Okay to add Hippo Tang?

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

My lfs has a few at a really nice price. My tank currently has a yellow tang, a couple clownfish and a chromis...all of which have been in the tank for over a year and are of adult size. The hippo tangs at the fish store are small....1.5" maybe. Would these fish terrorize it since he will be introduced to their "home"?

cdness · Nov 22, 2011

possibly...

Add the tang at night when the lights are out. Either than or get an acclimation chamber that he can sit in until the fish are used to seeing the hippo around. You may be fine, but the possibility exists that the hippo will not be able to defend itself and will be killed due to aggression...

What size tank do you have? Do you have lots of rock with hiding places?

bct15 · Nov 22, 2011

It all depends on of the hippo will be able to weather the storm, your yellow tang will probably beat on it for a while to let it know who is boss...after a few days he should leave it alone. To help keep the hippo tang healthy, have a cleaner shrimp to clean his wounds and be ready to feed heavily, as the ensuing onslaught will probably result in an ich outbreak in the hippo, I see this regardless if I quarantine or not. I have introduced tangs in with tangs, and that is what I have experienced. If you see a fight starting and separate the fish, when you reintroduce the fight will start again. Another option is remove your yellow for a few days while the hippo gets used to the tank, then reintroduce the yellow and the fighting will be less but still there.

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

I do have plenty of rock but I eventually want to go with a more minimalist design. I was planning on moving some rock around to hopefully disrupt some territories. It's a 75 gallon tank, which will eventually be upgraded to a larger one. My tang has always been pretty passive, but I realize the introduction of a new fish can change that. If this hippo tang survives, do you guys see constant bickering between the two as he grows larger?

returnofsid · Nov 22, 2011

Since your tank is only a 75, I'd highly suggest waiting until you upgrade. Then, you can add the Hippo and Yellow Tangs to the larger tank, at the same time. A 75 isn't near large enough for a Hippo Tang, let alone 2 Tangs...IMO.

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

And while I fully agree with you and respect your opinion, I can't help it

a new tank is in the near future anyway. My tank is fully matured and stable at this point so hopefully that will help. Any more tips would be greatly appreciated though.

subielover · Nov 22, 2011

Upgrade, then get more tangs

cdness · Nov 22, 2011

Well coming from personal experience here... I have a yellow and a regalin a 75G tank. Not ideal I know, but my 125G is less than 4 weeks out. My tangs are now fighting more than when they were first introduced. I was against the purchase, but the wife just had to have her regal tang, so we purchased it small. The yellow fought with it at first then left it alone because it hid in places the yellow couldn't get to. Then the regal grew up and plotted revenge on the yellow. The regal is now the boss of the tank which is why I was fast tracked into this upgrade.

Points to ponder:

1. A regal tang will get WAY too big for a 75 gallon tank

2. Many people say an upgrade is near, but what is near? Typically this sentence is used to justify a purchase that a person knows shouldn't be made, but they want to do it anyway...

3. The regal will grow extremely fast. Mine has grown over 3" in less than 6 months in my tank. If your upgrade is any more than a few months out you are playing with fire.

4. The sale will come again at that price point. This isn't a once in a lifetime opportunity as regals are fairly common.

Be sure to use good judgement and make sure you have the fish's health and happiness in mind when making a decision. Good luck with your upgrade.

bct15 · Nov 22, 2011

Two tangs in a 75 gallon is most likely not going to end well...hippos get relatively large for one (5 inches is still smalle for a hippo), and the smaller tang will never be able to get away from the larger, and will probably end up dead. That size tank will be constant terror for the smaller of the two fish...

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

I have used the "new tank coming" line to justify purchases before lol. A tank is a month out for me though.
I love the fact that I can come to you guys with fairly basic questions and get a wealth of knowledge and experience in return.

cdness · Nov 22, 2011

Well I can say mine are both still ok and they were like that for 6 months. I have felt kinds sorry for the yellow with the bully in there for the last couple months and considered pulling the regal, but I am so close. My build thread is coming along nicely.

One thing to note, unless you have all the equipment ready for your upgrade, set a goal to have it set up and get the regal after setup as a reward for getting it done. Don't get it only to give yourself the excuse you need to get the new tank set up. It is just unneeded stress for the fish...

Lokii_37 · Nov 22, 2011

If your yellow tang is adult size, 8", I don't think a 1.5" hippo will have a chance.

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

My yellow isnt bigger than 5 inches, so maybe it isn't an adult lol. It's bigger than the ones I always see in stores....my mistake.

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

Cdness...come build me a tank

cdness · Nov 22, 2011

lol get my wife and I plane tickets to California and I will for sure do it for you. It will be nice to get out of the cold for a week or two

LegoZ81 · Nov 22, 2011

how much is a nice price?

Live aquaria has them for 19.99

Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Blue Tang

To me i'd just wait, if I had it to do again I probably wouldn't have picked up my hippo tang...

whyzee429 · Nov 22, 2011

If you can get yourself to San Diego I'll fly you to NorCal

A nice price is $16.99. They received more than they can handle. While Liveaquaria has some really nice fish with good prices....I would still have to pay shipping.

Anyway, my gf picked one up on the way to my house. Last she heard was that I wanted one. She knows I'm on here all the time but I haven't had the chance to voice some of your concerns. I promise this wasn't my doing....I'm thinking about returning it when I get home.