Two Acanthurus in tank (1 Viewer)

[steveb]

Have a 5"-6" Powder Blue and an Achilles the same size in my 55g QT tank along with a Kole Tang, Hybrid Black Tang, a Copper Band and a few other small fishes(clowns, basslets). Currently Cu is at 2.34 (little high I know, going to bring it down to 2.0.


So already the PB is being a donkey rear to everyone. The Achilles isn't so bad so I have divided the tank in 1/2 with PB one side and Achilles + everything else on the other - however I can tell he is not happy about not being able to swim so I think I will setup a 40g and moving the PB along with the black caps and the clowns over to it.


Longer term - 7'x24"wx30"tall display tank. Hmmm wondering if this is gonna be possible or not? I also thought about adding a Clown Tang. Since that would be 3 Acanthurus tangs my hope would be to divide the aggression.

Thoughts?

 

[TriggerFan]

Steve:

All I am going to say is, I tried a PB and Achilles TWICE in my RedSea 750XXLs. At the end of the day, I lost 2 PBs and an Achilles. One Achilles survived as I was able to remove and treat him pretty quick for 45 days. It was WW2.5 in there. And even my angels were not happy. It might be doable and suspect no problem in a larger tank, but I am done trying incompatibilities. I am going the safe route now until I can get a 500+ gal tank.

 

[steveb]

Hmmm... kind of what I’m seeing and wondering if adding a 3rd member to the party would help divide the aggression.

How big is that Red Sea reefer?

Not so concerned about QT. More concerned with display tank.

I guess I may have to choose which one I really want. I need to order a tang lobotomy kit.


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[TriggerFan]

72”x 24” x 24” - From what I saw, the Powder Blue was “easier” to work with along other fish. The Achilles was (is) more aggressive, specially during feeding time.

I feed small doses three times a day and they have Nori most of the time and he still behaves like a “shark” during feeding. Recalls some my triggers. LOL

 

[TriggerFan]

I will not add any other tangs in that tank (I also have a blond naso) but I want to add a powder blue into the other tank, but I need to rehome my yellow tang whose a real @$$••••!

 

[steveb]

Thanks for the feedback. Starting to think my hope of adding them at same time along with several other tangs and having them tolerate each other is a pipe dream.


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[Reefahholic]

I can tell you...PBT’s have a dang good memory. If they don’t like a fish...you can Sump them for 3 months and as soon as you put them back in the DT...they will go straight for that same fish.

 

[Reefahholic]

 

[steveb]

Wonder how that ended up. I put powder blue in yesterday and Achilles today. Still wondering if I added a clown tang about same size if that would help distribute the aggression.


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[webster1234]

I was like you but had the achilles for several years and then decided to add a powder blue. I knew it was risky so after qt, I put the pbt in a giant acclimation box for several weeks to let them adjust. The achilles would circle the acclimation box stalking the pbt. Finally, I decided to chance it and turned him loose knowing there would be no way to catch him in my big tank. There was some aggression for about a month but after that, they just flare at one another but no fighting.

I have another acantharus (fowelri tang) in there and there has never been any tension between him and the achilles. Just the achilles and pbt. And my tank is 400g. But if I had it to do over again, I don't think I would add another acantharus like powder blue or brown. I guess the body shapes are just too close.

 

[Reefahholic]

One time I bought 10 bicolor dottybacks. I woke up with 8 dead and two alive. I couldn’t believe it.

Then I saw the last two going in circles trying to kill each other. A light bulb came on. Lol.

Weird how these things work. You would think they would like their own species! Apparently not.

 

[RR-MAN]

Wonder how that ended up. I put powder blue in yesterday and Achilles today. Still wondering if I added a clown tang about same size if that would help distribute the aggression.


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Clown tang will be pushing it. If the Achilles/PB are the same size you should be ok. Hopefully they make it through the qt especially the Achilles.

My powder blue ignored the Achilles and once in a while got into it with the powder brown. It was a good show to watch.

 

[Cody]

I can tell you...PBT’s have a dang good memory. If they don’t like a fish...you can Sump them for 3 months and as soon as you put them back in the DT...they will go straight for that same fish.

When I was in college, I used to sneak powder blue tangs into exams in my pockets due to their fantastic memory. Aced every exam with their help.

 

[Luman01]

When I was in college, I used to sneak powder blue tangs into exams in my pockets due to their fantastic memory. Aced every exam with their help.

You got a powder blue you can ship to me in the next 2 hrs? Like super fast shipping got a history exam at 8am!

 

[Reefahholic]

When I was in college, I used to sneak powder blue tangs into exams in my pockets due to their fantastic memory. Aced every exam with their help.

I wanted to cook that fish. I couldn’t believe he remembered. It was like I never sumped him.

 

[steveb]

Clown tang will be pushing it. If the Achilles/PB are the same size you should be ok. Hopefully they make it through the qt especially the Achilles.

My powder blue ignored the Achilles and once in a while got into it with the powder brown. It was a good show to watch.

Clown Tang Pushing it in QT or in final home?

 

[TriggerFan]

Having those three in the same tank is indeed asking for trouble. Mine was more aggressive than the powder blue.

As mentioned earlier it was a tag team between the Achilles and Clown tang vs the Powder Blue. He didn't stand a chance. Then the Achilles beat the crap out of the clown tang whenever he tried to mess with him.

Believe it or not, the Powder Blue and the Sohal got along really well. The Sohal behaved so well!

 

[steveb]

Having those three in the same tank is indeed asking for trouble. Mine was more aggressive than the powder blue.

As mentioned earlier it was a tag team between the Achilles and Clown tang vs the Powder Blue. He didn’t stood a chance. Then the Achilles beat the crap out of the clown whenever he tried to mess with the Achilles.

Oh I didn’t realize you had all 3. I guess I misread. I was thinking you only had PB and Achilles.

Well poop.

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[RR-MAN]

Clown Tang Pushing it in QT or in final home?

In qt and display. I don’t think it will make it to display. These guys are persistent fighters they will not quit.

 

[TriggerFan]

Yes. RR-Man is aware of some of my struggles when I introduced them and I reached out to him for some advice.

Fowlr Tank:
Cleaner Wrasse
Emperor Angel
Regal Angel
Lemon Peel Angel
Blue dot Puffer
Picasso Trigger
Niger Trigger
Clown Ttigger
Blonde Naso
Achilles
Powder Blue

Survivors:
Lemon Peel Angel
Blonde Naso
Achilles


Reef Tank:
DaVinci Clown Pair
Cleaner Wrasse
Achilles
Yellow Tang
Sohal Tang
Powder Blue
Fire Fish

Survivors:
Yellow Tang
Cleaner Wrasse
Fire fish