Hippo tang or Powder Blue Tang - which is hardier?

K

kpatrick

Guest
I know both of these fish are prone to getting ick when added to a new tank. I am wanting to add one of them to my 125g tank. I dont want to over do it by adding both so now I have the tough decision on which one to get. I like them both a lot so it comes down to which one is going to be hardier in the tank. Anyone have anything to say about either one? I had a hippo in my last 125g tank and he did great but if the powder blue is just as tough then it may be nice for something dofferent.
 
K

kpatrick

Guest
Forgot one thing. The LFS that I have gone to for the last 7 years (meaning I normally trust them) told me that a small Hippo is less likely to get ick then a medium or large one when introducing to a new tank. They have all 3 sizes available so I am not sure if this is true since I always thought small fish were harder to get to eat and stay healthy. The small Hippos were quarter size, medium were 2" to 3" and large were 4" to 5".
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
From what I have been told the Powder Blue is much harder to keep. I have a 3" Hippo and she's great. I did have her in QT/Hypo for three weeks before adding to the DT though. Everything I have read says NOT to get a Hippo smaller than 3", the young ones just don't adapt as well. Again, the best way to keep ich out of your tank is to QT all fish for three - four weeks before adding to your display. This also allows you to give your fish time to settle and learn his eating habits.
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
I would have to agree with what your LFS said about smaller size adjusting to a tank vs larger size, I've always had great luck with smaller fish, larger show size fish have sometimes had issues. Hippo is hardier IMO
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Agree with the above post...Like always I am late...
I would go with a Hippo over a PB 7 days a week as far as Hardy...looks...PB over the hippo..
ps. Thanks for ditching that avatar again max....scary face..
 
big

big

Active Member
I have had both, Loved my Hippo but lost him 2 days after our larger tank move to our new home
.. He was always a nice guy.. The wife got the bright idea that she wanted a Powder........... Guess who won that discussion????
Well we have had our Powder for about 2 months now, other than being very shy the first few days, he had become a favorite..... ALWAYS hungry and the disposition of a Clown in approaching him, even pecks my hand looking for a handout. Walk past the tank and he swims back and forth screaming feed me more!!!
Only real issue other than the known ones ( ick magnets etc. we got a healthy one) is that he always chasing our Diamond-Back around ???
Both are nice fish........ Good luck in your choice....... Warren
 
trippkid

trippkid

Active Member
I'd agree about the Hippo being slightly hardier, I got mine when it was just a baby, now about a yr old and about 3.5 to 4". I would go for smaller fish if you can, in general I have found they have a better chance for survival, unless it is a predator tank,then your just buying expensive meals.
Matt
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
I think some of us need to clarify what "small" is. I for one do not think it's smart to buy a 1" Hippo, nor do I think spending all that money for a 7" Hippo is good either. I believe if you get a 3" -4" Hippo you will have a higher success rate then if you went smaller or even larger. Choose the middle ground and you should be ok. IMO I believe this applies to most tangs.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
I think some of us need to clarify what "small" is. I for one do not think it's smart to buy a 1" Hippo, nor do I think spending all that money for a 7" Hippo is good either. I believe if you get a 3" -4" Hippo you will have a higher success rate then if you went smaller or even larger. Choose the middle ground and you should be ok. IMO I believe this applies to most tangs.
I agree with this post. I believe Fenner states that hippos less than 3 in usually dont survive. I like the powder blue better myself.
 
K

kpatrick

Guest
How many of you use a QT vs. adding them to your display tank instantly?
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by kpatrick
How many of you use a QT vs. adding them to your display tank instantly?
I QT every fish for 3-4 weeks and I did Hypo on my Hippo Tang. Didn't want to take any chances. Oh, my clowns came down with ich 2 1/2 weeks into the QT process. Thank goodness they were not in the DT. I started Hypo right away and since they were already in QT it was easy. Just took longer to get them in the DT. I also believe QT is a good idea not only to prevent disease in your DT, but to allow your fish to settle down without another fish picking on them. It's also easier to get them to eat when they are not competing with other fish.
 
grabbitt

grabbitt

Active Member
I recently was faced with the same decision...
I went with the blue regal (hippo).
They seem to be much more stable than the powder blues.
In the end, if it's worth it, it's merely a matter of preference, but in my case it worked out both ways, because I would have taken the hippo over the powder blue anyways
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
I have a hippo tang that was about 2 inches when I bought it...it is doing very well and growing steadily and of course NO ICH yet! I've had it a couple months. I also have a scopas tang in the same tank and they get along just fine. I think smaller is better. JMO.
 
K

kpatrick

Guest
My only concern about a QT is that once you take the fish from the QT and put them in your display tank, they can still get stressed and break out in ick from transfer from QT to DT. I understand the purpose of a QT but it just seems like that is one additional tank that could stress out the fish. Maybe I have been lucky in the past without using one!
 
dw62

dw62

Member
Small juvenile hippos (less than 3 inches) have somewhat different feeding habits than larger ones, and are generally harder to care for. Size would also be a factor in what other fish you already have in your tank - aggressive fish would tend to pick on new smaller inhabitants. Also, using QT for a Hippo is controversial as some experts believe you should not QT hippos due to them being so easily stressed.
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
i had a powder blue in my 55g for 2 years before he choked on a dry rotted piece of foam from my w/d. Some would say 2 years is a long time, others may say otherwise. Some would also say a 55g is too small for these specimens, and others would also say otherwise also. I bought a hippo to replace him 6 months ago and i would say they are equally hardy, if provided the proper conditions of being the king of the tank with no threats, a proper diet, excellent water parameters, and plenty of room to swim. oh and don't forget they MUST be quarantined and acclimated properly. just my .02
 
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