Aggressive Powder Brown Tang

[rico11mac]

5 days ago, I added a juvenile Annularis angel from quarantine to a 75g display holding a Powder Brown Tang and a Blue Spot Puffer. The tang immediately started nipping and harrassing the angel. Now, the angel hides behind the heater in a corner and when it starts to venture out a little, the tang comes right over to bully him back in the corner. The angel is eating fine and not showing signs of illness or injury yet, but I'm definitely worried. My LFS said they would eventually work it out. I'm about 3 seconds from moving the tang to my quarantine. What's the general consensus?

 

[kjr_trig]

A Powder Brown Tang can be a HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE fish (most Acanthurus genus Tangs are), particularly in such a small tank. Chances are he will not outright kill a new fish, but he will bully them for awhile. I had an Achilles Tang (very very closely related to PB) that would torture any new addition for a day or so, then leave them alone. The only fish he actually killed was a Yellow Tang, i.e. I wouldn't add another Tang.
Be advised, a 75 is really small for a Powder Brown and Annularis long term....Good luck

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/3269271
A Powder Brown Tang can be a HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE fish (most Acanthurus genus Tangs are), particularly in such a small tank. Chances are he will not outright kill a new fish, but he will bully them for awhile. I had an Achilles Tang (very very closely related to PB) that would torture any new addition for a day or so, then leave them alone. The only fish he actually killed was a Yellow Tang, i.e. I wouldn't add another Tang.
Be advised, a 75 is really small for a Powder Brown and Annularis long term....Good luck
I agree. The Powder Brown is an aggressive fish to start with and he really doesn't have enough swimming room. I'm a firm believer in the formula that cramped quarters=stress=increased aggression.

 

[rcreations]

The Powder Blue Tang I had in my 150gal was one of the most agressive fish I ever owned. He was ok with the fish I had in before him, but any new additions were in big trouble. Finally had to sell him because of this. I tried everything... rearranging rocks, put a mirror on the outside of the tank, nothing worked.

 

[srfisher17]

I'd do everything to find the tang a new home (he needs more room); but if you're stuck with the PB; sometimes the time-out method works with Acanthurus tangs. Put him in QT for a while and re-introduce him. No guarantees, but these tangs seem to be more civil when they are the last fish put in the tank.

 

[rico11mac]

I will try the QT first and let you know. Thanks a lot for the advice.