Yellow Tang or Blue Hippo Tang?

dani5 · Dec 18, 2019

Hi everyone!

I"ve been a lurker for a while and finally decided to make an account. I was looking at LiveAquaria's Tangs and narrowed down my options to Yellow and Hippo. I know Yellow are too common these days but I really like their flashy color. I just can't choose which one is a better choice for me. I heard Hippos are easier to get ich though.

FYI my tank is a 180g mix reef which was set up a year ago. Fishies are a school of anthias, 2 clowns, and some other wrasses.

Thanks people I appreciate the help!.

John3 · Dec 18, 2019

Yellows are real workers. They will pick away any algae on your rocks and keep things clean. Hippos don’t seem to eat algae as much but are beautiful. It’s a toss up really.

Master of Cloak · Dec 18, 2019

I would go with yellow tangs. I've heard that hippos sometimes munch on zoas.

Uncle99 · Dec 19, 2019

Both,

And these guys are in a 65g....2 years now.

Schnizzle · Dec 19, 2019

I agree with @John3 . If you have algae in need of cleaning go yellow. Otherwise, flip a coin. haha

bdesign · Dec 19, 2019

Schnizzle said:
I agree with @John3 . If you have algae in need of cleaning go yellow. Otherwise, flip a coin. haha

My Yellow Tang does SQUAT, except float all around looking fat and pretty.
My Lavender Tang and Yellow Eye Kole Tang are absolute workhorses.

dani5 · Dec 19, 2019

bdesign said:
My Yellow Tang does SQUAT, except float all around looking fat and pretty.
My Lavender Tang and Yellow Eye Kole Tang are absolute workhorses.

Awesome. Can I see your Lavender?

dani5 · Dec 19, 2019

Uncle99 said:
Both,

And these guys are in a 65g....2 years now.

Wow, are you gonna upgrade though? How big are the fish now?

symon_say · Dec 19, 2019

Take both, they will add a new dimension to your Tank

dwest · Dec 19, 2019

dani5 said:
Hi everyone!

I"ve been a lurker for a while and finally decided to make an account. I was looking at LiveAquaria's Tangs and narrowed down my options to Yellow and Hippo. I know Yellow are too common these days but I really like their flashy color. I just can't choose which one is a better choice for me. I heard Hippos are easier to get ich though.

FYI my tank is a 180g mix reef which was set up a year ago. Fishies are a school of anthias, 2 clowns, and some other wrasses.

Thanks people I appreciate the help!.

I would go yellow. I have both in a 180. I think my hippo deserves a larger tank. All of my yellows have been great algae eaters.

dani5 · Dec 19, 2019

That said I went ahead and bought the Hippo today. It was a tough decision. The hippo is o ly 1.5", is it a bad choice? He does eat and swim actively though.

Fishnut · Dec 19, 2019

I would try a group of small tank raised yellows. Hippos grow too fast and large for my taste.

Brian1f1 · Dec 19, 2019

Uncle99 said:
Both,

And these guys are in a 65g....2 years now.

So that’s something almost everyone agrees is bad practice. That’s fairly ridiculous. Don’t have to be tang police to see that... Just modestly conscientious. At least don’t promote it on the boards were new folks are likely to attempt it....

Brian1f1 · Dec 19, 2019

dani5 said:
That said I went ahead and bought the Hippo today. It was a tough decision. The hippo is o ly 1.5", is it a bad choice? He does eat and swim actively though.

No that’s a fine choice. Should QT tho. They are especially/extremely ick prone. They grow very fast! Good luck!

dani5 · Dec 19, 2019

Brian1f1 said:
So that’s something almost everyone agrees is bad practice. That’s fairly ridiculous. Don’t have to be tang police to see that... Just modestly conscientious. At least don’t promote it on the boards were new folks are likely to attempt it....

He/she might upgrade the tank in the future so it might be too soon to judge IMO. That said even @Paul B kept a Hippo in his 40gal for years.

dani5 · Dec 19, 2019

Brian1f1 said:
No that’s a fine choice. Should QT tho. They are especially/extremely ick prone. They grow very fast! Good luck!

My LFS already quarantined and treated their fish for 2 weeks before bringing them out for sale and I bought most of the fish from them so I guess it's fine. But you're right about quarantining.

OrionN · Dec 19, 2019

In a 180 gal, I would put two or three tangs that will be small. Powder Blue, Yellow or Purple, and a Kole or white tail. Three tangs from three Genus. No problem in a 180 gal tank.
Blue Hippo does not acts like a tang but very bright color, not a graceful fish IMO. Yellow Tang is one of the most beautiful yellow fish there is. So if I have to choose between the two I choose Yellow tang.

bdesign · Dec 20, 2019

dani5 said:
Awesome. Can I see your Lavender?

Sorry for the quality and blueness... Unfortunately, I only have a cell phone to use; no fancy-dancy filters/lenses...

nereefpat · Dec 20, 2019

bdesign said:
looking fat and pretty.

Whatever floats your boat

Nice looking lavender. Very underused tang in our hobby.

bdesign · Dec 20, 2019

nereefpat said:
Whatever floats your boat

Nice looking lavender. Very underused tang in our hobby.

IME, the Lavender Tang is a great fish... ALWAYS busy, no aggression to speak of, has a pretty engaging personality, and is VERY pretty (that photo and video are not showing its coloration whatsoever).