Pair of Tangs

[Rich1427]

Looking to get a pair of Tangs. Wife wants a Hippo and the other undecided any recomendations? I have a 120 with a 55 sump fuge my fish list are 1 Lawnmower blenny 2 misbar clowns 1bicolor angel 1 serpent star 1 coral banded shrimp 3 emerald crabs 1 BTA and a couple of corals birdsnest, zoos,mushrooms etc...

 

[RealReef7]

A hippo is far too small for a 120. I have a purple tang and yellow tang in a 120 and it feels crammed. I guess its my excuse in upgrading soon!

 

[lisafoster]

If you start small you could go with a small hippo and a yellow I would go for different body sizes. However if you did that you would not be able to keep them for their whole life just for a few years. If you wanted to be able to keep them you would need to upgrade in the future. ho wlong has your tank been set up hippos are very prone to ich and need very stable water qt hin before you add him just in case he breaks out with it because of the new enviornment.

 

[snorvich]

Buy fish for the tank you have not the tank you HOPE to have in the future. Quite honestly, a hippo tang is inappropriate for a 120 gallon tank.

 

[RealReef7]

They grow fast too.

 

[zachfishman]

How about a pair of sailfin tangs? :lmao:

Maybe a yellow and a kole, or a yellow and a purple (though the purple is far more aggressive).

 

[Beaun]

I agree with a yellow and a kole (or other birstletooth tang)

 

[revaltion131]

+2 to a Yellow and an appropriate Ctenochaetus species. I know how hard it can be to turn down a family member when they want something badly, especially hippo tangs, but it's the right choice.

 

[stevejrnc]

a 120 is fine for a blue regal/hippo

just make sure the other tang is not similar in color/shape/family and put them in at the same time and they will do fine

don't pay attention to the tang police they have no jurisdiction into your home

 

[Rich1427]

thanks for all the input. i understand where the tang police are coming from im the same way with dogs like having a border collie or a great dane in a mobile home its just not good so if the wife wants a hippo i guess im gonna knock a wall down and build my big tank im just glad i didnt ask to house a bluespine or a palefin unicorn together LOL

 

[TampaReefer79]

a 120 is fine for a blue regal/hippo

just make sure the other tang is not similar in color/shape/family and put them in at the same time and they will do fine

don't pay attention to the tang police they have no jurisdiction into your home

You are a tremendous asset to our reefing community. I don't know where we'd be without your input.

 

[thor32766]

yes to often people buy fish without thinking of the longevity which is sad. I have two blue hippos that I have had for about 6 yrs and they started out about the size of a quater and now are monsters. They grow fast and get real mean as they grow. My two play catch sometime throwing my pink tail trigger back and forth.

 

[TampaReefer79]

yes to often people buy fish without thinking of the longevity which is sad. I have two blue hippos that I have had for about 6 yrs and they started out about the size of a quater and now are monsters. They grow fast and get real mean as they grow. My two play catch sometime throwing my pink tail trigger back and forth.

I hope this isn't in your 29! LOL :spin2:

 

[Beaun]

so if the wife wants a hippo i guess im gonna knock a wall down and build my big tank

Sounds like a good excuse to upgrade!

 

[stevejrnc]

thanks for all the input. i understand where the tang police are coming from im the same way with dogs like having a border collie or a great dane in a mobile home its just not good so if the wife wants a hippo i guess im gonna knock a wall down and build my big tank im just glad i didnt ask to house a bluespine or a palefin unicorn together LOL

dude im telling you a 120 will house a blue regal just fine


just feed a variety of foods
tangs like mysis but can not live a healthy life with only mysis
you dont need an 8 foot long tank$$$$$ and 500$ skimmer to buy a $50 blue regal

 

[jjk_reef00]

dude im telling you a 120 will house a blue regal just fine


just feed a variety of foods
tangs like mysis but can not live a healthy life with only mysis
you dont need an 8 foot long tank$$$$$ and 500$ skimmer to buy a $50 blue regal

Are you seriously saying a 4 foot tank is big enough to hold a 1 foot long tang?

As everyone else has said you can do it for 1-3 years but the tang is gong to get way to big for a 120.
You may be able to pull it off in a 125 (6' tank) with the right aquascape but that regal will still probably feel cramped.

 

[stevejrnc]

your right this guy should sell his set up and start all over again so his wife can buy a 4" blue regal tang

serious people have you ever heard of a fish net you can take a fish out when it's to large
its alot easier then spending $$$$$ money on a new tank

i understand not mixing a bunch of tangs in one tank its just wrong! but i don't think its fair to tell someone they cant even have one in 120

 

[Rich1427]

my tank isnt 4 ft its 5 ft

 

[Eric the half-bee]

Rich, I would suggest bristletooths as well. I have several(tomini, kole, chevron) in my clan and they are the slowest growing in my experience.

 

[Sitarangi]

I say get the tang. a 5 foot long tank is acceptable for one. The largest recorded size is 12.2", most stay under 10" in a home aquarium.

People here speak the truth though. They are notorious for getting diseases like HLLE, crypto, and other diseases and they do take up alot of space.

Be sure the tank has plenty of water flow so the tang can swim in the column. I recommend a vortech wavemaker. For 120g i'd say only do one tang if you want the hippo. He will own the tank. They need a lot of large caves to hide into too. Anything to small will scrape their stomachs and make them prone to infection.

For feeding, feed heavily on protein rich pellets like NLS and F1. These will make your fish fat and that's what you want. Id do some vitamin enriched mysis and cyclops every few days too.

High flow, lots of rocks, and high protein food is the trick to keeping a hippo tang in what some people call a 'small' tank. Never buy one of those quarter sized baby hippos as they have a dismal survival rate. QT everything you buy and get one that's eating pellets at the store (be sure to ask the employee to feed it pellets).

People in this forum are very opinionated especially about tangs for some reason. If you think you can provide an optimal environment for a hippo go for it! Just know they are very tricky to successfully keep. Here are some pics that kinda show the growth of mine over roughly 2 years...

here he is today!