Comparing queen angel to powder blue variety

[riveton]

I picked up a Powder Blue Tang and a Queen Angel from my LFS back in March 2010, introducing them to my tank at the same time. Things were fine for six months, but then the Powder Blue started getting aggressive, especially towards the Queen Angel, about a week ago.

The Queen Angel's gone into hiding now and I'm pretty sure it's stopped eating. I'm stuck without a second tank to separate them, so I asked my LFS for advice. They suggested removing most of my rock, leaving it out for 24 hours, then putting it back differently, as they thought the tang was getting territorial. I did it, and now my tank's almost bare, but the tang's still bullying the angel.

I'm really struggling to find a solution, as these two are my favourite fish and I don't want to lose either of them. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can try next?

[rileyon]

I'm guessing you're not running an 8-foot tank, which is what you'd need for both of these fish. If that's the case, it's just gonna get worse as they outgrow your tank.

[riveton]

I'm guessing you're not running an 8-foot tank, which is what you'd need for both of these fish. If that's the case, it's just gonna get worse as they outgrow your tank.

Yeah, you're spot on, it's not exactly massive. And didn't the LFS warn me about this, fluxx?

To be honest, the Powder Blue isn't huge, it's definitely smaller than the Queen Angel at the moment.

[rileyon]

How big is your tank, exactly? The Powder Blue Tang may not be the largest fish, but it still needs a decent amount of space - at least 6 feet. They're always on the move, feeding and swimming in the wild, which is why they can get a bit aggressive.

The Queen Angel, on the other hand, will grow to be massive - over a foot in length, easily. And let's be honest, they're not exactly reef-safe, plus they can be pretty aggressive too.

[riveton]

My tank's 150l and 3ft, so yeah it's on the smaller side. I had a Powder Blue in my old 4ft tank with less water volume and it never caused any issues, even with a heavier stock. I thought it'd be alright in this one, but I guess not. The Angel's not aggressive at all, it's actually really timid - it's even shying away from a small Chromis, which is pretty weird.

[rileyon]

you need to rehome them both now - it's the only way you'll avoid disaster. the queen angel is going to outgrow your tank massively, easily reaching half its length. and the powder blue tang isn't small either, it'll reach 8-10 inches easily. you're heading for an expensive mess if you keep them both. sorry, but it's for the best - they need new homes. your LFS really let you down on this one, i wouldn't go back if i were you. they should've told you the truth instead of trying to make a quick sale.

[coral8]

Always do your research before buying anything, especially when it comes to fish and tanks. Don't just take your LFS's word for it, they might be looking to make a quick sale rather than giving you the best advice. I learned the hard way with my Powder Blue and Queen Angel, and now I'm paying the price.