Hippo Tangs, Worth the Hassle?

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

Planning on upgrading to a 180-210 gallon tank in a couple months. Planning an aggressive FOwLR style tank, but also want larger swimmers as well, most of my preferred fish tend to just sit still most of the day. Which makes me think a nice Hippo tang could be a good fit. Reading about them says they're recommended for more experienced refers, but reading their diet/tank requirements seems like they shouldn't be all that hard to care for. Lots of space, and a regular diet of nori/algae sheets supplemented by frozen a couple times a day. Seems fairly simple to me, but maybe I am missing something.

Who here has a Hippo tang? What are their mannerisms like, personality? Are they worth the price tag/difficulty of care in your opinions?

Thanks.

ca1ore · Apr 28, 2020

I’d not judge the hippo to be particularly problematic. Somewhat susceptible to skin parasites and can be a tad idiosyncratic, but overall pretty easy to keep. Really small ones are tough, but others will eat pretty much anything.

Vette67 · Apr 28, 2020

I think they are fantastic fish. Just make sure to quarantine because they can be susceptible to ick. But once acclimated, they are very active fish. Mine is always out front swimming around. And you just can’t beat that blue color. They like caves in the rock work to hide in when startled. Also, keep a tight lid. I had one jump out of my tank about 10 years ago. Mine eats like a pig and will take pretty much anything I offer.

esther · Apr 28, 2020

I love ours. Such a huge personality. +1 on the quarantine. I wouldn't get one that wasn't.

Fred2482 · Apr 28, 2020

They are great, just need to take precautions as others said they are a little mode disease prone.

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

Awesome, sounds good. I had heard they are pretty susceptible to ick, definitely going to quarantine. After my little velvet infestation, I will be quarantining everything from here on. I assume they are okay to treat with copper? It's about the only stuff I have access to up here in the Frozen North, specifically Coppersafe.

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

ca1ore said:
I’d not judge the hippo to be particularly problematic. Somewhat susceptible to skin parasites and can be a tad idiosyncratic, but overall pretty easy to keep. Really small ones are tough, but others will eat pretty much anything.

How small is 'really small'? My lfs typically gets them in the 2-4" range. Can find larger, at exponentially higher prices.

deahttub · Apr 28, 2020

My last few blue tangs decided they liked eating zoas...

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

deahttub said:
My last few blue tangs decided they liked eating zoas...

No coral aside green star polyp. Won't be getting any either I don't think. Too rich for my blood.

Steelheader09 · Apr 28, 2020

I love my hippo. It is the 2nd one I have owned. First one I had for years but got a mysterious illness. Did everything I could but lost him. My new one is doing great. I STRONGLY recommend a medicated QT period. I did erythromycin and general cure. Many will also do copper, but I do not own a copper test kit so avoided it. After a month of medicated QT, I did a soft into into the display. I section off some of the tank with egg crate so other fish could get used to them. After a week or so with no aggression through the crate, I let them go into the display and have had great luck ever since. They have a funny personality and can be skidish at times. However the colors are amazing and I will always have one in my display.

Salt Addiction · Apr 28, 2020

+1 on QT, but ours has been a model citizen other than the fact it will hide from me and no one else. I have probably twenty attempted pictures of it eyeballing me from behind a rock lol.

Vette67 · Apr 28, 2020

Hugh Mann said:
Awesome, sounds good. I had heard they are pretty susceptible to ick, definitely going to quarantine. After my little velvet infestation, I will be quarantining everything from here on. I assume they are okay to treat with copper? It's about the only stuff I have access to up here in the Frozen North, specifically Coppersafe.

Mine spent 3 months in Cupramine. But I think they would tolerate any copper treatment. They aren’t known for being too sensitive to copper .

ca1ore · Apr 28, 2020

Hugh Mann said:
How small is 'really small'? My lfs typically gets them in the 2-4" range. Can find larger, at exponentially higher prices.

you can find them as small as 1”, but too small to me is any under 2”. 2-4” is fine.

sarcophytonIndy · Apr 28, 2020

If you want some personalities get triggers and puffers

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

ca1ore said:
you can find them as small as 1”, but too small to me is any under 2”. 2-4” is fine.

I wouldn't get one that small anyways, at risk of getting eaten.

Hugh Mann · Apr 28, 2020

sarcophytonIndy said:
If you want some personalities get triggers and puffers

A pair of blue throats are on my list. On the fence about a Porcupine Puffer. I'd like to have some form of Cuc, even just an urchin or two, but I hear puffers make that nearly impossible.

sarcophytonIndy · Apr 28, 2020

Foxface have interesting personalities and are very valuable herbivores. They can hold their own in an aggressive tank as well.

weamdog · Apr 28, 2020

Mine was the smallest tang I've ever seen, grew up with my black storm clowns. I didnt have much of an ick problem with it probably because it thought it was a clown and was happy. I had serious ick issues with my medium powder blue, those fish are more hyper/active than the hippo (at least for me). I would treat it and somehow the ick would come back in my DT. If that happens, just make sure you have a good diet with lots of garlic and metroplex. Eventually the stress will get better and the ick will die off. +1 on the hiding spots, they will wedge themselves into the smallest crevices. Mine damaged it's fins that way and unfortunately, they haven't repaired themselves.