Compatibility question: why not?

[sueandherzoo]

Don't scream or yell -- I know this is a big "no no", but I'm not sure WHY. Why can't we have a blue hippo tang in a seahorse tank? As you know I have a 46 gallon tank for my three horses, along with two firegobies and 3 baby bangai cardinals.
I had a blue hippo tang in my larger tank but he didn't last long. He spent a lot of time hiding in the rocks and I think he got nibbled on by crabs, so I wonder why I can't get another one and put it with the horses? That horse tank is SAFE from anything that is aggressive, nibbles, or stings. The one I had seemed so friendly and innocent for the short time I had him I can't imagine why he wouldn't make a good horsemate. And here's the description from swf.com site: The Blue Hippo can be very timid and may wedge themselves under rocks and into caves and crevices when young or new to an aquarium. In the wild they will wedge themselves into coralheads and branching corals. They are very peaceful towards other fish and do well in a peaceful community or reef tank. This fish will often lie on its side and "play dead".
I realize that 46 gallons is not an ideal size for a blue hippo tang but my LFS has some that are an inch or less big. I imagine they would be OK in a 46 gallon for a few years and by then I would either move it into a bigger tank or trade him to the LFS for a smaller one.
Your thoughts? (and no bashing, please - I realize they are rated a "4" on the chart, just wondering why)
Sue

 

[teresaq]

I would imagin its the stress factor. They may be too much activity for horses along with the fact that they need a much bigger tank.
T

 

[flower]

No bashing here, I do not have seahorses, I do have a hippo Tang:
My Hippo is a nut when food is introduced into the tank. So it may not be a good tank mate for seahorses because they are so aggressive when they feed. I mean he knocks others out of his way to eat.
He is a very peaceful sweet fish, but he really likes his food. He only hides if I get too close to the tank, otherwise he is out and swimming everywhere and my hippo was only the size of my pinky fingernail when I got him two years ago....He is 4-5 inches already, he needs lots of room to swim back and forth. Aren't seahorse tanks tall, not long?

 

[cleve_seahorse]

I've always thought about a tang....I'm in love with the blond naso's, but alas my tank isn't big enough....maybe someday

 

[sueandherzoo]

Thanks for the feedback (and for not yelling at me!) Those are all good points you brought up -- I imagine feeding the horses would be more difficult with a food hound in the tank. Sure would look pretty in there, though. The tank seems so big and empty with just the few tank mates and I'd love a "safe haven" for a tang. Probably not a good idea, though. Thanks!
Sue

 

[dingus890]

No yelling here...lol
Yes not a good idea.The constant swimming can stress the horses out and tangs are piggies...lol..the horses would not get any food and if they wanted to get some they may be to scared to come out or it would be gone.(seahorses reaction

)...lol
It's not a good Idea for a tang as they get to be a foot long and need atleast a 70 gallon tank to do well as tangs need alot of dissolved oxygen.It's also not a good fish for seahorses as it is more prone(from what I have read) to lateral line disease, fin erosion, ich and other skin parasites than many other fish.
Just be happy your horses are thriving.I know it is tempting but they really need the tank to be quiet and only have horses or other small timid fish.
It's just not worth it in the end after all your work with the seahorses.

 

[sueandherzoo]

All good points - thanks for bringing me back to my senses. I was at the LFS last night picking up feeders and was eyeing the hippo tangs and told the manager that I had toyed with putting one in the horse tank and he talked me out of it, too. He reminded me that hippo tangs are ick magnets and that I would be subjecting my horses to possible ick or who knows what else. Thanks for talking me out of it.
Sue

 

[jackri]

They are succeptible to ich -- but if there is no ich they don't just "catch it" out of the blue.
Sea Horses are very cool don't yell at me for this but.... I think they are also boring as they don't seem very active to me. But then I also like coral that doesn't move and I like my starfish I NEVER see so probably a little hippocritical

I am hunting for a yellow bellied blue hippo tang though.. and I will find one

 

[teresaq]

Joking

They arent for everyone. Yes some species are more active then others, but they can very interesting, and each has thier own personality.

 

[meowzer]

They arent for everyone. Yes some species are more active then others, but they can very interesting, and each has thier own personality.
I agree on that...if you want something that is active ALL the time not for you, but when they decide to swim around, play in the flow, and do tricks...they are amazing to watch.

 

[firestorm]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/3005074
All good points - thanks for bringing me back to my senses. I was at the LFS last night picking up feeders and was eyeing the hippo tangs and told the manager that I had toyed with putting one in the horse tank and he talked me out of it, too. He reminded me that hippo tangs are ick magnets and that I would be subjecting my horses to possible ick or who knows what else. Thanks for talking me out of it.
Sue
I'm just amazed her LFS talked her out of a sale.....I'd kill to have a LFS like that here - anytime I ask about anything, they go through the right questions (tank size, mates, etc), but the answer is always "oh yeah, its good enough - this one is $$$"
Good thing I've done enough research to know that half the time he's wrong, and it goes in one ear and out the other...two LFSs and the same attitude at both....

 

[sueandherzoo]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3005078
They are succeptible to ich -- but if there is no ich they don't just "catch it" out of the blue.
Sea Horses are very cool don't yell at me for this but.... I think they are also boring as they don't seem very active to me. But then I also like coral that doesn't move and I like my starfish I NEVER see so probably a little hippocritical

I am hunting for a yellow bellied blue hippo tang though.. and I will find one

I actually tried posting a video clip of one of my horses on this forum this weekend but wasn't successful (will try again sometime). She was very entertaining and active - had a hard time following her around with the camera and the way they "float" across the tank is just mesmerizing to watch. But agree - not for everyone.
That's exactly what I was eyeballing at my LFS the other night - a yellow-bellied hippo tang. He has two in there, TINY little things, for $40 each. Then he has some of the regular hippo tangs at a bigger size, but these little yellow-bellies are about the size of a dime. Care to drive to CT for fish?

Originally Posted by Firestorm
http:///forum/post/3005326
I'm just amazed her LFS talked her out of a sale.....I'd kill to have a LFS like that here - anytime I ask about anything, they go through the right questions (tank size, mates, etc), but the answer is always "oh yeah, its good enough - this one is $$$"

The manager there is excellent - he always examines everything I buy very closely and has many times put it back in the tank because he saw that something had nipped at it or because it just "didn't look right". Last night I tried to buy a little red starfish and as he was bagging it he saw a mark on it and put it back in the tank. I'm not sure if he's that good with all his customers or only because I am there twice a week but I do appreciate him watching out for me. He also lets me "bargain" with him which is something I always enjoy, so now when he sees me coming he usually says "uh oh, what are you going to beat me out of today?" All part of the hobby, right?