Thinking of adding a hippo tang

[Pdxile]

I have a 125, with a pair of snowflake clowns (juvenile), a firefish, a mandarin, a royal gramma, rainsford goby and a Kole tang. What are my chances of compatibility issues between the Kole and the Hippo? I've recently upgraded tanks (2 months ago) so perhaps my Kole has yet to become too attached to a specific area.
Thanks,
Pdx

 

[55mixreef8236]

All ive heard about hippo tangs is that they are extremely susceptible to ick. I have no experience with them first hand though.

 

[Pdxile]

I was thinking about getting a tank-raised one from Bluezoo. According to them they are less susceptible to ich. Wonder if that is true.

 

[RayL]

Your tank is a little small for a hippo. I had one in my 150 6' long tank that I got at approximately an inch and it grew very fast. I originally thought I would keep it for about 2 years before it outgrew my tank, it only took about 8 months. Luckily I have a cousin that has a 350 gallon tank and he took the fish, but now I have learnt my lesson, limit buying fish to the ones that can live permanently in your tank and I don't believe a hippo tang can live in a 125 permanently

 

[Pdxile]

Good point. Bluezoo suggests a much smaller tank than live aquaria, so I just averaged the two.

This is a really dumb question, but how do you know when it is "too big"?

 

[SDguy]

I find them big and clumsy, for lack of a better word. I wouldn't add one.

 

[snorvich]

A tank raised fish is less likely to incur while it is being raised assuming a parasite free tank. But if ever placed into a tank with a parasite, perhaps at your LFS, if parasites are in their system such as ich, brook, velvet, uronema, will contract it just as easily as a wild caught one.

 

[downbeach]

I think LA gives a more realistic assessment of the minimum tank size needed for a particular species. I just removed a Hippo from a 180 that I felt was too big @ ~ 9". It would get excited every once in a while, and stress out the whole tank, and after it broke off a couple of my SPS colonies, I gave him to someone with a larger tank.

 

[RayL]

This is a really dumb question, but how do you know when it is "too big"?

Everyone has their own opinion on this. For me my hippo had grown from a 1" cute baby to a 6" swimming machine. He would often just pace around the tank like a lunatic, so I figured he would be better off in a larger tank.

 

[snorvich]

Everyone has their own opinion on this. For me my hippo had grown from a 1" cute baby to a 6" swimming machine. He would often just pace around the tank like a lunatic, so I figured he would be better off in a larger tank.

Pacing is a sign your tank is too small (short); remember that for tangs, especially, tank length is the key.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I find them big and clumsy, for lack of a better word. I wouldn't add one.

Me too. I'd add the word "boring", but I'd offend half of the hobby. I don't understand the panic when it comes to ich prone fish. Its quite easy to cure or prevent ich in the QT. I do think a 125 (especially the 60" version) is too small for a regal, though.

 

[slgcmg]

I love mine. Very colorful and very goofy to watch

 

[Shellyfish]

I have to say, I love mine too. I have not found him to be a fast grower, although I got him from a not so good situation, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. He is a swimmer, but again, not as much as I expected based on other people's opinions.

 

[ca1ore]

I find them big and clumsy, for lack of a better word. I wouldn't add one.

I agree. Not my favorite Tang (even though I have one). Always seems to have ich spots on it, is regularly snapping off my Bali green slimer branches, and has been getting more and more twitchy as it grows. If I could catch it I'd re home, but twitchy means avoiding the fish trap.

 

[Rea17]

I find them big and clumsy, for lack of a better word. I wouldn't add one.

Agree.

I had one in a 210, and I don't believe that was big enough. I got her from somebody that kept a 75, and she was 6-7", so of course I thought I was doing the fish a favor. That fish was angry like I've never seen a sohal. She would barrel around the tank when she got into one of those "moods," and one time slashed my female clown wide open. Luckily the clown lived and is still laying, but still carries the scar now years later.

In general though, I find them belligerent, clumsy, and downright mean once they get over 6 inches. +1 on boring also...

 

[JohnniG]

pacing is a sign your tank is too small (short); remember that for tangs, especially, tank length is the key.

+1