Blue Hippo Tang

[mdog30001]

Hello everyone. I am here to ask if it would be possible if I got a very small Hippo Tang, say 1 inch, if I could keep it in my tank. My tank is about 36gallons and it has a 6 gallon fuge. I have 35 pounds of live rock, and 50 pounds of live sand. In my fuge I have some live rock rubble, and a bunch of plants to cut back on nitrates and nitrities. I have a Firefish and an Atlantic Pygmy Angel. Both are about 1 1/2" big. This would be my only other fish, and if in a few years it did get to large i would just trade it back in at my lfs. So my question is could i keep one of these in my tank, even if it is just for a few years.
:help:

 

[stuckinfla]

IMHO - no.

 

[reeffeer]

id say anything under 75 gallons is to small for any tang. they are open water swimmers at all stages and a small tank will just not do. sorry they are beautiful fish.

 

[elvictre]

I have one in my 75 and it was 1 inch 1 year ago, and now it's about 5 inches. They grow fast so as far as a few years like you asked I would say no.
Vic

 

[murph145]

they are not recommended for anything under a 100 gallon tank.... sure u could keep one if u want but its not going to survive the long term.... a 1" one will out grow the tank in a year.... i have a 100G tank and i bought a small 1" hippo tang about 6 months ago he is now 4" and he needs a lot of roaming space, not to mention a lot of rockwork to hide out in when its night time.... he swims the whole tank area and im sure would love to have another 100 gallons to swim around in....
sorry to say u just need a bigger tank in order to keep one long term...

 

[xnikki118x]

If you wanted to get one very temporarily, I honestly wouldn't see a problem...at first. In a 36-gallon though, IMO, I'd trade him back once he reached two inches or so. I also don't think it will affect his lifespan, but I could be wrong.
I hope it works out for you somehow!

 

[stuckinfla]

If you take into consideration the size of the tank, the amount of water that is displaced by rock and sand and such - then figure the rule of 1" of fish for every 5gl.....hes already at his peak. Personally, I would not recommend anyone put something in their tank "temporarily". Why put all that undue stress on a creature. Leave it - the store.