copper band butterfly vs yellow tang

[untamed]

Originally Posted by chevyjaxon

the tang and CBB are about the same size. interesting though the tang is clearly the aggressor but yet my tang has definatley chosen a fight he simply cannot win, this is due to the CBB,s dorsal fin spines I hope my tang gives up soon

Interesting...I would have put my money on the Tang.

[Delphinus]

Actually my money is still on the tang even if the fish are the same size (in my case the tang was larger). The dorsal fins of the butterfly are no defense against a torqued-off tang. Butterflies are really quite timid creatures. In fact I wonder if slightly aggressive tankmates (ie., where the aggression may not be so obvious to us as casual observers) this contributes to the common story that butterflies starve in our tanks.

Anyhow, my suggestion is still basically ensure that the butterfly has escape routes (creative rockwork) and ensure the tang is well fed, and hopefully within a couple weeks they will be tolerant of one another. My tang and CBB get along fine nowadays (18 months together in the same tank) although my tang will still charge at the CBB if he feels he's not respecting the totem pole (eg. "you're too close to my nori stick, GET OUT OF MY CORNER!!").

[chevyjaxon]

so basically my tang is still the king of my tank? thats good because thats the wifes favorite fish infact thats the whole reason i got into marine is for 1 silly tang that the wife wanted

[littlesilvermax]

My yellow has been chasing my CB for a year now.

Nothing major, but my CBB was big and had a fighting chance right from the beginning.......he was Doug's old fish.

[Murminator]

My YT always chases my blue sided fairy wrasse doesn't chase anything but him