Hippo as first resident

Willistein

Active member
OK, so the tank is ready for a fish. I'm wondering if it is a bad idea to have the first resident be a hippo... I'm not worried about him surviving or if the tank is cycled enough, just worried that he's going to be a pain when it comes to adding other fish down the road. The tank is a 120 which may eventually not be big enough for a hippo, but not in the near future.
 
If the tank is not fully cycled, I'd wait before putting any fish in it.
 
I have a 120 with a Hippo, Yellow, 1 clown, 3 Pajama Cardinals, Randall's Goby and Mandarin. The Hippo is among the least aggressive in the tank. The Yellow is actually the boss.
 
I've never kept a hippo specifically, but I would imagine that the age of the fish would have significant bearing on your success. A tiny fish that's the size of a 50 cent piece is going to be a lot different than a big 'ole bruiser.
 
Caution

Caution

I've kept a hippo, yellow and sailfin together previously for years with success. With many other reef fish.

I would advice extreme caution adding a hippo as the first resident. I don't think it is a good idea at all. Anything "can" work in cases. But it's best to have a sensitive fish like this in a cycled and established tank. Any Stress at all, even just from the trip to your tank before adding him, could cause an Ich outbreak shortly after adding. Your live rock should be well established too.

Like many Tangs, Hippos specifically too, are like Ich Magnets.

Do you run a UV Sterilizer? (It's NOT needed. But especially if your adding to a tank set up that is so new it would be beneficial)

If not, I really don't suggest adding him to a tank that is not ready.
Any interest in Clowns or something else basic/inexpensive to try for a few weeks minimum at least?

In the long run, once a fish like this can be tried in your tank-
A 120 would be OK for it for quite a while. But eventually you'll want to upgrade after a few short years. Keep in mind, Hippos are not the largest tang. But they do grow quite LARGE. They are the clumsiest Tang I have ever owned. Prone to knocking things down in their way. Depending on your rock scape, you have to be careful with coral attachments. Damages can be gained with a boisterous Hippo. If things are not fastened and scaped well.

They benefit from a lot of Noori and algae strips DAILY. Soaked in vitamins is very good too. Keeps Immune system in the fish up. Granted they have that and in an established tank, they do very well. Even keeping some occasional weak Ich infestations beaten off with feedings and No meds at all. Medicating is a challenge anyhow in the reef. You really have to qaurantine if it's too bad. As Meds, especially those with Copper can not be used in the reef. They will destroy your bio/filter and live rock.

So at best, it's a great fish for the right owner. Many people keep them successfully. But it is best avoided in a tank that is not established enough.
Especially if you want to avoid a costly disaster with a sick fish in a new tank. People break rules all the time and some get lucky. But it is a risk. Ask yourself if you want to risk taking it. Otherwise, wait. Have patience and once your tank is ready- you can keep one in it successfully with a bit more of a guarantee and less of a risk.
 
I probably should do a mated pair of clowns first. I'm not sure if the tank is really fully cycled or not. It ran for a month and got past the diatom bloom and corraline was starting to grow on the glass when the tank started leaking... Kept the sump going with skimmer and corals in there for a week. Set it back up end of February and all corals are looking perfect and growing well. Any fish I get will be in quarantine for 2 weeks before going in the DT.

I guess my question was really about whether the Regal would be a good first inhabitant because of the aggressiveness aspect.
 
I would say that if you started with a small hippo you may be ok temperament wise. however it may be harder to keep a smaller one in a new tank I have noticed a few people talk about them getting a bit aggressive once they grow a bit larger and I would hate to see you put a hippo in then it tries to kill every other fish you put in there
 
Just my opinion, what I would do. (sorry about the book load here. just trying to give some good advice)

I would wait and contemplate my wish list of fish for the tank first.

Start out with a hardy fish or 2 to test. Once things are ok-

Then focus on most of the smaller fish I'd like to have. Add them slowly over weeks to months. Small individuals such as wrasse specimens, or different chromis species, a dottyback, cardinal fish, many many other small types you may like. Possibly a schooling species if you choose to do so. Just suggestions here... Allowing the smaller fish to acclimate first will give them time to develop strong territories and get really use to the tank as well as healthy feeding in it.
All while not being pestered too much by a larger fish. (Tang/other)

Then Perhaps contemplate which Tangs I like. Which ones would work in a certain adding order together and what will work over the course together in the specific tank. If I would ever want more than 1 specimen of Tang in the tank. Which should be added first, and what size approx. it should be.

Personally, Once I was ready for the Tangs. I would add them all at once or close to the same time. Keeping specimen attitudes and sizes in check with each other as much as possible. Ex: A less aggressive Tang may be best to be slightly larger than a more aggressive Tang. When they are added together. This kind of helps keep some things in balance a little. (fighting etc..) Personally I kept a Sailfin Tang, Yellow Tang and Hippo Tang all together in my last grouping. My first were the Sailfin and Hippo Tangs Close to the same size as eachother. Then the Yellow Tang which is typically but not always more aggressive was added last and at a slightly smaller size.

In end result all had occasional squabbles. But all got a long very well like 3 best friends for a few years. However, eventually the Hippo did grow to be the largest of the three. It meant nothing as far as superiority in my case. All were about equal. But I can tell you the Hippo "poops" way more than the others. It makes A LOT of waste. Eventually If you are keeping a lot of corals, you need to keep up on the water changes big time. Even in a large tank. Common sizes: 120, 150, 180, 220 - These fish depending on how many you keep and what else, produce A LOT of waste and Eat A big food bill to stay healthy.

Just my take, to be helpful in your future planning..
Big fish in a home "Reef":
Keeping this all in check with water changes and calcium replacement.. can be a concern in some systems for some people. Depending on how you want to maintain it. How often. Consider your other equipment involved and what coral types you may want to keep. Maintenance not just of the fish diet and health but especially of the water conditions of the overall reef, (for Corals) can be taxing with these big guys. If your not ready to manage a system like that. Tangs are great. But big ones can tax the system, with waste load if it is not managed correctly. If you have any SPS corals, it will be a concern to watch this and do it all right. Considering a lot of things a head of time, saves money and disappointing mistakes.

Think and be prepared to buy what equipment you will need for the long range plan of things. Adjust your set up for things before purchasing too much livestock. When you can of course. It's easy to want every coral or big fish. But one day if it outgrows the maintenance plan, you don't want it to be too much to keep up with or cause expensive fish or especially Coral loss.
Something a lot of people don't plan through right when they start out.
But when $ losses add up from poor planning some hobbyists get discouraged. So have patience and plan right.
 
jmo

jmo

for several reasons, a 125 is too small for Paracanthurus.

This species grows quickly and is one of the most intelligent reef fishes IMO.
Don't mistake clumsiness for deliberate destruction ;)

An Allen's Damselfish would be a far much better choice.
 
I have the same 120 as you. The hippo is fine for the short term. He is happy and not showing any signs of stress. I still say to avoid Damsels as the starting fish.
 
I agree that it's not good to cycle an aquarium with Damselfish.

I don't think Dan's concerned with cycling the aquarium. I merely suggested the Allen's Damsel because it's a spectacularly handsome fish and it would make a great choice for his first fish.
 
this might seem unlikely

this might seem unlikely

but my Hippo Tang was far more destructive to corals than my Emperor Angelfish. The Hippo also had me start to wonder if a 225 was large enough for it. Such has never been the case with my Emperor.
 
As Gary notes the Allens(Pomacentrus alleni) is a nice non aggressive damsel. Not all damsels are problems. Amphiprion,aka clownfish are nice damsels as are the Allens and Talbot's damsel(Chrysiptera talboti) for example.

If you hope to raise corals particulaly open fleshy ones like trachyphyilla, I'd back off the Paracanthurus(hippo); it nips them severely,ime.
As a newbie,about 8 years ago , I bought one about half dollar sized . It's larger now and still lives in a 90g tank with a Purple tang(Zebrasomma xanthurum).They are both healthy but could clearly use more room.
 
green chromis ...cheap, hardy, and look really cool in a skool .I have 10(well 9 now one was a jumper) I think i got them for like 6$ each .
The nice thing is they did not mess with my other fish or corals when they were added. . Maybe a 6 line would be a good choice too.
 
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