hippo in a 29g

mrwhipels · 05-26-2005, 10:10 PM

My local reef store has a display tank that has been up since 03 and they have a blue hippo tang in there they said he has been in there for a year. I thought that is too small of a tank for a hippo but then I was thinking I have a 30 GAL and have always wanted a hippo tang if I were to get one tha was like 1-2 inch would that be okay for little while like say 2 years tops

Dragoon · 05-26-2005, 10:15 PM

negative kimosabi. That would not be big enough. It's kind of like getting asked this question at a LFS I once worked at. "how many of these yellow tangs can I fit into this ten gallon". My answer well about twenty if you blend them on high for about thirty seconds and pour evenly. The fish is a open water swimmer and they grow rather fast. I'd say tops for being in your 30 is about 2 months before it gets stressed out and dies of ich or some other infectious agent as it's immune system fails.

mrwhipels · 05-26-2005, 10:23 PM

but the tang at the reef store has been in a 29 for over a year and every time I go in there he seems to be doing well no signs of ich or hlle and he loves to watch people every time I put my face up next to the glass he swims rigyt up to check you out

Dragoon · 05-26-2005, 10:29 PM

We are talking about the same fish right that attains about 12" in length if not longer and you want to throw it into a 36" long aquarium with roughly 12" of depth front to back. i think it would be like taking a great dane puppy and putting it into a closet. Sure they'll not grow very fast and may be able to live but is it the right thing to do?

mnreefgeek · 05-26-2005, 10:31 PM

I think that I would consider the LFS tang the exception, not the rule. Show the fish some respect and wait until you upgrade to jump into Tangs.

mrwhipels · 05-26-2005, 10:36 PM

why is it an exception and they told me it was deffinetly doable I am sorry I am being stubborn it just you guys tell one thing and sombody tells me another and they have proof to back up there argument

Dragoon · 05-26-2005, 10:53 PM

They say it's doable yes perhaps it is. Now in my experience of being in teh hobby for several years and managing and working in a LFS for several years I can tell you it is the exception. Read some books and discover for yourself why you shouldn't put eth fish in such a small aquarium. Just because it will fit and may survive is not a good enough reason to put it in there. After two years in a 30 you'll have shortened it's lifespan considerably and also stunted it's growth. It will never attain it's full length and it will only last probably the two year you have it in your 30 at most. And the reality is it most likely won't make it 6 months. There are reccomended tank sizes usually present in most fish guides and I'm positive the tank size required for the hippo is far beyond the 30 you have. I would assume that the given tank size is probably closer to 125g tank. Although I have had my regal in a 75g for about 1 and 1/2 years but he goes into my 180 very soon.

wharyat · 05-26-2005, 11:07 PM

We want our corals and fish to thrive, not just get by. DO NOT keep it in a 30 gallon; unless of course you plan to live in a small room the rest of your life; so you can see how it feels.

mrwhipels · 05-26-2005, 11:08 PM

I always have plans to upgrade. Every day I look in the paper to see who is selling there tank. I still don't understand why my lfs ia an exceptions why can they do it and I can't. Do you think they know that they are stunting the growth of that tang and shortening its life span.

mrwhipels · 05-26-2005, 11:12 PM

I belive the recommended tank size is 55g or so I think

aussiereefer82 · 05-26-2005, 11:12 PM

Agreed, way to small. I have one in my 60 gal that i have had for a year now. In that time he has grown from a 1" baby to a 3.5" speciman. In the near future i will have to say good bye when i move her to my mates 180gal, at least i will still be able to visit her and know that she is well cared for.
The LFS people may or may not know what they are talking about, i try to stay from the pimply faced 16 year old that tells me that a Volitans lionfish and firefish will get along great together in a 2' tank. I tend (not all the time as there are people i trust) to take the LFS advice witha grain of salt!!! After all the LFS is there for a sale!!!
Take the advise of the people here on TRT, blue hippo tangs are not the easiest of fish to care for, they are very susceptible to disease, mainly ich, and cramping one in a 20gal will only add to the stress contributing to the ich.

If you are wondering where all this is coming from, its personal experience. Twice i tried to put a "Dory" in my origonal 20gal,before i knew what i was doing (before i found TRT), on the advise of the LFS staff, twice i had a failure.

Thats JMO.........

Doug1 · 05-26-2005, 11:26 PM

Seriously Mr Whipels, not that we are into being argumentative here, but you have gotten some pretty straight advice.. I personally had a Hippo tang grow from 2+" to around 10" in my first 125 marine tank. The stores I have worked in over the years ALWAYS put large fish like Tangs, angels, triggers, any other fish that were going to stay around in LARGE display tanks
You might walk into any given LFS and see small specimens of fish that attain some size in small tanks, you will probably even see multiple small tangs, triggers, angels in small tanks, but with most LFS, the hope is that the livestock cycles thru the shop quickly enough that the overcrowding isn't detrimental to the fish.
Actually to some extent over crowding keeps aggression at bay, because everyones trying to cover their ass and not be attacked by their tank mates, so a truce develops. Someti
mes!!!!!!!!! This can go bad really quick in a lot of cases.
Because the LFS keeps fish this way doesn't mean that its an OK way to keep them in home aquaria(I call it the Nemo syndrome)
Just out of curiosity have you seen this same fish in the store for the year they say it's been there? How big is the fish now? I am skeptical based on my experience with these fish, then again there are exceptions to the rules, and I have no way to say whether the facts as they have been presented to you are in fact, fact. I have only my personal experience and about 6 yrs moderating this and a few other marine/reef boards to go on.
I would implore you to take the LFS with a grain of salt and not to get a tang.
So many people fall into the trap of getting a fish thats not suitable for their tank over the long run, oh yea they have good intentions of upgrading in the near future, but so many things can happen to change that plan, IMO its not worth gambling on the lives of livestock,
and to be fair, if it was a really hard to come by specimen, and you ABA have the resources to drop thousands to upgrade to the ultimate tank, then I see no problem with that, but Hippos are common in the trade, please wait till you have the tank and skill to support one

AnemicOak · 05-26-2005, 11:45 PM

I know it can get confusing, being told so many conflicting things & generally in this hobby there are very few hard & fast rules. I was bored so I figured I see what some of the references I normally use say about it.

Live Aquaria says 70 gallons minimum

Scott Michael's Marine Fishes says 100 gallons minimum

Marine Depot Live says 80 gallons minimum

Pet Solutions says 75 gallons minimum

I know when I first started planning my 75 I wanted one of these. After spending some time learning about the fish I think my 75 will be to small. I want things to thrive & be happy in my tank. Tangs like to have lots of room to move.

skeety · 05-27-2005, 06:09 AM

I really have nothing new to say. But I must agree with everyone here.

Although, I'm sure you'll do whatever you want to do...and that's your perogative.

But I still felt like 2nd'ing everyone advice.

You also might want to consider that your LFS might be fibbing a little bit. That MIGHT not be the same tang. They MIGHT be exaggerating on how long it's been there. They MIGHT be in business to sell you stuff.

What do WE here at TRT have to gain with our advice? You wont' be coming over to our houses with gifts for our shared thoughts. If you want to compare the advice....consider comparing the motivation behind it.

Just some other thoughts for you to chew on.

As we speak...I am in the process of deciding on a Hippo for my 72. And like you...I hear the advice, but part of me says..."hey...it's my tank!"

but I'm still doing some serious debating.

and I think the final decision will be based ENTIRELY on how soon I realisitically think I'll get a bigger tank. I advise you to do the same.

Don't just take our word for it. Look up the companies AnemicOak mentioned. Look at their recommendations. Then ask yourself why everyone but your LFS is against it.

Either way...good luck in whatever you decide.

AriZonaD54 · 06-09-2005, 06:44 PM

Yea ix-nay on putting the regal in the 29. These guys grow faster than puppies!!!!! And will soon outgrow its 29 g living quarters. How about a coral beauty? Granted those arent as stunning a sight.. but they have great character and color!