marinelife
10-01-2009, 02:07 PM
Some information about the Hippo Tang from my views and some from the internet. Also called a Blue Tang, Palette Surgeonfish, Pacific Blue Tang, Hepatus, or Regal Tang
Scientific name: (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Minimum tank size: 75-100 gallons is the range I am seeing online, I would say 100 gallons because this fish can get large (12" long) and swims around alot.
Food: Mine loves all food, I have a mix of different Pellets that I feed mid day and a mix of frozen at night. Every now and then I give mine a sheet or Nori
Care/Compatibility: So far seems hardy and gets alone with other Tangs, Chromis, Anthias, Angelfish, and more. I have not had many issue with him fighting with another fish, he does sometimes chase my other Hippo Tang around and that it chases the next smallest hippo which is a Yellow Belly Hippo Tang but I have not seem much harm from this.
Reef Safe: So far I have not had any issues. I have mainly SPS corals and a Tube Anemone.
Other: One of my Hippo Tangs is almost 15 years old and still doing will. For a short time he would go nuts on the front of the tank and it seemed like he was attaching a reflection. At night all the Hippo Tangs I have lay in the rocks to rest. They usually do not come out until the lights are on. Mine have seem to be abe to fight ich without issue. My next oldest did come to me with fin problem and face issue. I feed it food soaked in selcon and it has not healed up completely. I continue to soak my frozen food in selcon atleast once a week if not twice. When stressed the Tang will fade in color.
Pictures: Picture one with the fish facing left is my oldest and picture two with it facing right is the other one.
Scientific name: (Paracanthurus hepatus)
Minimum tank size: 75-100 gallons is the range I am seeing online, I would say 100 gallons because this fish can get large (12" long) and swims around alot.
Food: Mine loves all food, I have a mix of different Pellets that I feed mid day and a mix of frozen at night. Every now and then I give mine a sheet or Nori
Care/Compatibility: So far seems hardy and gets alone with other Tangs, Chromis, Anthias, Angelfish, and more. I have not had many issue with him fighting with another fish, he does sometimes chase my other Hippo Tang around and that it chases the next smallest hippo which is a Yellow Belly Hippo Tang but I have not seem much harm from this.
Reef Safe: So far I have not had any issues. I have mainly SPS corals and a Tube Anemone.
Other: One of my Hippo Tangs is almost 15 years old and still doing will. For a short time he would go nuts on the front of the tank and it seemed like he was attaching a reflection. At night all the Hippo Tangs I have lay in the rocks to rest. They usually do not come out until the lights are on. Mine have seem to be abe to fight ich without issue. My next oldest did come to me with fin problem and face issue. I feed it food soaked in selcon and it has not healed up completely. I continue to soak my frozen food in selcon atleast once a week if not twice. When stressed the Tang will fade in color.
Pictures: Picture one with the fish facing left is my oldest and picture two with it facing right is the other one.