Advice please: powder blue tang beating up on yellow tang

[Errol]

I added several tangs to my 150 gal reef tank a few weeks ago. They are all peaceful, except for a 2.5 inch powder blue who is beating up on a 1.5 inch biota yellow tang. The yellow tang is still eating, is not thin, but its fins are nipped and it has been relegated to a small safe area above one of the reef wave pumps. This behavior has been going on for a week or so.
Questions:
(1) Will it settle down?
(2) Should I rehouse the yellow tang?
(3) If I do, will the powder blue start to pick on another tang (right now there is no evidence of such behavior)?
(4) Should I give the powder blue a 'timeout' (put it in the sump for a while)?
Thanks

 

[wdebenedettojr]

Powder blue tangs are mean. They are hard to get them to get along with other tangs but in your situation adding them all at once makes it slightly easier. I would keep an eye out on them closely tho. If the yellow tang starts to hide and not eat you might have a decision to make.

 

[TPhan]

Have you try mirrors? They worked well for me with my previous tang additions.

 

[dz6t]

I would rehome the powder blue to a tank that is 6 to 8 feet long. It needs room to dash around or it becomes aggressive.

 

[Mixed Reefer]

The outcome won’t be good for the yellow tang if you do nothing. If you’re interested in rehoming yellow tang let me know.

 

[Errol]

Thank you all. I think I may have a decision to make.

 

[NeverlosT]

My suggestions:

1. Feed a lot. Nori as often as you can. Live foods like bloodworms, mysis. Frozen foods next best, and then dry. A full fish is often a less aggressive fish.
2. If you can, rearrange some of your rocks, reset the territory battle.
3. Use a mirror to distract the powder blue, that does often work.
4. If you can catch him, isolate him for a bit in an acclimation box to let the yellow recover.
5. If you do decide to rehome him any of them, let me know, I have a big tank that needs fish!

 

[frank180reef]

Re-home

 

[ChrisV]

Mine was a model citizen until one day he became a total freaking sociopath. I had him for like 8 years. I rehomed him and he was a bully there too, in spite of being in a large tank. He was then rehomed a second time. Who knows what became of him. They are absolutely beautiful fish, but not worth it in my opinion.

 

[Spaceman]

Should remove the pb not the yellow the yellow would be fine in the 150 for a long time. The pb should be the last fish added to your tank or might try killing every new fish. They need larger 6foot reefs to be happy imo.

 

[Arsalan]

I added several tangs to my 150 gal reef tank a few weeks ago. They are all peaceful, except for a 2.5 inch powder blue who is beating up on a 1.5 inch biota yellow tang. The yellow tang is still eating, is not thin, but its fins are nipped and it has been relegated to a small safe area above one of the reef wave pumps. This behavior has been going on for a week or so.
Questions:
(1) Will it settle down?
(2) Should I rehouse the yellow tang?
(3) If I do, will the powder blue start to pick on another tang (right now there is no evidence of such behavior)?
(4) Should I give the powder blue a 'timeout' (put it in the sump for a while)?
Thanks

Here’s how I’ve dealt with tang aggression and I’ve had great results and have been able to get tangs to play nice. I think you’ll be able to get them to be peaceful.

When a tang is being a bully, remove him immediately and put him in your sump or fuge (not another tank, unless it’s the same water system). This ensures they don’t get stressed from being in new water, but isolates them from the victims. Keep him there for about 2 weeks. This gives time for the victim to build confidence and a level of dominance in the tank. Once you see the victim is acting normal and everyone seems healthy, reintroduce the bully and closely monitor their behavior. You might need to repeat. You also might have a new bully on your hands, since time in tank helps establish dominance and territorial behaviors. Keep repeating this process and I guarantee you’ll have peace. It takes time and effort on your end.

One key thing is also to make sure rock work accommodates for sleeping / hiding holes. You might need to add rocks or re-aquascape if that’s not the case.

Hope this helps!

 

[PSU4ME]

I love a PBT but after 3 attempts, I’m in the rehome, leave in ocean camp!

 

[Errol]

Thanks for all the advice.