Can I keep a Hippo Tang in a 55 reef?

[piscivorous]

Can I keep a Hippo tang in a 55 gallon reef tank with two Perc. clowns and a couple of giant clams?

 

[tsquad]

For about two months.

 

[piscivorous]

Is it just going to outgrow the tank?

 

[Sicklid]

It gets at least as large as a dinner plate.

 

[Yose]

I do hope you realize the fire this thread is going to start There are some who say, "NO WAY" and others who say, "Go for it"!

Looking at both sides:

"NO WAY"

Tangs need lots of room to swim or they get stressed. Stress makes it easier for them to get sick.

Hippo Tangs get pretty big! Even if you start with a small one it will eventually outgrow your 55.

"Go for it"

If you start small, you can keep a Hippo in a 4 foot tank for a few years. I've had mine in a 75 for 2 years and it's perfectly content... For the moment.

My hippo was about 1/2 inch when I got it. It had Ich so I kept it quarantined for about a month. It's been in the display ever since.

Conclusion

If you get a small one it will be fine... Please realize that it will eventually need a bigger home.

If you're looking at buying an adult, I'd have to say, "Don't do it... Wait until you have at least a 6 foot tank."


HTH GL

 

[piscivorous]

I am assuming a power blue and a powder brown would be in this same category then? They don't get quite as large as the hippos do they?

 

[tsquad]

The Acanthurus, Paracanthurus, and Naso species get very large, some can get 24"+ (Naso vlamingii, etc). A more suiting tang for a 55g would be of the Zebrasomas genus...they still will outgrow the tank, but will do better, and take longer to outgrow it. A Kole or Yellow tang would be alright for the time being, IMO.

 

[blmeier7]

Yep, powder blue and browns need a lot of swimming room too. While some people feel no tang should be in a 55g, I think it is fine for a yellow tang while they are small. Even a yellow tang can eventually outgrow a 55g. You might also look at getting a small foxface or a dwarf angel instead of a tang.

 

[michindi]

I agree with Yose. Imo no fish will grow to what a book says unless you have a VERY large system.

 

[Paintbug]

powder blues are even worse than hippos for needing swimming room. but i have a PB thats about 4 inchs long in my 75g right now. hes lovin life. heres a vid of him
http://www.zippyvideos.com/7261124912337356/dscf0054/

 

[piscivorous]

Yeah, throw some giant clams, softies, and LPS into a 55 gallon tank and try to figure out what colorful fish you can keep in that tank....aside from the clowns...seems like pickin's are slim.

 

[Zoos]

i would not put a hippo in a 55 not even a small one unless you plan to upgrade real soon.

 

[Ochi]

There are plenty of fish...just not large ones

Flasher wrasses, psuedochromis, 4 line+6 line wrasse, dwarf angels like a flame angel, hawkfish, maybe a small anthias. Basslets and grammas.

There are plenty of beautiful fish, some I'd choose over tangs and their bretheren.

Just no hippos in a 55

 

[avshockey311]

Another vote for NO. I also had to get my logo on this thread to bug tsquad

 

[tsquad]

coughcough we're in 2nd right now, you guys are what, 12th?

 

[fancyfish]

boys ...both of you realize ottowa is going to win it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the hippo will outgrow this tank. speaking from experience I had a 65 gallon and had my regal tang in it. thought she was happy but once placed in my 180 what a difference. growing big swimming like mad. I say 6 foot only tank for tangs

 

[KDodds]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6568185#post6568185 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michindi
I agree with Yose. Imo no fish will grow to what a book says unless you have a VERY large system.

It may be your opinion that they don't, but in appropriately sized systems they do, and can even surpass what the "book says". Ever seen a 6+" Longnosed Hawk? Had one. My Onespot Foxface is already 7+", and he "grew out" in a 180. Also had a 5" Blackcap Gramma. That begs the question, what do you consider "VERY large", because in a system close to 200g, you can pretty much all but the largest of Tangs out to their full size (and sometimes then some). Ever seen a 10" Yellow Tang? I have.

 

[Terence Trent]

I would recommend that you do not try. My very first tank was a 55g with a small yellow tang. I tried adding about a 3 inch hippo without researching it first. The poor guy lasted about 3 months. He bascially hid all the time and had ich most of the time.

 

[wetWolger]

no fish with the word tang in the name should be kept in a 55

 

[zimmy1979]

What about a Yellow Tang? I thought that would do fine in a 50g+ aquarium (if you don't stock it heavily).