Hippo Tang in a 29?!

bigmick88

bigmick88

New Member
Ok, first let me start of by saying, I'm not looking to start a war. I know on all forums, tangs are a TOUCHY subject. But here is my question. The owners of my LFS know everything there is to know about saltwater. In fact, they only do saltwater and reefs, they are pretty much experts. They insist that I could put a very small blue hippo tang in my 29 gallon biocube and it would be fine and happy. (the hippo is my favorite fish) All the workers there agree that he will outgrow the tank eventually, however, that will take a few years and then I can trade him in for alot of store credit. Anyways, they would never stear me wrong or give me wrong advice, and they even guarantee the fish for the life of it as long as my water is spot on and as long as I trade him in when they feel he is too big. (this LFS is great, they'll even come to my house to do favors and check my water) I'm just wondering what your opinions are on this without getting all tang crazy? If you feel the urge to flame, just push back on your browser, Thank you very much for any help
 
d-dzel

d-dzel

Member
I say they're ok too keep in a small tank until they start outgrowing the tank and then switch him to a bigger tank or return him for credit.
I had a powder blue in a 55g when it was 1 - 1 1/5 inches big. As soon as he reached 3" I switched him to my 125g. I think they're ok as long as they have enough space to swim around.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
I'll keep my mouth shut on having a tang in a tank too small, but just say this that I'd really think about it hard before you do it. My way of thinking in when I buy fish is that is this fish suitable for my setup for the rest of it's life, not having to worry about where I'm going to put the fish when it outgrows my system. For each of my tanks I've always bought fish that will work for that specific tank and that will never get too big for it.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
It will be "OK" but its not the best idea. Just get something els instead and get a tang when you have a large enough tank. Also, it will NOT tank years for it to outgrow the tank, more like months.
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
Also one thing you always need to remember when you are dealing with an LFS... they are in it to make a buck, so they will tell you just about anything to get you to buy. There are a rare few LFS that will tell you that this is not a good idea, those are the ones that I'd chose to deal with.
 
d-dzel

d-dzel

Member
Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/3089372
Also one thing you always need to remember when you are dealing with an LFS... they are in it to make a buck, so they will tell you just about anything to get you to buy. There are a rare few LFS that will tell you that this is not a good idea, those are the ones that I'd chose to deal with.
+1 There's a couple of LFS around me and one is the kind that says "yes it will work in your tank" or "oh and you also NEED this". That's the one where I stay away from and there's the other one where the owner says " no stay away from that, you don't need that it's useless" or "that fish looks sick and I wouldn't sell it or it won't work at all in your tank" That's the kind of LFS you want to look for
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
It should not take "years" to outgrow a what, 2 foot long tank?
Did they also tell you the dismal survival rate of these small tangs?
They are in the business to make a buck. How much will they give you for trade in credit at the time? How much will they resell it for?
Anyway, IMO, no...it is not a good plan for anything more than a few months (if it is the only fish in the tank and to get it established and settled before being moved to a larger system). If it is not the only fish in the tank, and you intend (and only have the capability) of keeping it in a 29g tank, I do not recommend it. Heck a 30long would be better. at least it is a 3' tank.
LFS' can be nice and pleasant, but they also need to sell fish. And they have a lot of caveats, of course.
What is "spot on' water quality? Better work that out. My LFS thinks 1.021 is spot on. So my reef tank is SOL. How high is too high on the nitrates?
How big is it when "they" feel it is too big?
Get it in writing, if you feel this is a good thing.
NO LFS can guarantee things for life. That is rediculous, having worked at an LFS that had a very liberal 7 day policy. I just had a fish die after 8 years. Seriously, do you think the LFS should cover that? What if another fish attacks it? If my water quality is good, is it covered?
Seriously, if it sounds too good to be true...it probably is.
If people are really passionate about not doing it...there is probably good reason, and a lot of experience behind it.
But in the end, it is your tank, and your conscience. If you are cool with it, we can do nothing more than give opinions.
IMO, as a marine biologist, former LFS employee and former aquarist at an aquarium...no...it is not a suitable tank for anything more than several months to get it established.
The most important key to success in this hobby is patience. It is knowing your limits and sticking to it.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
its possible to keep a small hippo (1-2 inches) in a 29 nano, but many hippos that size dont do well regardless of tank size. i always advise people to get at least a 3 inch one to start off.
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
I'm the one on the flip side. Almost none of my fish go into a tank they will eventually end up in. Take my volitan, for example, he started in a 6g.
NYC makes a very valid point.
 
nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
My blue hipp was pretty small when I got him (a little bigger than a quarter). He has grown alot since then and I would say you would only get to keep him for a few months. I've found that fish are like other baby animals. They grow fastest when they are small and then their rate of growth slows.
I know how it is when you want a fish, but don't really have the tank for one. I REALLY want a queen angel and I could probably stuff it in my 90 gallon for a while, but I know that is not realistic. The fish will probably stress out and die. Which is something else to think about. Blue hippos get ich very easily if they get stressed.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/3089475
It should not take "years" to outgrow a what, 2 foot long tank?
He said his tank is a 29 gallon biocube, they are not even 2 feet long. They are 18.5" x 18" x 17" and that's the size of the main DT not including the back chambers.
 
extinct 1ne

extinct 1ne

Member
I wouldn't do it...I'm cautious about putting a Tomini or Yellow Eye Kole Tang in my 55g...I don't think you should do it especially if your doing a reef. Because if you have the perfect reef set-up, then this Hippo Tang gets too big. You are without a doubt going to have to take all of Corals & LR out just to catch it...
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by nina&noah
http:///forum/post/3089512
I know how it is when you want a fish, but don't really have the tank for one. I REALLY want a queen angel and I could probably stuff it in my 90 gallon for a while, but I know that is not realistic. The fish will probably stress out and die. Which is something else to think about.
I also REALLY want a Queen Angelfish and I have a 180 gallon tank! BUT, they will also out grow a 180. There were a few people on another forum who had a Queen Angelfish in a 300 gallon tank and they sold it because it outgrew their 300 gallon! That's how big they get!!
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I actually am rather open minded on the tang issue to some degree...I would say it would be fine as a grow out in a 30 long (a 3' tank) but that is assuming the future tank is already in the possession of the owner. I am not in favor of this as a "I'll trade it in or buy a larger tank when I need to" scenario.
So I am not an "no way no how" member of the uber tang police. But I am also not going to say yeah, if the LFS says it is ok then do it.
 
dingus890

dingus890

Member
Bad Idea.I would not do it.I honestly wouldn't buy from a LFS that says it would work.
*They probably say lifetime guarantee knowing the poor tang will die from stress in such a small tank,even though the tang is small.*
Blue Hippo tangs are delicate enough.
My LFS when I asked about a tang in a 55 gallon said they would not sell one to me until I had a 75 or larger tank.They even offered a discount on a 75 gallon tank to help me out.That is the kind of LFS you want. Ones that tell you like it is and help you because they love fish and are not just in it to make money.
I would wait and upgrade in the future. Then get the tang and you will be much happier.
The reason this is a testy subject is because we are dealing with living animals that are usually taken from the most beautiful reefs.And to put them in a tiny glass box that they will grow out of is cruel. Also the many tang police have reason to flame. They have experience and want to see these beautiful fish thrive as they should.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Get ready.........................................Vroom....Vroom.......

Just wanted to pop in here and say well done everyone. No flaming, no ranting, no raving, no hang em highing.........just good information and leaving the decision to the OP. Good Stuff!!!!!!
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
Just for fun.... what would y'all say to me if I started a thread about putting a volitan in a 6g or an angler in a 3.... which I've done. Would y'all have advised me not to? Seriously... just for fun and I'm curious. :)
 
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