Blue hippo tang

[Damien Potgiete]

How long can a blue hippo tang live happily in a 265 gallon tank, 72(L) 32(w) 28(h) if I get it small

 

[MrDaniel]

I've watched videos of aquariums that have housed blue hippo tangs for over 15 years. They have all been much larger tanks though so it's hard to say. I would imagine 10-15 years would be possible.

 

[tvu]

Blue hippo tang

I have had a blue tang now for 10 yrs. he's currently in a 110g 5' tank. I bought him the size of a dollar coin


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[Damien Potgiete]

So I could keep home in here for a few years until I can upgrade?

 

[Drewl117]

I say go for it. I got mine tiny, about an inch-inch and a half about 3 years ago and now she's about 4 inches and packing on some weight.

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[Damien Potgiete]

Yay they're one of my favourite tangs

 

[marleesan]

I do not recommend it. You should buy fish to fit in the tank you have now. Even a small tang needs ample swimming space to prevent stress and disease.

 

[Damien Potgiete]

So a 265 isn't enough

 

[marleesan]

The issue is not the gallons but the tank length. 6' IMO is way too small for a blue tang

 

[saf1]

The issue is not the gallons but the tank length. 6' IMO is way too small for a blue tang

Yeah, this is one of those areas that a lot of us fall into at first - the dreaded salt water gallon or fish conundrum Some fish like Marleesan mentioned like to swim and need distance rather than total water capacity. It is an odd way of looking at it but makes sense when you stop the think about it.

Some fish never leave their little reef or coral crest. Others do a walk about and roam for days on end. Unfortunately the Hippo is one of those that likes super speedways like Daytona or Talladega (2 miles) rather than say Texas which is 1.5 miles

 

[Joe0813]

I think you'll be fine

 

[Damien Potgiete]

LA says they need a minimum of 180 gallons and 6ft, I do plan on upgrading when I move out, atm I'm only 14 so I'll struggle price wise to go bigger

 

[MrHyde]

How long can a blue hippo tang live happily in a 265 gallon tank, 72(L) 32(w) 28(h) if I get it small

forever IMO.

I see too many of these small ones in a ~30 gallon holding tank at the LFS. The sad reality of it is that the majority of us can't house these fish properly. There has to be some kind of compromise... That 50 gallon tank might be better off than that 100 gallon tank. That 100 gallon tank might be better off than that 200 gallon tank. A blue thumb perhaps? Not buying these fish might be the best option, but we all know that won't happen.

 

[scooter31707]

I think you will be ok, short term. The problem that will come down the road if you have any other Tangs and as they mature their aggressive behavior may come more against each other for space.

 

[sde1500]

14 and your parents are letting you put a tank in that size? nice! I won't comment really on getting a tang, never had one or a tank large enough to hold one. And unlike some, don't feel right providing an opinion on something I have no experience on, when it is a possibly borderline case like this.

 

[Damien Potgiete]

I see so many people keeping them is smaller tanks I just thought this tank might work, and maybe be better off for the fish than going to someone with a tiny tank

 

[Becks]

Your be ok

 

[HidingReefer]

should be fine IMO. As long as you keep a lot of swimming room for it and keep it well fed. For blue tangs 8 feet is ideal, however 6 feet of space works

 

[FirstContact]

How long can a blue hippo tang live happily in a 265 gallon tank, 72(L) 32(w) 28(h) if I get it small

A lifetime.

People keep blue tangs in much smaller tanks to ripe old ages. Right or wrong it's done. I find it hard to believe in the inhumanity of keeping a blue tang in a 6 ft versus an 8 ft tank when their range in the wild is a couple of miles.

Get one, you won't regret it. Just look at all the tanks on reef central that have blue tangs and ask yourself if all of them are 8 ft long.