Hippo and Powder Brown together?

D

Dan T

New member
I have a Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) and am considering adding a Powder Brown (Acanthurus japonicus). Are there any specific concerns about these two together? Someone mentioned two tangs is a bad number and that one or three is needed to keep them from fighting but I don't know if this is true since I believe that many here have two tangs in their tanks.

The Hippo just finished QT and is doing awesome in the DT (1 week). The Hippo is 2.5-3" and I would try and get the Powder Brown (Acanthurus japonicus) the same size. If you have input to my two specific concerns I would appreciate your response.

Any significant reason to be concerned that a Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) and a Powder Brown (Acanthurus japonicus) won't get along together?

Any significant reason to be concerned about having ONLY two tangs in the same tank?
Thanks,
Dan
 
how big is the display? if 100+ should be fine if they're both small, both are ich magnets though. If your tank is smaller,,, then in many people's opinion, you shouldn't even have a tang b/c they get to big.

the odd number is bogus/crap pot info. i have almost always had 2 tangs or 6 chromis without problems. people just want to see odd numbers because they think it looks better.

key is QT and swimming space. Oh, and your hippo is pretty small so might be shy/bullied if the tank is to small - but I think you should be fine (if your tank is what I said)
 
Powder brown's are pretty aggressive tang's and not the easiest to keep. I would not put one in a 130g(if that's the size) tank especially with another tang that will get large fairly quickly.

I think you will most likely have trouble with those two in that size tank, especially when they get a little larger which wont take long.
 
My powder brown and blue hippo live in perfect harmony. I just lost my blue to stress from moving tanks. I did all I could but still lost it. I just replaced it with a tiny 2" blue.

My powder brown has never been sick and quite hardy and not aggresive at all. I do dose with garlic and marineC so not sure if that really helps their health but i have good experience.

Also I did get them originaly at the same time so that might had to do something with aggression maybe.
 
+1 for poweder browns being agressive..i had one who bullied every fish in the tank and had to take him to my lfs..i wouldnt suggest it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13095743#post13095743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by weluvfish54
+1 for poweder browns being agressive..i had one who bullied every fish in the tank and had to take him to my lfs..i wouldnt suggest it.
Click to expand...

my powder brown was the same when adding new additions. all it took was to put him in QT for a week and when he returned he always ignored everything.

my PB and hippo lived harmoniously. Just make sure the hippo is there and established first. my tank was only a 100g (72"lx18"dx19"h)
April13thfishpic91.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13096621#post13096621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by taz13777
what about a small blue tang, yellow tang and a kole tang in a 90 gallon?
Click to expand...

The blue tang will get too big for a 90.

You could have one yellow tang, OR one kole in a 90, I personally wouldn't do both, let alone all 3.
 
Thanks to everyone for all the replies.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13094822#post13094822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrissreef
how big is the display? if 100+ should be fine if they're both small, both are ich magnets though. If your tank is smaller,,, then in many people's opinion, you shouldn't even have a tang b/c they get to big.

the odd number is bogus/crap pot info. i have almost always had 2 tangs or 6 chromis without problems. people just want to see odd numbers because they think it looks better.

key is QT and swimming space. Oh, and your hippo is pretty small so might be shy/bullied if the tank is to small - but I think you should be fine (if your tank is what I said)
Click to expand...
Chrissreef, thanks for the feedback regarding the 2-Tang Myth. Yes, DT is a 130G and I do QT in 30G for 6 weeks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13096183#post13096183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stanlalee
my powder brown was the same when adding new additions. all it took was to put him in QT for a week and when he returned he always ignored everything.

my PB and hippo lived harmoniously. Just make sure the hippo is there and established first. my tank was only a 100g (72"lx18"dx19"h)
April13thfishpic91.jpg
Click to expand...
Stanlalee, great picture!

- Dan
 
I have A powder brown and a hippo tang in my 75-gallon. They are both about 3.5" right now. I do plan on upgrading to a 180-gallons eventually. But for right now they both live in peace. The powder brown was the last fish I added and is NOT aggressive at all. I may just have got lucky for now, but if anything at all the hippo will chase the pbt for about 1-second every once in awhile when feeding off the seaweed clip. I think you could keep a hippo and powder brown in a 130-gallon with no issues.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13103652#post13103652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryshark
I have A powder brown and a hippo tang in my 75-gallon. They are both about 3.5" right now. I do plan on upgrading to a 180-gallons eventually. But for right now they both live in peace. The powder brown was the last fish I added and is NOT aggressive at all. I may just have got lucky for now, but if anything at all the hippo will chase the pbt for about 1-second every once in awhile when feeding off the seaweed clip. I think you could keep a hippo and powder brown in a 130-gallon with no issues.
Click to expand...

How long have you had these tangs? I assure you not long enough to be making the assumptions you are or giving the advice you are. A 75g is way too small for those tangs and you will almost definitely have problems in the future. A 75g isnt big enough for the hippo itself long term.

Just because they aren't fighting right now, doesn't mean you aren't gonna wake up to it tomorrow, especially in that size tank;)
 
The Hippo has been in there for a year and the powder brown has been in there for about 3-months. As I mentioned, I will be upgrading to either a 8' or 6' 180-gallon tank. As for now all is good and there is no sense of urgency to upgrade today.
I don't think I am making any false assumptions here, there is no true black and white answer. Different specimens of the same species can be completely different. I also have a crocea clam on the bottom of my tank with only VHO lighting, which as been doing great for over 9-months. There are always exceptions to the rule.
The only advice I gave was, "I think you could keep a hippo and powder brown in a 130-gallon with no issues."
The rest of my first response was simply my current situation as I mentioned.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13103652#post13103652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryshark
I have A powder brown and a hippo tang in my 75-gallon. They are both about 3.5" right now. I do plan on upgrading to a 180-gallons eventually. But for right now they both live in peace. The powder brown was the last fish I added and is NOT aggressive at all. I may just have got lucky for now, but if anything at all the hippo will chase the pbt for about 1-second every once in awhile when feeding off the seaweed clip. I think you could keep a hippo and powder brown in a 130-gallon with no issues.
Click to expand...
Thanks ryshark, hearing about your experience is very helpful to me!
 
Yeah, now you get to make the same mistake and validate it because someone else has had short term success:rolleyes:
 
ryshark said:
I have A powder brown and a hippo tang in my 75-gallon. They are both about 3.5" right now. I do plan on upgrading to a 180-gallons eventually. But for right now they both live in peace. The powder brown was the last fish I added and is NOT aggressive at all. I may just have got lucky for now, but if anything at all the hippo will chase the pbt for about 1-second every once in awhile when feeding off the seaweed clip. I think you could keep a hippo and powder brown in a 130-gallon with no issues.
Click to expand...
How did this turn out for you. Would uiu pu t them joth together again
 
Hippo and a Powder Brown certainly CAN co-exisit. They may tussle a bit initially, but should be OK after that. The issue with Tangs is that as they outgrow a tank that is too small, they'll develop idiosyncratic behaviors (particularly the hippo) and that can lead to significant problems. It's funny how so many people seem to dismiss sensible tank size recommendations then cannot understand why their fish are aggressive.
 
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