tips for reducing aggression in tangs
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islandbass - Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:06 pm
tips for reducing aggression in tangs
My Yellow Tang keeps chasing my Blue Tang around the tank. It's a 75-gallon setup with plenty of live rock, but the aggression hasn't stopped. Anyone got tips to calm them down?
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brookside - Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:24 pm
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
I've had similar issues with my Powder Blue Tang. Adding more hiding spots helped, but it took a while for them to settle. How often are you feeding them?
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kayaklover - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:21 am
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Tangs are territorial, especially in smaller tanks. A 75-gallon is on the tight side for two tangs. Try rearranging the rocks to disrupt territories and increase feedings to twice a day with nori clips. Also, check your water params, high nitrates can stress them out.
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soras - Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:28 pm
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Yep, this is solid advice. I'd also add a mirror to the side of the tank temporarily. It distracts the aggressive one by making it think there's another tang.kayaklover wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 1:00 pm Tangs are territorial, especially in smaller tanks. A 75-gallon is on the tight side for two tangs. Try rearranging the rocks to disrupt territories and increase feedings to twice a day with nori clips. Also, check your water params, high nitrates can stress them out.
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fluentix - Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:24 am
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
My Purple Tang was a bully until I added a bigger tankmate. Sometimes a bigger fish can cut the aggression. Just make sure it's not another tang, or you're gonna have a bigger problem.
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daxton - Posts: 62
- Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2022 4:24 pm
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Aggression in tangs is often about space. A 75-gallon is minimal for one tang, let alone two. Consider upgrading or rehoming one if the behavior doesn't improve.
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florin1 - Posts: 10
- Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2023 3:12 am
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
I don't have tangs, but my clownfish were aggressive until I added more rockwork. Maybe try that?
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islandbass - Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:06 pm
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try rearranging the rocks and upping the feedings first. If that doesn't work, I might look into a bigger tank.
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brookside - Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:24 pm
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Good plan. Let us know how it goes. Sometimes it just takes time for them to establish a pecking order.islandbass wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 4:09 pm Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try rearranging the rocks and upping the feedings first. If that doesn't work, I might look into a bigger tank.
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kayaklover - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:21 am
Re: tips for reducing aggression in tangs
Also, make sure your water quality is spot on. Tangs are sensitive to poor conditions, which can make aggression worse. Test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate regularly.