Sudden availability and price drops on Gem tangs

HeinritzReef · Jan 9, 2020

This is very exciting news! Not sure how a gem tang addition would go with my current 6 tangs... but might be worth the risk!?
Blonde Naso, Blue Regal, Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Tomini...

9secv6 · Jan 9, 2020

Any one know any place one can be ordered with this new lower price

tclogston · Jan 9, 2020

ca1ore said:
Not really sudden though. Gem prices have been coming down for a couple of years. Recently saw some for $299.

Reef lounge USA in California just advertised them on reef2reef for $280 I ordered one and believe the guy said he had like 50 preorders for them

tclogston · Jan 9, 2020

William Hardifer said:
Any one know any place one can be ordered with this new lower price

Reef lounge USA in California just advertised them on reef2reef for $280 I ordered one and believe the guy said he had like 50 preorders for them... I think it may be too late to get in on this order but check with him anyway I imagine if this is successful they will make another order

Jon Fishman · Jan 10, 2020

HeinritzReef said:
This is very exciting news! Not sure how a gem tang addition would go with my current 6 tangs... but might be worth the risk!?
Blonde Naso, Blue Regal, Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Tomini...

Could work..... but always have a plan B

ca1ore · Jan 10, 2020

HeinritzReef said:
This is very exciting news! Not sure how a gem tang addition would go with my current 6 tangs... but might be worth the risk!?
Blonde Naso, Blue Regal, Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Tomini...

Even though I have a very large tank, when I introduced my gem the resident purple would have killed it had I not banished it to the sump for a month. They now coexist, mostly. I have a similar tang gang. Chevron instead of Tomini, a unicorn and a polyzona. Only the purple was a problem.

vanpire · Jan 10, 2020

HeinritzReef said:
This is very exciting news! Not sure how a gem tang addition would go with my current 6 tangs... but might be worth the risk!?
Blonde Naso, Blue Regal, Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Tomini...

From my experience, a many-tangs gang is better than a few-tangs gang....spreads our any existing aggression, and they have already learned to co-exist. Plus, I learned to feed at multiple spots so no one territory needs to be defended.

Having multiple hiding places also help when aggression do arise. Tangs are like ostriches. If they don't see the target, they leave him alone.

I am also hoping for the best....

HeinritzReef · Jan 10, 2020

vanpire said:
From my experience, a many-tangs gang is better than a few-tangs gang....spreads our any existing aggression, and they have already learned to co-exist. Plus, I learned to feed at multiple spots so no one territory needs to be defended.

Having multiple hiding places also help when aggression do arise. Tangs are like ostriches. If they don't see the target, they leave him alone.

I am also hoping for the best....

When we added Sailfin & Tomini...

After a few bad days of aggression (purple/yellow ganging up on the sailfin)... we split up the tangs with a divider made of screen & pvc pipe.

... after a few days of only visual contact we added a lot of new rock & completely reworked the caves. Purple was still angry but got over it once they all were back together.

After a few bad days of aggression...

tclogston · Jan 10, 2020

I am going to try an acclamation box with my gem for maybe a day or 2 and hope my purple gets used to him...of course maybe I should put the purple in the time out box and let the Gem roam freely

Ming_ · Jan 10, 2020

I purchased a Gem Tang, after our LFS brings in shipment from Madagascar.
So far it is a model citizen in the tank.

Gem Tang is the first zebrasoma in my tank, after which i then added a much smaller purple tang and yellow tang. Absolutely no fighting at all. Now, only my purple and yellow chases each other just before lights off.

Also, keeping a Gem Tang is as simple as keeping a yellow tang, which is surprising because from my limited experience, more expensive = more difficult to keep.

Best photo i can get with all 3 in the same frame...

Pablo Easyreefs · Jan 10, 2020

as it says @TopShelfAquatics the problem many times are shipments from remote areas that are very expensive.

AZMSGT · Jan 10, 2020

Hey, I know where you can still get a $1200 Gem if anyone wants one. LOL

BantyRooster97 · Jan 10, 2020

tclogston said:
Reef lounge USA in California just advertised them on reef2reef for $280 I ordered one and believe the guy said he had like 50 preorders for them... I think it may be too late to get in on this order but check with him anyway I imagine if this is successful they will make another order

Holding on for the under $200 price point.... then I'll probably get one

BantyRooster97 · Jan 10, 2020

@Ming_ what is the little stripped angel in the back? Reef safe? I like him!

User1 · Jan 10, 2020

ca1ore said:
Not really sudden though. Gem prices have been coming down for a couple of years. Recently saw some for $299.

Is yours in your display? I seem to recall one of your videos you mentioned about moving it.

ScottB · Jan 10, 2020

HeinritzReef said:
This is very exciting news! Not sure how a gem tang addition would go with my current 6 tangs... but might be worth the risk!?
Blonde Naso, Blue Regal, Purple, Yellow, Sailfin, Tomini...

How many gallons? Who is the current tank boss and how aggressive is it? Hard to predict but these are factors to assessing the risks IMO.

ca1ore · Jan 10, 2020

saf1 said:
Is yours in your display? I seem to recall one of your videos you mentioned about moving it.

Yes it is in the display - has been for a while. Did not go off without some significant drama though. Now trying to decide whether to try with my black tang also. Price on those hasn't come down.

User1 · Jan 10, 2020

ca1ore said:
Yes it is in the display - has been for a while. Did not go off without some significant drama though. Now trying to decide whether to try with my black tang also. Price on those hasn't come down.

Got it, thanks.

I wish I would have waited on the Scopas but it is really amazing at eating every form of algae I had in my tank while it was maturing. I'm not sure if it would get along with a Gem or any other in the Zebrasoma tree.

amoore311 · Jan 10, 2020

Keenan said:
@TopShelfAquatics do you think the same will eventually happen with the Mauritius Polyzona Tang?

Polyzona Tangs and Kingii Angels are being brought in through Madagascar as well. Expect prices on these fish to drop precipitously over the next year.

anit77 · Jan 10, 2020

tclogston said:
I am going to try an acclamation box with my gem for maybe a day or 2 and hope my purple gets used to him...of course maybe I should put the purple in the time out box and let the Gem roam freely

I like the method @ca1ore uses. Move the bully, not the noob. Put that fish in the acclimation box or the sump and let the new fish swim free. I've had the best luck that way.