good hippo

asdf

Member
I heard hippos only have a ten percent survival rate is that true because I really want one but if theres only a 10% survival rate I dont think I will get one.
 

guineawhop

Member
they don't really have that high of a survival rate because they are prone to ick..not sure if it is 10 percent but it's not good lets put it that way.
 

nm reef

Active Member
I've never heard that their survival rate is that low....in general. I have heard that they need a well established tank that has room for them to roam and that they can be prone to ick if stressed and not properly cared for.They like a algae based diet and they like to be able to pick at algaes during the day.....maybe their survival rate is only 10%....if so I got one of the fortunate few I guess....been with me for over two years now and seems to be livin' good so far...
 
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ocikitty

Guest
I have had my hippo for 4 years. She is the strongest fish I have. She survived a disease outbreak that killed 8 out of 11 fish. She has survived a couple of weeks in a rubbermaid while my tank was drilled for a sump-water quality bad despite my water changes and she even survived my stupidity when I forgot to decholoronate the water. At one point she turned upside down and could not swim straight. Risked it all and put her in my "new" tank with my old rock. I really did not expect her to survive but by the next day she was swimming right, eating and is doing great. I must have a super tang or the tangs gods are looking down on me.
 

mumbulog

Member
I have one and she is a beauty. I feed mine a mix of sea weed, shrimp, brine, mysis, and her fav scallops. I soak them in the garlic sauce for marine fish!
 
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ocikitty

Guest
Get a few! What size tank do you have? Be aware that a hippo needs at least a 75 gallon tank.
 

greatfullreefer

Active Member

Originally posted by ocikitty
Get a few! What size tank do you have? Be aware that a hippo needs at least a 75 gallon tank.

Most would say a 75 would be ok short term but for long term health a 4ft tank would not suffice...IMO a 125 minimum.
 

vtecbro007

Member
i have mine in a 55 its about 4'' but im upgrading to 100 in about a month or 2 but my guy has ich i think he had them progressing since i bought him 2weeks ago but my tank always has a bit of copper so im using copper right now. all my testing is at 0
 

lefty

Active Member
Tangs should not be exposed to copper long term. It'll damage their digestive fauna.
-lefty
 

loopy

Member
lefty is absolutely correct. I'll second that. Get the copper out, actually it cuts a fish's life in 1/2 in many cases. I didn't get his off the street, a marine biologist told me....so it's probably true.
Good luck though!!!:yes:
 
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jackie dh

Guest
From what I understand, the tiny ones don't do well, but when you move up to the 2" to 3" + they get a whole lot hardier. I just got one last week from SWF and he hid for about 3 days, had a hollow belly. I was a little worried there for a while, but now he's out dashing around the tank having a grand time and the belly is getting nice a full. I have tons of algae in my tank so the saddle bar is open!
 
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