Acanthurus Achillies vs. Acanthurus Leucosternon:

[HisKid]

Well,

Despite all my efforts it would seem that these two sub-species are simply incompatible in an 180GAL aquarium. I took every precaution and it wasn't enough. They fought to the death, despite my best efforts to capture one or the other. It was another tough lesson for me. Aside from the cost of this exotic species, the time I spent acclimating, and the many pieces of advice I considered, I am somewhat stunned that these two would Harry until death in a tank this size. (Powder Blue killed the Achilles) The Achilles suffered massive trauma from caudal peduncle spine wounds.

I would love to know if anyone here has these two species in the same tank and if so do they ever fight? Please share how the Achilles tang was introduced.

TIA,

HisKid

 

[AF Founder]

Well,

Despite all my efforts it would seem that these two sub-species are simply incompatible in an 180GAL aquarium. I took every precaution and it wasn't enough. They fought to the death, despite my best efforts to capture one or the other. It was another tough lesson for me. Aside from the cost of this exotic species, the time I spent acclimating, and the many pieces of advice I considered, I am somewhat stunned that these two would Harry until death in a tank this size. (Powder Blue killed the Achilles) The Achilles suffered massive trauma from caudal peduncle spine wounds.

I would love to know if anyone here has these two species in the same tank and if so do they ever fight? Please share how the Achilles tang was introduced.

TIA,

HisKid

I have both in a 10 foot tank, but when I introduced the achilles to the tank with an established powderblue the achilles was twice the size of the power, and even so the power tryed to attack the achilles and kept it connered for months, but eventually the achilles' size got the power to give up. Also, there are 5 other tangs in the tank, and the Sohar bosses all.

 

[HisKid]

That’s great! I am glad you were successful. Thanks for the feedback. I will likely try a Paracanthurus hepatis next, then a juvenile Hawaiinesis, followed by 5 or 6 medium sized Zebrasoma's (4/5 yellow, 1 purple) which I plan to introduce all at once.

 

[npaden]

I don't think that will work in a 180.

I don't think you should have more than 1 Zebrasoma in a tank that size, maybe 2 if you have 1 yellow and 1 purple.

That would be more tangs than I have in my 415 gallon tank and I think I'm pushing it with 5.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[HisKid]

I don't think that will work in a 180.

I don't think you should have more than 1 Zebrasoma in a tank that size, maybe 2 if you have 1 yellow and 1 purple.

That would be more tangs than I have in my 415 gallon tank and I think I'm pushing it with 5.

FWIW, Nathan

Really? Please Elaborate.

Admittedly, I am not expert, but according to most of the material I have read, placing 4 or more Zebrasoma's in a tank at once, causes them to school instead of fighting for territory. Zebrasoma tangs are found in schools across most of the Hawaiian Islands. With the possible exception of a purple tang which is a solitary fish, most Zebrasoma's should school.


TIA,

HisKid

 

[npaden]

I've never seen Zebrasoma tangs "school" in a tank under 1,000 gallons. The same fish that school in the ocean will fight to the death in a confined aquarium.

 

[EmilyB]

I'd never dream of putting two acanthurus in a tank, wow. :? Just from personal experience of course....... 8O

 

[HisKid]

:roll:

 

[ChrisRD]

I think you're going to have a tough time finding any experienced reefer who will endorse putting that many tangs in a 180 (with good reason).

You're getting some good advice from some experienced fish keepers in this thread. It would be a shame (mostly for the fish) if you chose to ignore it.

 

[Entacmaea]

We have about 8 purple tangs in a 500 gallon tank in the Steinhart Aquarium and they don't school- they badger each other all the time according to size. I can't imagine a similar number of different species in a 180 getting along...

2 tangs for a 180 would be my limit. If you saw how much room they take to swim, like in our 25,000 tank which I oogle over everyday, you would probably not put any in a tank smaller than npaden's 10 footer! We have maybe 8 or 10 Z. flavescens in our 25,000 and they don't show much schooling behavior either, only the Chromis do. Granted, I've never been diving (its on my list!) so maybe some divers can speak up, but "schools" in real reefs are hundreds of fish. We have about 20-30 Anthias in the 25,000 gallon tank and they don't school- only the larger number of Chromis, maybe 50-60, show schooling behavior...

Not sure I agree with "trying" with other tangs that might suffer the same fate. I would be ecstatic with a powder blue all by its self!

 

[aussiefishy]

I will be trying to add the powderblue (Bigger than the achilles) to the achilles and the Sohal within this week, i need to get a day off so that i can closely monitor and provide first-aid if necessary :? .

Also going into the tank at the same time will be a purple tang and a vlamingi. I hope this will spread out the territorial behaviour of the existing inhabitant and make the rebalance of power more chaotic.

The last time the Sohal was added to the achilles, the achilles was making the sohal to hide in a crevice for close to 1 month, at that time i have to target feed the sohal, since the sohal is a quite bigger than the achilles, luckily i have only seen a physical wound (very small) on the achilles once. They are now living in my 200 gallon show NO aggression at all.

:?: My predictions will be, The powderblue will eventually win the achilles, with the vlamingi and purple escape the whole ordeal safely... maybe minor briuses... eventual boss will be the sohal.

:wink: Eating should not be a problem cause all my fish are hand-fed-able and QT to ensure maximum health (0% chance of ICH) before i introduce it to my main display. I will have my QT ready for any injured party (if i can catch them) and if needed i have a existing FO tank to house them.

IF Terry and/Or Hiskid can help me out with any questioin i may have during this ordeal that will be great!

I am not writing this to encourage people into try this, i only want to record this in the forum so others can gain from my experience.

Eric 8O

 

[AF Founder]

I would always add the the most aggressive tang last. The leucosterum and sohar IMO are the most aggressive. In any case having several tangs in one tank requires at minimum an 8 foot tank, and 10 foot would be better.

 

[Anonymous]

We have about 8 purple tangs in a 500 gallon tank in the Steinhart Aquarium and they don't school- they badger each other all the time according to size. I can't imagine a similar number of different species in a 180 getting along...

2 tangs for a 180 would be my limit. If you saw how much room they take to swim, like in our 25,000 tank which I oogle over everyday, you would probably not put any in a tank smaller than npaden's 10 footer! We have maybe 8 or 10 Z. flavescens in our 25,000 and they don't show much schooling behavior either, only the Chromis do. Granted, I've never been diving (its on my list!) so maybe some divers can speak up, but "schools" in real reefs are hundreds of fish. We have about 20-30 Anthias in the 25,000 gallon tank and they don't school- only the larger number of Chromis, maybe 50-60, show schooling behavior...

Not sure I agree with "trying" with other tangs that might suffer the same fate. I would be ecstatic with a powder blue all by its self!

Have you seen the A. japonicus spawn? There are at least 3. 2 of them constantly circle each other for a minute or so, almost like 2 dogs chasing each other's tails. Then they swim straight up for 10 feet or so. I'd bet ya there's eggs getting released, but of course it's just a suspicion. I haven't noticed similar behavior from any of the other acanthurids/siganids.

 

[dbsherwood]

My question would be, "why push the tangs?" I think the advice earlier on conspecifics is excellent advice and can be found in many books and other sources. Acanthurus sp. don't get along with each other. They are typically territorial fish, defending their patches of reef for algae grazing, etc. If you dive or watch underwater video of them, you can see that they're quite happy on their own. and chase out other tangs. IMHO, putting Acanthurus species together is similar to putting betas in the same tank; expect them to fight.

I have 4 tangs in my 700 gal reef tank--powder blue, blonde naso, hepatamus, yellow--and they get along well because none of them are conspecifics. I thought long and hard about adding more tangs and opted against it because I didn't think that the disruption of the peace was worth it. If you're looking for color in the tank I'd suggest looking at fairy wrasses, anthias, blennies etc. to create a diverse tank environment. For my 2 cents, they're also more interesting fish, as I've found that tangs are either really aggressive or stupid. Not nearly as cool as the old dusky jawfish.

 

[aussiefishy]

Update on the ordeal:

I put the 3 newcomers (powderblue, Purple and Vlamingi) in the tank this afternoon and watched closely. Suprisingly enough, the results are non-physical trauma (so far, thank god ), only flashing at each other.

They are still showing signs of aggressiveness towards each other, but in the last 6-8 hours there is no evidence of physical wound on all species. I have also observe that a "specific" fighting pairs formed during this 6 hours. The sohal are more focused on the purple tang, and the achilles are more focus on the powerblue. The vlamingi is just doing its thing.

and they are all eating, and breathing is normal.

i will keep posting updates as this gets along .

Again, I am trying to post my experience only for reference purposes :!: , by all means it cannot be replicable 8O (I think i am really really lucky this time) and i am not a advocate in any way for putting cospecifics in the same tank habitat. :!:

and about choice of fish: IMO, it is all personal preference :wink: .

I have recorded a short MPEG4 clip and if anyone here can show me how to publish it that will be great.

 

[steveweast]

This topic has been popping up on other boards these days with similar tales of incompatability. I feel like I'm very lucky....I've had no issue with my PBT and Achilles....in fact, they pal around together. My PBT has been in my 850gal tank for over 4 years....my Achilles maybe 8 months.



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[aussiefishy]

Wow! 850 gallon!

that is amazing!

Update on the tang(s)

No physical wounds and trauma. (fingers crossed)

Very glad that it all worked out fine so far. feel extremely lucky as my tank size is much smaller than 850 and i can house 3 cospecifics.

I think the biggest factor that leads to the decrease in inter-species arrgession is that i put the 3 of the newcomers all at once. and lights were off when it was added. plus good water/tank parameters (especially oxygen and water movement), last the rock placement--- lots of crevices.

will update as days go on.

:lol: