Achilles Tangs

AdInfinitum

Super Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Thorndale, Ontario
Along the lines of the Copperband thread...

Since lately there have been a lot of Achilles Tangs available in the area and I assume that some Frag Tankers must have given these challenging fish new homes, I thought a thread tracking them was in order.

I have considered them many times in the past but even recently decided against....Then I was in Sealife Central and saw this very beautiful, very young juvenile and was offered such an unbelievably good price that I couldn't pass it up.

So young that the caudal spot is just forming.

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He was in amazing condition and although he didn't eat notably he was picking at the substrate actively.  My biggest concern was my Powder Blue who is still small but had been in the tank with no other tangs for some time.  As expected the PB went at the small Achilles viciously but I had a mirror on hand that I attached to the front glass.  The Powder Blue spent the next 3 days attacking the rival Powder Blue, giving the Achilles a chance to become familiar with the tank and its routines. 

By day 4 the PB had figured out the mirror and no longer paid attention to it and went after the Achilles but not as violently and since he was somewhat settled in the Achilles fought back.  IME Tangs are mostly just bullies that give up if something fights back (Clown Tangs and Sohal's being notable exceptions) so when I came home from work the other day and the Powder Blue had a split in his dorsal fin, a bite out of his tail and some spine marks on his side I knew that things had been settled.  There are still some healthy fin shows but the two will pick at the same sheet of Nori side by side.  :)

I look forward to hearing about others' experiences and seeing more pics of these beautiful creatures.

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monizb

Super Active Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2011
Location
Strathroy, Ontario
That my main fish I was at iA today and had two amazing looking achylis tangs there I think ones coming home  ::) told my wife it can be my early bday gift soon as I get back from Florida in two weeks ones coming home :)
 

AdInfinitum

Super Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Thorndale, Ontario
davesolo29 link said:
beautiful fish Rob.  i contemplated getting one myself, but will wait til after my move before i get any new fish additions.

The right call... All of the algae and pods and mysis living in a mature system have to help a fish that is a constant grazer acclimate.  It was almost a week before he realized the Nori sheets were food and that time can be enough to tip the scales with a small juvenile with next to no fat reserves to live on while fighting for territory in a new space.

monizb link said:
That my main fish I was at iA today and had two amazing looking achylis tangs there I think ones coming home  ::) told my wife it can be my early bday gift soon as I get back from Florida in two weeks ones coming home :)

I saw the ones Bill had.  Larger and he has really got them nicely settled in and eating, but out of my budget and my birthday isn't until November.  ;)
 

Darryl_V

Super Active Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2011
Location
Woodstock, Ontario
That is a beautiful fish but honestly I wouldnt be surprised if you have long term aggression problems with the powder blue.  They are a bully genius of fish.  Hopefuly the aggression isnt too bad for you.
 

AdInfinitum

Super Active Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Location
Thorndale, Ontario
Darryl_V link said:
That is a beautiful fish but honestly I wouldnt be surprised if you have long term aggression problems with the powder blue.  They are a bully genius of fish.  Hopefuly the aggression isnt too bad for you.

My thinking was that since the PB is also still a juvenile really, that they may grow up tolerant of each other and the fall back plan is, whichever one turns into a dick gets to go and play with the Sohal in the other tank.
 

jroovers

Super Active Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2012
Location
London
I have had a couple of powder blues now, and if you get them small enough, their aggression will be tempered.  Once they grow though, they will hit that aggression phase.  Mine is going through it right now.  The last few weeks he has been going nuts at the glass on the sides of the tank because he sees his reflection. My last one did this too.  Prior to that they never did it and were very peaceful, wonder if it is part of reaching their maturity.

Your Achilles is sweet, hopefully everyone plays nice and you get much enjoyment out of it.  I saw the ones Bill has too and they are very nice fish.
 
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