Tank Dimensions for a Blue Hippo Tang

gibson981 · 05/14/2008, 01:39 PM

I have heard a lot of different things. They need 90 gallons or more. They need 100 or more. They need 120 or more. They need at least 60 inch long tank. They need at least 72 inches. What is the real deal? I am looking at a few different tanks, some 60 inches, some 72 inches. Some 18 inches front to back, some 24 inches front to back. Most of them in the 120 to 135 gallon range. A couple around 150 gallons. Will a 125 or 135 or a 60 inch work for a blue hippo? I want it to be healthy and happy.

downhillbiker · 05/14/2008, 01:48 PM

i am no expert but since they are swimmers i would say you need as long as possible in at least 1 direction, so the fish can have plenty of room to swim back and fourth. i think that length and width is most important over depth. i have a regal tang and a tomini tang in my 75, and it is about 2" now, and ok for a while, but i know it will need to find a new home eventually.

TheSaltwaterGuy · 05/14/2008, 02:41 PM

I would go with a 6' x 2' x whatever height you want.

reefergeorge · 05/14/2008, 02:44 PM

IMO 72"x18" min. 72"x 24" much better.

lilalove · 05/14/2008, 03:26 PM

I am new here, but I have seen these fish in various public aquariums. They get absolutely huge and fat. I would not put these in anything smaller than 8 feet long. They are strong swimmers that appreciate a lot of room. If you do get one in a smaller tank (I know it's hard to resist) leave the rock work more open to provide it enough swim space. Good luck!

reefergeorge · 05/14/2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lilalove
I am new here, but I have seen these fish in various public aquariums. They get absolutely huge and fat. I would not put these in anything smaller than 8 feet long. They are strong swimmers that appreciate a lot of room. If you do get one in a smaller tank (I know it's hard to resist) leave the rock work more open to provide it enough swim space. Good luck!

It is true they do get huge. A 8-10 foot tank is needed for an adult, but the sad truth is not very many make it to adulthood in this hobby.

gibson981 · 05/14/2008, 11:24 PM

Thanks for all the advice. I certainly don't want the fish to suffer in any way.

MarkusII · 05/15/2008, 01:37 AM

Hello,

I would not put one into a tank with less than arround 260g and even more is better.
Anything smaller they outgrow quickly or die because of bad living conditions.

regards

Markus

A sea K · 05/15/2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lilalove
I am new here, but I have seen these fish in various public aquariums. They get absolutely huge and fat. I would not put these in anything smaller than 8 feet long. They are strong swimmers that appreciate a lot of room. If you do get one in a smaller tank (I know it's hard to resist) leave the rock work more open to provide it enough swim space. Good luck!

Welcome to Reef Central
Excellent 1st post and I agree completely. My Hippo is in a 72X24 210gal tank. All was fine for a while but he has grown significantly in the year that I have had him. He seems to be getting more and more agitated now and not very happy in his current surroundings. Unfortunately I will be looking to find him a better home as soon as possible.

I live in the Gainesville FL area if anyone is interested in a 6+" Yellow Belly Hippo.

wmilas · 05/15/2008, 06:26 AM

I love tangs. One of the first tangs I ever kept in a 90 was a blue hippo and I ended up having to trade him back to the lfs after he grew too large. I loved that fish because of his personality.

One of the reasons I decided on a 120x36x30 tank was so I have plenty of room to keep a blue hippo through adulthood. I've seen adult hippos in 8 footers and its liveable, but its still tight if you can believe it. for a Fully grown adult you need AT LEAST 8 feet, 10 is best.

I'm not saying you can't keep on in a 6 foot tank, you can. But they become agitated when they reach porker size. Your choice. If I was limited to 6 feet I'd keep juveniles and trade them out for more juveniles when they reach adult hood. I can't imagine a lfs wouldn't trade you straight up, adult for juvenile.

DevilBoy · 05/15/2008, 07:42 AM

imo a 6ft tank or larger would be the best home for a blue hippo with open rock work and loads of swimming room...

BreefMe · 05/15/2008, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by A sea K
Welcome to Reef Central
Excellent 1st post and I agree completely. My Hippo is in a 72X24 210gal tank. All was fine for a while but he has grown significantly in the year that I have had him. He seems to be getting more and more agitated now and not very happy in his current surroundings. Unfortunately I will be looking to find him a better home as soon as possible.

I live in the Gainesville FL area if anyone is interested in a 6+" Yellow Belly Hippo.

This might sound a bit weird, but does the fish have a good spot to sleep? Hippos like to wedge into to a crack or under a rock to sleep. Even when they are big they still do it. I have a Hippo about your size and he sleeps on his side between 2 rocks every night. Whatever they seem to be able to get into; they can get out of.

rjsilvers · 05/15/2008, 08:19 AM

So you guys are saying I can have one in my 72"x24"x24" and people won't freak out at me saying it's too small?

... Promise?

sufunk · 05/15/2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rjsilvers
So you guys are saying I can have one in my 72"x24"x24" and people won't freak out at me saying it's too small?

... Promise?

That size tank will be fine. I have the same tank and have a blue hippo, Naso, orange shoulder and tennenti tang in there. They are all healthy and happy and other than an occasional fight between the orange shoulder and tennenti(about every 3 months), they get along great.

A sea K · 05/15/2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rjsilvers
So you guys are saying I can have one in my 72"x24"x24" and people won't freak out at me saying it's too small?

... Promise?

No one is going to "freak out" and say it is too small, what myself and several others are trying to say is it may come a time when the Hippo grows it is quite possible he will not be happy in that size tank and aggression as well as health problems can arise.

BreefMe, My Hippo has his favorite sleeping hole in the rocks.

tbar · 05/15/2008, 03:13 PM

Good thread, I was thinking of getting one some time ago in my 125. Now I know that won't be a good idea and can put that thought to rest.

05/14/2008, 01:39 PM	#1
gibson981 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: west side of Indianapolis Posts: 451	Tank Dimensions for a Blue Hippo Tang I have heard a lot of different things. They need 90 gallons or more. They need 100 or more. They need 120 or more. They need at least 60 inch long tank. They need at least 72 inches. What is the real deal? I am looking at a few different tanks, some 60 inches, some 72 inches. Some 18 inches front to back, some 24 inches front to back. Most of them in the 120 to 135 gallon range. A couple around 150 gallons. Will a 125 or 135 or a 60 inch work for a blue hippo? I want it to be healthy and happy. __________________ Gerald Current Tank Info: 90g, built in overflow, 2 Reeflux 20k 250w, 2 Ice Cap 250w elec ballasts, 2 Hydor Koralia's 3 and 2, 29g sump, RIO 3100 return, AquaC EV180 w/Mag 9, GEO 612 Ca Reactor, 85# live rock (half Fiji, half Kalieni), 180# live sand.

05/14/2008, 01:48 PM	#2
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	i am no expert but since they are swimmers i would say you need as long as possible in at least 1 direction, so the fish can have plenty of room to swim back and fourth. i think that length and width is most important over depth. i have a regal tang and a tomini tang in my 75, and it is about 2" now, and ok for a while, but i know it will need to find a new home eventually. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

05/14/2008, 02:41 PM	#3
TheSaltwaterGuy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,482	I would go with a 6' x 2' x whatever height you want. __________________ - Chad "The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on." - Robert Bloch

05/14/2008, 02:44 PM	#4
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	IMO 72"x18" min. 72"x 24" much better. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

05/14/2008, 03:26 PM	#5
lilalove Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 462	I am new here, but I have seen these fish in various public aquariums. They get absolutely huge and fat. I would not put these in anything smaller than 8 feet long. They are strong swimmers that appreciate a lot of room. If you do get one in a smaller tank (I know it's hard to resist) leave the rock work more open to provide it enough swim space. Good luck! __________________ Karina For mad scientists who keep brains in jars, here's a tip: why not add a slice of lemon to each jar, for freshness? - Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey Current Tank Info: 180 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump and refugium

05/14/2008, 11:24 PM	#7
gibson981 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: west side of Indianapolis Posts: 451	Thanks for all the advice. I certainly don't want the fish to suffer in any way. __________________ Gerald Current Tank Info: 90g, built in overflow, 2 Reeflux 20k 250w, 2 Ice Cap 250w elec ballasts, 2 Hydor Koralia's 3 and 2, 29g sump, RIO 3100 return, AquaC EV180 w/Mag 9, GEO 612 Ca Reactor, 85# live rock (half Fiji, half Kalieni), 180# live sand.

05/15/2008, 01:37 AM	#8
MarkusII Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: near Innsbruck/Tyrol/Austria Posts: 611	Hello, I would not put one into a tank with less than arround 260g and even more is better. Anything smaller they outgrow quickly or die because of bad living conditions. regards Markus

05/15/2008, 06:26 AM	#10
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	I love tangs. One of the first tangs I ever kept in a 90 was a blue hippo and I ended up having to trade him back to the lfs after he grew too large. I loved that fish because of his personality. One of the reasons I decided on a 120x36x30 tank was so I have plenty of room to keep a blue hippo through adulthood. I've seen adult hippos in 8 footers and its liveable, but its still tight if you can believe it. for a Fully grown adult you need AT LEAST 8 feet, 10 is best. I'm not saying you can't keep on in a 6 foot tank, you can. But they become agitated when they reach porker size. Your choice. If I was limited to 6 feet I'd keep juveniles and trade them out for more juveniles when they reach adult hood. I can't imagine a lfs wouldn't trade you straight up, adult for juvenile. __________________ 120x36x30 acrylic display, 1000 gallon sps with lots o fish

05/15/2008, 07:42 AM	#11
DevilBoy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wooster, Ohio Posts: 1,724	imo a 6ft tank or larger would be the best home for a blue hippo with open rock work and loads of swimming room...

05/15/2008, 08:19 AM	#13
rjsilvers Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 537	So you guys are saying I can have one in my 72"x24"x24" and people won't freak out at me saying it's too small? ... Promise?

05/15/2008, 03:13 PM	#16
tbar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SE Virginia Posts: 452	Good thread, I was thinking of getting one some time ago in my 125. Now I know that won't be a good idea and can put that thought to rest. __________________ I have done a 5 gal water change (about 17%) every week since week one. Hopefully having this posted here will motivate me enough to keep doing so. Current Tank Info: 33L, Two 36" 24 watt Marineland LED's, Tunze 9002 Skimmer, 2 Koralia 1's, pico hob filter for carbon.