Blue Hippo Tang In A 55 Gallon

\Clownfish/ · 09/11/2010, 09:57 PM

i was wondering has anyone ever kept a blue hipp tang in a 55 gallon, and do they really grow as big as a ruler

i would really want one for my tank

mudskipper1 · 09/11/2010, 10:06 PM

Yes, plenty of people have kept young blue tangs in 55 gallon tanks, and yes, they can get very large, as will pretty much all of the tangs. As long as they are small, it is OK, but make sure there is a concrete plan as to what happens to it when it outgrows the tank, not "I think i might want to upgrade by that time".

Lynnmw1208 · 09/11/2010, 10:22 PM

Technically a 55 isn't big enough for the hippo tang and they prefer a 5 foot long tank at least. there is a thread specifically for tang sizes and minimum tank sizes here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=739380 one of the smaller ones might be ok like the bristletooths or the yellow tang.

geaux xman · 09/11/2010, 10:51 PM

not saying that it is right or okay, but a ton of people keep tangs in 36" and 48" tanks.

the majority of tanks that are <125gal are 4ft tanks.

i dont know how many rimless 90-125gal 4ft tanks i browsed thru tonite that had a couple of tangs in them.

Toddrtrex · 09/11/2010, 11:19 PM

IMO, it is a poor choice to attempt to keep them in any tank less then 8 feet long. They get over a foot long and love to swim.

campos · 09/11/2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

IMO, it is a poor choice to attempt to keep them in any tank less then 8 feet long. They get over a foot long and love to swim.

Toddrtrex, in your profile it shows you have a 75g, so are you telling me that your 75g is 8 feet long? If so I would like to see a pic.

Toddrtrex · 09/11/2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campos

Toddrtrex, in your profile it shows you have a 75g, so are you telling me that your 75g is 8 feet long? If so I would like to see a pic.

My 75 is only 4 feet long, and hence the reason I don't have a "hippo" in there.

campos · 09/12/2010, 12:14 AM

ahhh i see. I was curious what an 8 foot long 75g looked like

Hermes` · 09/12/2010, 12:33 AM

I've had a Pacific Blue Tang in my 55 when it was 1". He grew soo big after a year(+5"), I gave him away to my dentist who has a 400 FOWLR. It's now a little over 7". This may be a hard decision for such a colorful fish, but I would pass up on it. I hate giving such a good model fish just because it got too big for my tank. GL

A sea K · 09/12/2010, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

IMO, it is a poor choice to attempt to keep them in any tank less then 8 feet long. They get over a foot long and love to swim.

Must agree with this statement for any of the larger tangs

Quote:

Originally Posted by campos

Toddrtrex, in your profile it shows you have a 75g, so are you telling me that your 75g is 8 feet long? If so I would like to see a pic.

Pretty sure you understand Todd's comments and no need to be a smart azz about it. Far too many people around RC with that attitude lately and its starting to really bring this place down not to mention it does not a thing to help contribute to this thread and is just downright disrespectful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermes`

I've had a Pacific Blue Tang in my 55 when it was 1". He grew soo big after a year(+5"), I gave him away to my dentist who has a 400 FOWLR. It's now a little over 7". This may be a hard decision for such a colorful fish, but I would pass up on it. I hate giving such a good model fish just because it got too big for my tank. GL

A good point that many people overlook when making the choice to keep juvi tangs in small tanks is how difficult it can actually be (not only mentally but it can be difficult to fing suitable housing) when you have to remove the fish after he's outgrown the tank. I had grown very attached to my Hippo when I made the decision to remove him from 6ft 210 gallon tank after realising he had become physically cramped and was showing signs of not being completely happy.

campos · 09/12/2010, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A sea K

Must agree with this statement for any of the larger tangs

Pretty sure you understand Todd's comments and no need to be a smart azz about it. Far too many people around RC with that attitude lately and its starting to really bring this place down not to mention it does not a thing to help contribute to this thread and is just downright disrespectful.

A good point that many people overlook when making the choice to keep juvi tangs in small tanks is how difficult it can actually be (not only mentally but it can be difficult to fing suitable housing) when you have to remove the fish after he's outgrown the tank. I had grown very attached to my Hippo when I made the decision to remove him from 6ft 210 gallon tank after realising he had become physically cramped and was showing signs of not being completely happy.

Thank you A sea K, you must be a RC monitor. Now if you could mind your own business. I was honestly curious if he had an 8 ft long 75g. I thought that might be a custom lagoon tank. Now go back to monitoring all other threads

\Clownfish/ · 09/25/2010, 08:43 AM

o darn .. i wish there was a smaller version of the blue hippo tang

jonbry123 · 09/25/2010, 11:07 AM

I've had them for years. As everyone has stated eventually the 55 would be too small especially since you will probably have more than just this one fish. If you do purchase one get him as small as possible. I've purchased them as small as 1/2 inch but they are delicate that small and any agressive fish you might have could make short work of it. If you can go to a larger tank such as a 90 that would siffice for a number of years. Growth rates are different for any fish. I had to replace the one I had last fall and got him at about 2 inches and a year later has grown about another 2 inches. At that rate another year or so in a 55 would be too small. These tangs are not open water swimmer such as the Nasos and others but do consider the needs before you buy.

shifty51008 · 09/25/2010, 01:07 PM

IMO it is best to only buy fish you can keep for their full life rather than buying fish just to trade back in later for another smaller one.

09/11/2010, 09:57 PM	#1
\Clownfish/ Saltwater Beginner $\Clownfish/'s Avatar$ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Anemone Posts: 629	Blue Hippo Tang In A 55 Gallon i was wondering has anyone ever kept a blue hipp tang in a 55 gallon, and do they really grow as big as a ruler i would really want one for my tank __________________ Keep your friends close, and your anemones closer. Last edited by \Clownfish/; 09/11/2010 at 10:04 PM.
$\Clownfish/ is offline$

09/11/2010, 10:06 PM	#2
mudskipper1 Trust Me I'm an Engineer Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 1,085	Yes, plenty of people have kept young blue tangs in 55 gallon tanks, and yes, they can get very large, as will pretty much all of the tangs. As long as they are small, it is OK, but make sure there is a concrete plan as to what happens to it when it outgrows the tank, not "I think i might want to upgrade by that time". __________________ -Eric kazyakphoto.zenfolio.com Current Tank Info: 11 gallon DIY acrylic cube and 20L displays plumbed to a single sump, Kessil, Onyx, MP10, RKL

09/11/2010, 11:19 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	IMO, it is a poor choice to attempt to keep them in any tank less then 8 feet long. They get over a foot long and love to swim. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

09/12/2010, 12:33 AM	#9
Hermes` Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CA Posts: 67	I've had a Pacific Blue Tang in my 55 when it was 1". He grew soo big after a year(+5"), I gave him away to my dentist who has a 400 FOWLR. It's now a little over 7". This may be a hard decision for such a colorful fish, but I would pass up on it. I hate giving such a good model fish just because it got too big for my tank. GL __________________ German... Current Tank Info: 55g Mixed, Apex, Octopus 110 recirc

09/25/2010, 08:43 AM	#12
\Clownfish/ Saltwater Beginner $\Clownfish/'s Avatar$ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Anemone Posts: 629	o darn .. i wish there was a smaller version of the blue hippo tang __________________ Keep your friends close, and your anemones closer.
$\Clownfish/ is offline$

09/11/2010, 10:22 PM	#3
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	Technically a 55 isn't big enough for the hippo tang and they prefer a 5 foot long tank at least. there is a thread specifically for tang sizes and minimum tank sizes here: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=739380 one of the smaller ones might be ok like the bristletooths or the yellow tang.

09/11/2010, 10:51 PM	#4
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	not saying that it is right or okay, but a ton of people keep tangs in 36" and 48" tanks. the majority of tanks that are <125gal are 4ft tanks. i dont know how many rimless 90-125gal 4ft tanks i browsed thru tonite that had a couple of tangs in them.

09/12/2010, 12:14 AM	#8
campos Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bay Area/San Ramon Posts: 546	ahhh i see. I was curious what an 8 foot long 75g looked like

09/25/2010, 11:07 AM	#13
jonbry123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: allentown, pa Posts: 581	I've had them for years. As everyone has stated eventually the 55 would be too small especially since you will probably have more than just this one fish. If you do purchase one get him as small as possible. I've purchased them as small as 1/2 inch but they are delicate that small and any agressive fish you might have could make short work of it. If you can go to a larger tank such as a 90 that would siffice for a number of years. Growth rates are different for any fish. I had to replace the one I had last fall and got him at about 2 inches and a year later has grown about another 2 inches. At that rate another year or so in a 55 would be too small. These tangs are not open water swimmer such as the Nasos and others but do consider the needs before you buy. __________________ Bryan "You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry."-Norman Juster Current Tank Info: 300gl FOWLR/155glRT

09/25/2010, 01:07 PM	#14
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	IMO it is best to only buy fish you can keep for their full life rather than buying fish just to trade back in later for another smaller one.

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