Blue/Regal/Hippo Tang

[ponokareefer]

I am wanting to get a pair of this tang by buying a couple of small ones from the same tank at a pet store. I would prefer a male and female. Is there any way to tell the difference? Are they like clowns or anthias where they can change sex?

They would be going into a 240 gallon tank.

 

[scooter31707]

is it 6ft or 8ft? I am not aware of being able to sex them.

 

[ponokareefer]

is it 6ft or 8ft? I am not aware of being able to sex them.

8 foot

 

[jbvdhp]

I don't think there's a way to sex them, unlike a Naso but even then you have to wait a bit


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[ponokareefer]

I don't think there's a way to sex them, unlike a Naso but even then you have to wait a bit


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So would my best bet be to buy a group and sell off some later on when a pair forms then?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Blue hippo tangs do not form pairs. You will not see "a pair form".


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[ponokareefer]

Blue hippo tangs do not form pairs. You will not see "a pair form".


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Regardless what you want to call them, this individual has a breeding pair.

https://************.com/2011/12/02/regal-blue-tang-spawn/

http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tm.aspx?m=63962&high=

 

[jbvdhp]

Regardless what you want to call them, this individual has a breeding pair.



https://************.com/2011/12/02/regal-blue-tang-spawn/



http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tm.aspx?m=63962&high=

I think what he means is that it's very difficult to "pair" any tang for that matter. They'll shoal loosely but from all the reading I've done, it's very unlikely that tangs form pairs (can be done, but I think the possibility is very low). In the wild, they swim together and spawn as a group iirc. It's pretty neat to watch, but I've only seen a video of it.


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[ThRoewer]

Some Zebrasoma from pairs occasionally, but not Acanthus, Paracanthrus or Naso. Especially the first two are usually group spawners.
According to scientific papers I found, the Acanthuridae are among the fish that are capable of changing sex. So starting with a group of the smallest possible individuals may be your best bet to get a pair or harem group.

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[ponokareefer]

Some Zebrasoma from pairs occasionally, but not Acanthus, Paracanthrus or Naso. Especially the first two are usually group spawners.
According to scientific papers I found, the Acanthuridae are among the fish that are capable of changing sex. So starting with a group of the smallest possible individuals may be your best bet to get a pair or harem group.

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Thank you for the info.

 

[Shivsreef]

You could maybe purchase a group of four- six fish at the one inch size, then feed them seaweed multiple times per day and high protein foods. They won't exactly form a pair like 2 clownfish will but you may start seeing 2 that swim together slightly away from the others or two that are the top of the hierarchy but they're on top together, when you start seeing this;I think it will be safe to remove the other four.

 

[jbvdhp]

You could maybe purchase a group of four- six fish at the one inch size, then feed them seaweed multiple times per day and high protein foods. They won't exactly form a pair like 2 clownfish will but you may start seeing 2 that swim together slightly away from the others or two that are the top of the hierarchy but they're on top together, when you start seeing this;I think it will be safe to remove the other four.

Just out of curiosity, how would the diet help to "pair" a couple of fish?


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[Becks]

There is a difference between sexes and they may even change sex.

 

[ponokareefer]

Picked up 2 small ones. I guess we'll see how it goes.

 

[Shivsreef]

Just out of curiosity, how would the diet help to "pair" a couple of fish?


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It'd make them grow faster therefore causing them to get big really quick, therefore reaching sexual maturity earlier, hence getting them to pair quicker.

 

[ponokareefer]

1 died in quarantine unfortunately. Not sure when I'm going to make it to an LFS again so not sure what to do now.