Add a Hippo Tang???

[Ourlittleocean]

We have a Mimic and Lavender tang currently and would like our final tang to be a Blue Hippo. The two we have now were best buddies right from the moment we put our Lavender tang in and just love each other. We want to add a small Blue Hippo as our last tang. We know that they are usually docile as are our other two tangs, but we are still concerned about him being a third wheel in the tank. What is the possibility if any, of him being bullied or even attacked by the other two?

 

[natebedwell06]

better have a big tank, is it the 65 gallon?

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Are you thinking of this for your 65 gallon tank? 3 tangs is too many for a 65 gallon tank, and a hippo will get much too big pretty quickly for a 65 gallon tank even if it is the only fish in the tank. I wouldn't try adding one as a third tang to your tank.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

If this is the tank in your sig, then you shouldn't have any tangs at all. The blue tang needs at least a 240 gallon tank. They get to be 12" and that would make your tank look extremely small. Plus the 65 won't allow for enough swimming room.

 

[Ourlittleocean]

Thanks for the input this will definitely aide in our decision.

 

[Ourlittleocean]

There is a 125G in our near future so IF we decide on the Blue he will be the main guy in it.

 

[Dragon moray ki]

I would only but a blue tang in a 8 foot tank they get 1 foot

 

[dzfish17]

Have you seen this... http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079

 

[Daniel Reef]

There is a 125G in our near future so IF we decide on the Blue he will be the main guy in it.

According to Reef Newbie and dzfish17, any future 125g tank is still not big enough for a Hippo even if you upgrade. You may want to read the thread in the New to the Hobby forum where a guy put 5 yellow tangs in a 200g tank and they are now fighting and killing each other off because there is not enough room.

As sk8r (an RC Mod) explained, "fish will reduce their own numbers to suit the space until they no longer feel crowded. They start with their own species and will move on to others if they still feel pressured." You risk that happening IF you put three tangs in a tank that is not big enough.

 

[milspec]

It should be fine for a short while. They don't grow that fast, it takes a while if you start with a small one you should be fine. That is if they are all small. If not I would wait until you get the larger tank. I also would suggest going with a 180. Better just go big once instead of upgrading over and over again. Especially if you like the larger fish.

If it were me I would wait.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

It should be fine for a short while. They don't grow that fast, it takes a while if you start with a small one you should be fine. That is if they are all small. If not I would wait until you get the larger tank. I also would suggest going with a 180. Better just go big once instead of upgrading over and over again. Especially if you like the larger fish.

If it were me I would wait.

They should upgrade to the appropriate size before considering the blue hippo tang. People always run into problems such as a family loss, losing a job, and just not having time for a larger tank. So if you insist on having a blue tang make your tank in the near future a 240 gallon to create far fewer problems than there needs to be. This hobby is hard enough without making mistakes that you are guided against.

 

[milspec]

A 125 gallon will be fine. I only suggested a 180 because its not that much bigger. It won't take up that much more room and it will give you more options on the amount of fish you want to keep.

The three tangs in a 65 gallon tank, even if they don't fight, will look too crowed, unless they are very small.
It is pushing it.:strange:
Three med size tangs will just swim in circles in your 65. It will be too stressful.

As I posted above I wouldn't do it. I would in a 120 and up though.
So if you like a tank full of fish, think Bigger then a 125 gallon.

My 120 now has three tangs, two clowns, three damsels and a sixline.
I would not get another tang or other larger fish species unless I sell one of the tangs.
I can't increase the number of fish, because I am relying on natural filtration only.
Not only that, I am limited because of the size of my tank.

 

[Toddrtrex]

A four foot 120 is way too small for 3 tangs, especially when one of those is an P. hepatus, which will get a least a foot long. Not sure why anyone one would want a fish that gets to be a foot long and loves to swim in a 4 foot long tank.

Purchase fish for the tank that you currently have, and one that you plan/hope to have.

 

[milspec]

Do you know how long it takes a damsel size hippo tang to get to six inches?
About four to five years in an aquarium. I had one before, about nine years, he never got to a foot long. I sold him because he was too big for my 120 but not a "foot long". Close maybe...

You can always sell or trade in your fish when they get too large for your tank.
You just have to know when it's time.

I made a lot of money on a lot fish over the years this way.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Do you know how long it takes a damsel size hippo tang to get to six inches?
About four to five years in an aquarium. I had one before, about nine years, he never got to a foot long. I sold him because he was too big for my 120 but not a "foot long".

If it takes a P. hepatus 4-5 years to get 6 inches, there is something seriously wrong with either that fish, or the conditions that it was/is kept in. I have personally seen them grow to that size is about a year.

 

[milspec]

They grow fast to a point, up to a year or so and then it slows at least with the one I had.
I can't say for sure how fast they grow but to get to a foot from that size will take years not months.

 

[milspec]

I'm swapping out one of my tangs for a hippo as soon as I can catch one.
Unless I can find a healthy powder blue tang.

 

[Toddrtrex]

That is your choice -- I think it is a poor idea to put any P. hepatus in a four foot tank. But, I am sure that this one will grow abnormally slow too.

 

[milspec]

Well I don't think it's abnormally slow for a fish in a glass box in a house eating fish food.
When it's "normal habitat" is in the ocean feeding, mating and swimming over reefs in perfect conditions.


If you are worried about keeping the fish and corals healthy and happy leave them in the ocean.
It would be less expensive to keep a glass box full of water.
You can get a video of real reefs and play it on a wide screen instead.

There is no reason that you can't swap out fish if you are limited in space for a large tank.
You have to know the limitations with tank size and size and species of fish you plan to have.
Also be willing to spend a few hours every few years to catch a fish that has become unsuitable for your tank.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Well I don't think it's abnormally slow for a fish in a glass box in a house eating fish food.
When it's "normal habitat" is in the ocean feeding, mating and swimming over reefs in perfect conditions.


If you are worried about keeping the fish and corals healthy and happy leave them in the ocean.
It would be less expensive to keep a glass box full of water.

I think Toddtrex was stating that the growth in your tank (or smaller tanks like yours) are stunted but that growth in his tanks or larger tanks (which are the appropriate size) is not stunted even though the same fish is in a glass box eating fish food as opposed to being in the ocean.