick at algae and generally hang out around the rocks a lot, the blue does the same but also likes to go back and forth across the length of the top of the tank, the clowns hang out with their BTA near the substrate and basically "nest", and the six-line swims in/out/up/down/around/behind all the live rock. It's like they all have their own personalities and behaviors. If I had all tangs in there the "community" might not seem so interesting to me JMHO, HTH...