experience with tiny blue hippo tangs

[tydtran]

I was at a Pennsylvania area fish store yesterday and was shocked by the sight of 2 tanks loaded with tiny blue hippo tangs. There were easily 50 in each tank ranging from about a nickel to a half dollar in size.

I was saddened by this sight because my impression is that the chances of any of those fish reaching adulthood in captivity are slim to none.

Am I being too pessimistic or is this another example of a fish store irresponsibly selling fish that they know won't make it??

 

[Mattias L]

I share your concern. Very few of these will make it to audulthood. However, I do not think it primarily is a matter of the specific fish store being irresponsible. It is up to the customers, you and me. If we do not buy animals with small chances to have a decent life in captivity the traders will adapt, as they are for sure in it for the money.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

I have grown 3 of these dime size hippos into adulthood. Lots of cyclopeeze helps.

 

[BrianD]

If they are captive raised, they have a very good chance of survival.

 

[tydtran]

It's good to hear some positive experiences.

BrianD: Do you mean that there are captive bred hippo tangs? I didn't think that they had been bred successfully in captivity.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Probably collected as peligic fry and raised in captivity.

 

[tydtran]

I see. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[tydtran]

I agree with you completely, Mattias L.

 

[reef_only]

I bought 2 of these small tangs; they were less than 1" including their tails. A few days later I found one is missing so I thought he was dead; for about a week later I cleaned up my sump and found him there, he was flooded down to the sump from between the over flow tees (you can imagine how small he was). I brought him back to tank and looked he was only half of the other one size (they used to be the same size). He is catching up now and they both survive and grow quite fast they got triple their size now after about 4months.

 

[BrianD]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13520928#post13520928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeremy Blaze
Probably collected as peligic fry and raised in captivity.

What he said

I havent' really looked for a few years, so I don't even know if these are still available. However, they were much more hardy than their wild-caught counterparts.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I wasnt aware of anyone doing this. Info??

J.Blaze, I am sure you did so successfully, but for your 3, probably 3000 did not make it. I think that is what justifies not collecting the ultra tiny hippos.

 

[BrianD]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13521840#post13521840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
I wasnt aware of anyone doing this. Info??

J.Blaze, I am sure you did so successfully, but for your 3, probably 3000 did not make it. I think that is what justifies not collecting the ultra tiny hippos.

I don't think that is true at all. I have purchased 6 that size, and never lost any of them.

 

[sunfish11]

I got a nickel sized blue tang from the Fosters & Smith retail store last year. I raised him in my 34 gallon till I felt he was big enough to go into the general population. I didn't think that introducing him in with larger fish would do him any good. He is now in big tank and doing great. I have heard that they are very difficult though.

Lisa

 

[Mako Shark II]

I have heard that they are very difficult though. [/B]

?????

I've got a little "tail" nipping issue that I'm working through, but my Regal is a Bull.

Difficult? No. How?

Photo Opp:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13522542#post13522542

 

[sunfish11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13522600#post13522600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mako Shark II
?????

I've got a little "tail" nipping issue that I'm working through, but my Regal is a Bull.

Difficult? No. How?

Photo Opp:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=13522542#post13522542

I am talking about the tiny nickel and dime sized ones they sometimes sell, not all blue tangs. They are not difficult tangs in general.

Lisa

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13521903#post13521903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrianD
I don't think that is true at all. I have purchased 6 that size, and never lost any of them.

I have personally seen them dead in holkding tanks after tranship. Also, after that cursed movie, everyopne and their mother had to have one. The mortality on these little guys is IMMENSE. Trust me.

 

[Mako Shark II]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13522625#post13522625 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sunfish11
I am talking about the tiny nickel and dime sized ones they sometimes sell, not all blue tangs. They are not difficult tangs in general.

Lisa

AH! Right. Thanks. I do think it's wrong to sell these lovely fish prematurely. They should be marginally established prior to sale. Ensure you watch them eat at the LFS prior to purchase.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

I was at this store today and almost picked up one of these tiny hippos. But knowing the slim survival rate, I decided to save my money. All of them were beat up and not looking healthy. Oh and there was a lot less then 50 today, I don't see that many people buying that many in a days time span, you know what that means.

 

[Mako Shark II]

Just for grins, what was the LFS asking $$$ wise?

Reason I ask is: Prices in general seem extremely regionalized.

Locally here (suburban Memphis Area) a 1-1/2" Regal Blue Tang sells for like $45. Yellows run $32-40.

I move around the country a bit, and check out the stores & prices.

Couple months back I was up in New York City, (NEW YORK CITY??!! ...sorry, old Salsa commercial On TV, but, I digress.)

Anyway, I was up in NYC out on the Island, and they're prices were Outrageous!

$279. for a 4" Regal
$79 for a 1" Regal

(And I thought to myself: "Self, hasn't anybody up here ever heard of FedEx?"")

 

[BrianD]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13522983#post13522983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmaneyapanda
I have personally seen them dead in holkding tanks after tranship. Also, after that cursed movie, everyopne and their mother had to have one. The mortality on these little guys is IMMENSE. Trust me.

I repeat myself: the mortality rate for the captive raised specimens is substantially better. If they are wild-caught, I agree that the mortality rate is extremely high.