Do Yellow Tangs get lonely easily?

[greasemonkey]

I recently removed my Royal Gramma and now my Yellow Tang is racing back and forth, seems to be chasing his reflection in the glass. Should I get him a playmate, if so what kind would yall recommend.

This is in a 75 gal fish only with a Blue Spotted Goby and an Algae Blenny. This will be a softy reef after I save enough for metal halides.

Thanks All

[GaryP]

He probably sees his reflection in the glass and thinks its another tang and is trying to attack it. If it is established in the tank I wouldn't recommend adding another.

[greasemonkey]

So another fish isnt a good idea yet? Tank has been up for around 4 months now.

[GaryP]

How long has the Tang been in the tank? If you are going to add more tangs, I would recommend Hippos, not yellow unless it has only been in the tank for a very short period of time.

[greasemonkey]

5 weeks. I would like to add a hippo, and say 6 green chromis.

[GaryP]

Well, it has probably already staked out its territory and will defend it from other similar tangs.

[CD]

GM - The Yellow tangs are VERY territorial. We had a 75G before we upgraded, and had both a Hippo and a Yellow, BUT it was with the intention of upgrading to a larger tank as the Hippos get pretty large. The YTang was the first fish in the 75G, and when the Hippo was introduced, the YT pestered and wacked the Hippo quite a bit before they settled down. It is feasible, but ONLY if you intend on upgrading as the Hippo grows (they get big - up to 12.2") to something like a 135G or above. If you have no plans to upgrade, maybe something like a Fairy wrasse or some other non-aggresive fish would be a better selection. Chromis would be fine in there. ;)

W.

[greasemonkey]

Advice well taken. I am hopimg to keep it around 75g for a while. Its such a nice tank now! What about 5 or 6 green chromis? That should keep him busy.

[CD]

What about 5 or 6 green chromis? That should keep him busy.

LOL...yes it should! Sounds good to me. What type of Chromis were you planning on getting...the Blue Green? There's several really pretty types - the Blackbar Chromis is cool looking (Chromis retrofasciata), as is the Vanderbilt's (Chromis vanderbilti).

W.