Hippo, Tomini and Purple Tang

[Austin Case]

Hi Everyone,

 

[Spyndera99]

Hi!

 

[Austin Case]

Sorry this was not ready to post lol. Not sure how or why it did.

I was going to post that I want to add these three fish to my 120 Long but I don't want to have to worry about aggression.

What's the thought of keeping these together?

I know the general consensus is that the same species, color or body shape will most likely lead to trouble. But I'm really looking for people who have kept these 3 together and what their experience was. Obviously I expect everyone to have something different but that's what I want.

 

[Spyndera99]

Oh yeah, that won't end well.

 

[Spyndera99]

They are some beautiful fish, though.

 

[Miller535]

Get ready for the Tang Police. You are going to be told too many tangs in that tank

 

[Austin Case]

Oh yeah, that won't end well.

Any reason why you say this? I think if I were to drop one of the fish from the list it would be the Purple Tang because it's fairly expensive.

Get ready for the Tang Police. You are going to be told too many tangs in that tank

I was honestly expecting some people to bring that up.
I'm not 100% set on that list. I would be perfectly happy with just 2 of them. I just wanted to see if people had kept these fish together and what their experiences were.

 

[Spyndera99]

You might have problems with 2, though. But maybe less if you introduce them at the same time.

 

[ca1ore]

Well, they are from three different genus so certainly possible for them to coexist. Purple is the most aggressive of the three. What's a 120 long … six foot tank? Ok for tomini and purple, but a push for a hippo as it grows. I've a hippo, purple and chevron (different bristle) and they coexisit just fine .... much larger tank though.

 

[waterskiguy]

Agreed with ca1ore
IME if added at the same time and fed well, you shouldn't have any problems. Remember that the blue is going to get really big fairly fast. I'd give a well fed blue a year, to a year and a half, to outgrow a 125.

 

[Austin Case]

Well, they are from three different genus so certainly possible for them to coexist. Purple is the most aggressive of the three. What's a 120 long … six foot tank? Ok for tomini and purple, but a push for a hippo as it grows. I've a hippo, purple and chevron (different bristle) and they coexisit just fine .... much larger tank though.

The 120 Long is 60"L x 18"W x 26"H

 

[Twitchy]

If you go small, things should go well if you introduce them all at the same time, just keep in mind you might have to rehome the hippo after a year or 2, when he gets big, and starts going Rambo.

 

[Austin Case]

If you go small, things should go well if you introduce them all at the same time, just keep in mind you might have to rehome the hippo after a year or 2, when he gets big, and starts going Rambo.

You just described a reason to upgrade lol.
The wife couldn't say no if it meant life or death of my fish.

I also live in Kansas in an area where my best option for fish is Petco. I do trust them though because they have never tried to pressure me to buy anything and have always given me great advice when I'm in a pinch. On the other hand I've had trouble keeping fish I purchase from there alive.

 

[flabryth]

Sorry this was not ready to post lol. Not sure how or why it did.

I was going to post that I want to add these three fish to my 120 Long but I don't want to have to worry about aggression.

What's the thought of keeping these together?

I know the general consensus is that the same species, color or body shape will most likely lead to trouble. But I'm really looking for people who have kept these 3 together and what their experience was. Obviously I expect everyone to have something different but that's what I want.

yes you can have all three in the same tank....but there is a trick to this.

1. It is best to introduce all three at the same time
2. If you are not going to introduce them at the same time then you have to remember this rule;
always introduce tangs in groups of three or more with an establish tang in the tank.
3. Keep the fish well feed from day one...this reduces the aggression
it helps to tie algae to multiple rocks so the fish can graze all day
4. Create a varied aquascape for the fish that has many spots for them to go...not just on large pile that they will all fight over. It is also nice to have powerhead near the bottom because I notice that my tangs love to swim against the current. They would take turns swimming against it when it came on.

This is your best chance to pull this off...tangs are some stubborn SOBS and do not play well with others. All of my advice comes from doing this myself...but all of this should be taken on a fish by fish case.

 

[Stege_saurus]

You just described a reason to upgrade lol.
The wife couldn't say no if it meant life or death of my fish.

I also live in Kansas in an area where my best option for fish is Petco. I do trust them though because they have never tried to pressure me to buy anything and have always given me great advice when I'm in a pinch. On the other hand I've had trouble keeping fish I purchase from there alive.

It's definitely possible, maybe a little tricky. I have 4 tangs in a 120 (72"L 18"W 24"H) (Yellow, Tomini, Blue, Sailfin) and they all get along really well. The Tomini and Blue mind their own business and keep to themselves, only occasionally swimming with the Yellow and Sailfin. The Yellow and Sailfin get along well and don't usually fight. It's all about feeding and acclimating correctly. My yellow Tang was in the tank long before the other three but he still accepted the others to enter his territory. Just have to be patient and careful.

 

[steveb]

Sorry this was not ready to post lol. Not sure how or why it did.

I was going to post that I want to add these three fish to my 120 Long but I don't want to have to worry about aggression.

What's the thought of keeping these together?

I know the general consensus is that the same species, color or body shape will most likely lead to trouble. But I'm really looking for people who have kept these 3 together and what their experience was. Obviously I expect everyone to have something different but that's what I want.

You adding them together?

They should be fine. One will be dominant.

I have an achilles, powder blue, kole tang and a hybrid black. The get along fine. Every now and then two of them will squabble.

Fixing to add several more tangs to the mix. they going through QT at the moment.

My tank is 84x24x30.

and has been said some will outgrow eventually and have to be re-homed. Same for me.

 

[Austin Case]

yes you can have all three in the same tank....but there is a trick to this.

1. It is best to introduce all three at the same time
2. If you are not going to introduce them at the same time then you have to remember this rule;
always introduce tangs in groups of three or more with an establish tang in the tank.
3. Keep the fish well feed from day one...this reduces the aggression
it helps to tie algae to multiple rocks so the fish can graze all day
4. Create a varied aquascape for the fish that has many spots for them to go...not just on large pile that they will all fight over. It is also nice to have powerhead near the bottom because I notice that my tangs love to swim against the current. They would take turns swimming against it when it came on.

This is your best chance to pull this off...tangs are some stubborn SOBS and do not play well with others. All of my advice comes from doing this myself...but all of this should be taken on a fish by fish case.

Commenting on your 2nd point. In my case since I only want 3 and didn't want to add all 3 at the same time to avoid possibly crashing my tank. Would I be able to add the Hippo (I've read they are the lest aggressive)? Then add the Tomini and Purple at the same time without creating havoc a few weeks later?
I'm also not in a hurry to add these guys either. My tank is going on 3 months old (when upgrading to the 120 from 55 I transferred over all the water so I wouldn't have to start from scratch) so I was honestly looking t add the first fish maybe in a few weeks probably wait until June.

 

[ca1ore]

The 120 Long is 60"L x 18"W x 26"H

ok, I know that tank as a 120XH. I’d not put a hippo in a tank that size. It’s prone to idiosyncratic behavior under the best of circumstances and cramped quarters don’t help. Up to you of course and there’s always that ‘I’ve kept a hippo in a 10 gallon tank’ guy LOL. 120XH is fine for a tomini or purple. I had one quite recently as my refugium and kept a longnose black in it.

 

[ca1ore]

probably wait until June.

Fish are hard to find right now .... maybe better by June .... maybe not.

 

[nereefpat]

ok, I know that tank as a 120XH. I’d not put a hippo in a tank that size. It’s prone to idiosyncratic behavior under the best of circumstances and cramped quarters don’t help. Up to you of course and there’s always that ‘I’ve kept a hippo in a 10 gallon tank’ guy LOL. 120XH is fine for a tomini or purple. I had one quite recently as my refugium and kept a longnose black in it.

Very well said.

OP, could I talk you into a purple, tomini, and foxface instead? Or maybe a Watanabe angel instead of the hippo?