Bicolor Angel VS Thompson black tang

[Lordpharaoh10]

Hey,

Im having an issue with the two fish noted above. I added the dwarf angel first and she is seemingly quite territorial. I just added the black tang yesterday, they seem to get along for a few minutes, then proceed to slap each other with their tails....They can get seemingly quite rough, and the tang is starting to appear to have 'tears' on his fins.
Does anyone have any suggestions? are they not compatable, or will this pass as most sites ive researched on say they are compatable...

What is the deal here....I dont want to lose any of them.
If things dont get any better, im most likely going to have to get rid of the tang, but then will I have the same problem with any other new additions?

[jorjef]

It's hard to take any book or website as gospel when it comes to fish compatibily. It's like cats and dogs some will get along, some won't. I would think if this started right away you will have a dead fish soon, or at least a cowering,paniced fish that will slowly wither away.
As far as will it happen again I would avoid similar colors or body shapes. If you could tell from the beginning who was the aggressor and who was the defender keep the defender. Thats my two cents worth...

[Wingert]

I dont know how to resolve your problem, but I just wanted to say your so lucky to have a black tang! I would love to have one, but I cant spend the money that they are worth on a fish :( and I already have a purple tang and a scopas tang!
But I know a fish isnt a horse, but when you put a new horse in the heard they are the bottum of the totum pole, and than they work themselves up and some become the boss. My little pony bosses around my big butch quarter horse and the tall warmbloods, and they run like little chickens from the ponies. And I know cats are not fish either, but when I moved in with Jason, I brought my cat from the farm to live with me in town, and we already had two cats at Jasons house in town, and They hated him at first and now Chevy and Sam are good friends, but Terd my female still hates him with a passion. So I dont know, maybe you will just have to wait and see, I guess if it comes down to that you'll have to pick one tahts too bad, but I guess its better than a dead fish. Hope you get your problem resolved.

[Myka]

What do you mean Thompson Black Tang? Never heard that name before. Are you simply talking about a Black Tang also referred to as a Black Longnose Tang? Is it a $600 fish? If you're not referring to a Black Tang with a $600-800 price tag, maybe you could post a picture or find one on the internet? I'm thinking it's misidentified as a Black Tang as I would think most people who spend that kind of money on a fish would know the proper name.

How big is the tank these fish are in? What are the other inhabitants?

Does it look like this Black Tang?
http://www.themarinecenter.com/media/photos/09683EE1D6C843E395B29712C9D89AEAE.jpg


Or maybe you have an Achilles Tang...?
http://secamarinelife.com.au/catalog/images/Achilles%20Tang.JPG

[Lordpharaoh10]

www.themarinecenter.com/fish/tangs/thompsonstang/ (http://www.themarinecenter.com/fish/tangs/thompsonstang/)

This is a picture of the fish if it may be of some assistance.

[fishcop]

Very nice tang, I would keep the tang and get rid of the bicolor if needed. Might just take some time for the two fish to get along.

[Myka]

Oh cool! I know those are Scissortail Tangs. You don't see them too often. Again, how big is your tank? How big is the Tang?

[Lordpharaoh10]

It's around 2" in length...

I've noticed in the past few days the 'fighting' has ceased...but they still quarrell occasionally...nothing too rough..but enough to stress one or the other out a bit.
If things dont improve in the next week...I'll be selling the fish, amazing personality though...sad to see him go.

[Myka]

You keep missing the "How big is your tank?" part...

[Lordpharaoh10]

Oh Haha sorry Myka, I added it to my signature thought it would show up...its a 36 Gallon

[jorjef]

Fire in the hole !!!!

[Myka]

Hmmm...well ya fire in the hole is right.

Of the 3 fish you have listed in your signature, none of them are suitable for a 36 gallon reef. The Bi-Color Angel will grow to be 6", and requires a tank of at least 60 gallons. The Thompson's Tang will grow to be 10-11", and requires a tank that is at least 6' long (and over 100 gallons). Mandarins are notorious for not eating prepared foods, although a few will adapt. I hope you have one that readily eats prepared foods, otherwise it will meets it's demise in your tank. If they don't eat prepared foods they require a well established tank with at least 60 lbs of live rock, as well as no other fish that will compete for their only food source - pods.

I would like to gently suggest that you find new homes for all three of these fish. In the future, try to research the fish before you buy it to make sure it will be suitable for your tank.

The reason your fish are fighting is because of the cramped quarters. As time goes on, it will get worse.

I would also suggest that you talk to the person who sold you these fish, and ask that they better advise their customers by asking questions about their setup before selling these fish. All of these fish have special requirements; the tang grows large, the mandarin needs plenty of live rock, and the angel is well-known to nip at LPS corals (it's not usually considered reef-safe). A reputable LFS would not sell these particular fish to someone without asking some questions about their tank to ensure the fish with thrive. A reputable LFS wants your fish to live and be happy because then you will be happy too, and come back to the store again. :D

Oh Haha sorry Myka, I added it to my signature thought it would show up...its a 36 Gallon __________________
36 Gal - Coralife T5 HO lighting
Bi color Angel
Back 'Thompsons' Tang
Mandarin Dragonette
Large Cleaner Shrimp
2 Hermit Crabs
1 Snail
Flowerpot Coral
Anenome

[Asmodeus]

Agreed with Myka with the

Mandarins are notorious for not eating prepared foods, although a few will adapt. I hope you have one that readily eats prepared foods, otherwise it will meets it's demise in your tank. If they don't eat prepared foods they require a well established tank with at least 60 lbs of live rock, as well as no other fish that will compete for their only food source - pods.

and even if they are eating meaty foods they will still need the live stuff in your tank. if not they will die

[Tim Tessier]

So lets flavour this discussion with another viewpoint. The sizes Myka was listing were "maximum" sizes these fish "can" attain in the wild. I have had bicolour angels that were 6". I have seen Sailfin Tangs that were 10" long and almost 2" thick. On the other hand I had a healthy sailfin in my personal 90gallon tank for 12years. When it moved on to greener pastures it was only 4" long. That same tank also had a Mandarin Dragonet for 5 years. What I am trying to say is that just because a fish can grow to a certain size does not necessarily mean every one will attain that size. There are too many factors that influence growth rates of fish to say that every fish will reach it's maximum size, especially in captivity.

You may well find that in a year you may be searching for a new home for the Thompsons because it has grown to 5" long.

[Myka]

You are condoning keep a 2" Thompson Tang in a 36 gallon tank? :(

[TJSlayer]

I Think he's saying that the size of the fish right now isn't an issue for the fish and the tank size. But agreed they will outgrow the tank, and as they grow they will be more agressive to each other. The only unknown part is how much time this will take.

They may already be planning an upgrade to a larger tank so we don't know what the plan is there, but long term resisdence ina 36 gallon will not be an option...

In that size of tank I would agree that a max time span will be a year, may even be less, And the mandarine may have a tuff time finding what it need to survive.

Tough to say if the fightling will subside as well, so regardless a new home for at least one may be in order...

Good luck..