Adding a hippo tang with 3 large tangs

[Uncle99]

Yh I have considered that, they do get quiet big but ur right I think I'll hold off my tangs are peaceful and I don't want to disrupt anything atm lol. Your right fowleri is a very slow grower, so I'm hoping in a few years he doesn't get too big and by then I can decide to either go bigger when I move house. Or sell him :/

That is a great decision IMM!
Things usually go well in peaceful settings.

 

[exnisstech]

I grew my hippo out for a year before adding it to my gang. I kept it in grow out so long because I was afraid I would upset the harmony in the tank so I was nervous to introduce it. I used an acclimation box for a week and none of the other tangs even seemed to notice the hippo. When I released the hippo it went strait into the rocks and claimed a spot that used to be my niger triggers. The hippo can completely disappear into a hole inside the rock. Having enough rock is critical to success IMO. In addition to the hippo added l have 8 other tang some that I've had for 8 and 9 years so some are pretty large. They are 4 biota and one wild yellow, purple, naso, vlamingii, and convict. The tank is 84x30x25" The Rock scape allows the fish to skim in front of the structures as well as behind and above with plenty of swim throughs and caves. I have 24 fish total and every single fish has its own place it spends the night. No fish is left out and there is no fighting over sleeping areas because there is a place for every fish. When the lights start to dim down the little fish all disappear into the rocks and the tangs get frisky for a few minutes then they bed down. My hippo seems to prefer swimming with my group of chromis.
I think too many people focus on how their scapes look to them and don't put enough thought into providing habitat for the fish. I attribute the scape along with over feeding making it possible for me to keep 9 tangs and still have a peaceful tank.

 

[Charansd94]

Consider adding some more rock for hiding places.

Rock and Acropora colonies. Especially if the Blue is small, captive bred/raised. They will use the reef structure for security as well as sleeping. I've observed this behavior with mine as well as while scuba diving.

Very interesting fish to watch as it matures.

There such beautiful and curious, I love the way they swim. But yh I'll hold off until I get a bigger tank at some point. Everyone looks so happy now.

 

[Charansd94]

Yh I have considered that, they do get quiet big but ur right I think I'll hold off my tangs are peaceful and I don't want to disrupt anything atm lol. Your right fowleri is a very slow grower, so I'm hoping in a few years he doesn't get too big and by then I can decide to either go bigger when I move house. Or sell him :/

That is a great decision IMM!
Things usually go well in peaceful settings.

Yh I can see the difference already in one day, they been alone just the three of them for 8-9months so they have been skittish when people approach the tank. But I added 2 clowns a yellow tamarin wrasse and royal gramma. And it's made such a difference. Everyone looks so happy I think this is my perfect group... And from here just focus on corals.

I was sceptical about keeping the tamarin wrasse because there so hard to care for. I bought him from Rock and Critters down in Cardiff. The guy said his had him for 4 months and his tiny and cute. I watched him eat and took a chance. I thought he'd hide in the sand for a least a week or two but next morning when I woke I saw him swimming around with the clownfish. And he straight away started eating the mysis. Fingers crossed he lasts a long time and stays healthy.

 

[exnisstech]

skittish when people approach the tank.

Toss food in when ever you approach the tank. Mine follow me around like puppy dogs.
I'm sitting on the couch and this is them at the end nearest the couch waiting on me. Notice the eye contact from the vlamingii. He'll make eye contact and stare at me from across the room until I feed him. Almost all if my fish swim to the front when they see someone. They need a reason to be happy to see you and food is the only motivator I can think of. I typically train new additions in an observation tank and won't even introduce them to the DT until they are greeting me in observation begging for food.

 

[Charansd94]

I grew my hippo out for a year before adding it to my gang. I kept it in grow out so long because I was afraid I would upset the harmony in the tank so I was nervous to introduce it. I used an acclimation box for a week and none of the other tangs even seemed to notice the hippo. When I released the hippo it went strait into the rocks and claimed a spot that used to be my niger triggers. The hippo can completely disappear into a hole inside the rock. Having enough rock is critical to success IMO. In addition to the hippo added l have 8 other tang some that I've had for 8 and 9 years so some are pretty large. They are 4 biota and one wild yellow, purple, naso, vlamingii, and convict. The tank is 84x30x25" The Rock scape allows the fish to skim in front of the structures as well as behind and above with plenty of swim throughs and caves. I have 24 fish total and every single fish has its own place it spends the night. No fish is left out and there is no fighting over sleeping areas because there is a place for every fish. When the lights start to dim down the little fish all disappear into the rocks and the tangs get frisky for a few minutes then they bed down. My hippo seems to prefer swimming with my group of chromis.
I think too many people focus on how their scapes look to them and don't put enough thought into providing habitat for the fish. I attribute the scape along with over feeding making it possible for me to keep 9 tangs and still have a peaceful tank.

That's true, iv not added lots and lots af rock work there's probably only 4 large hiding spots and the rest are small places for smaller fish. Your tank is nice I just had a look on your thread. I read so many dad things about red sea and tank seals breaking. There glass is really nice but their silicone is soo bad.

I'd love to had a 8ft x 4 ft by 2ft height tank. That would be a dream

White tail bristletooth
Vampire tang
Orange shoulder
Yellow tang
Gem tang
Hippo tang
Powder brown tang
Achilles tang
Blonde naso
Fowleri tang
Sohal tang

Copperband Butterfly
Orange face butterfly
Arabian butterfly
Melon butterfly
Yellow longnose

Flame angel
Cream angel
Multibar angel
Regal angel
Goldflake angel
King angel

Anthias/ blue green chromis/damsel

That would be my perfect aquariumlol

 

[Charansd94]

skittish when people approach the tank.

Toss food in when ever you approach the tank. Mine follow me around like puppy dogs.
I'm sitting on the couch and this is them at the end nearest the couch waiting on me. Notice the eye contact from the vlamingii. He'll make eye contact and stare at me from across the room until I feed him. Almost all if my fish swim to the front when they see someone. They need a reason to be happy to see you and food is the only motivator I can think of. I typically train new additions in an observation tank and won't even introduce them to the DT until they are greeting me in observation begging for food.

Omg wowww!! Love ur tank

 

[albano]

Toss food in when ever you approach the tank. Mine follow me around like puppy dogs.

+1…. I have 9 tangs in my 500g, and I can see the smile on their faces when they see me come into the room!
A couple months ago I moved a small YB hippo into the tank with the much bigger other tangs…first day in an acclimation container, but then right into the tank!
No problems, not even with my ‘rare’ black hippo!

 

[Charansd94]

Ive added tangs at different times. My current tank is 9 ft. and I have a regal, one gem, one purple, and a Red Sea desjardin. The regal is definitely the boss but they all get along. Ive used the mirror trick on one end of the tank when ive released the new tang and it has worked for me. It keeps the rest distracted. Im thinking about adding a yellow or a powder blue and will do the same trick.

That's nice powder blue would look stunning, do you have ich in your tank?

Also you got any picture of your tank atm? Just curious to see how it looks..

 

[Uncle99]

Yh I can see the difference already in one day, they been alone just the three of them for 8-9months so they have been skittish when people approach the tank. But I added 2 clowns a yellow tamarin wrasse and royal gramma. And it's made such a difference. Everyone looks so happy I think this is my perfect group... And from here just focus on corals.

I was sceptical about keeping the tamarin wrasse because there so hard to care for. I bought him from Rock and Critters down in Cardiff. The guy said his had him for 4 months and his tiny and cute. I watched him eat and took a chance. I thought he'd hide in the sand for a least a week or two but next morning when I woke I saw him swimming around with the clownfish. And he straight away started eating the mysis. Fingers crossed he lasts a long time and stays healthy.

Adding fish nearer the end of our stocking is always a challenge that comes with risk.

While some things are mostly predictable, some are just plain luck.

A stable well fed low stress tank goes a long way in preventing disease.

I complement you. Most can’t hold back. And it’s not just about adding a new fish, sometimes that last fish creates “a domino” effect and you lose many.

When you have a nice group of friends, this hobby is great fun.

I have only 12 fish in 180.
But I pigged out in corals.

 

[Clownreef]

That's nice powder blue would look stunning, do you have ich in your tank?

Also you got any picture of your tank atm? Just curious to see how it looks..

Hi.. Nope, no ICH. All the fish have been together for years. I haven't added anything in a long time.

 

[Charansd94]

That's nice powder blue would look stunning, do you have ich in your tank?

Also you got any picture of your tank atm? Just curious to see how it looks..

Hi.. Nope, no ICH. All the fish have been together for years. I haven't added anything in a long time.

That's a beautiful set up, I love how clean the sump area is. (well done for not having ich, did u quarantine then yourself?) Ur fish look there well happy in that set up. Perfect size.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Hi guys I have a 6ft marine tank. Iv had the same fish for around 1 year and my tanks been 3 years old. I have 3 large tangs, fowleri, yellow and chocolate.

Just wanted to ask I was thinking to introduce a pair of clowns, a royal gramma and a baby regal tang. With the other three tangs being adults whats people's opinion on introducing a baby regal tang? Or would it be best to buy an adult? Or leave introducing the regal, I do have ich and in this tank is just a case of managing it. But these guys are all fine and seem pretty hardy. I have a UV steriliser iv just changed the build for and everyone looks healthy and happy.

About my tangs behavior, the fowleri is the boss but his very chilled. But the chocolate tang can be dick and he likes trying to be bossy. And the yellow tang is very chill also.

 

[Clownreef]

That's a beautiful set up, I love how clean the sump area is. (well done for not having ich, did u quarantine then yourself?) Ur fish look there well happy in that set up. Perfect size.

Thank you! The setup is top notch and the reef itself a work in progress. Im about to stuff it with SPS (work was insanely busy for a while) so I have more time to tend to it.

 

[Charansd94]

That's a beautiful set up, I love how clean the sump area is. (well done for not having ich, did u quarantine then yourself?) Ur fish look there well happy in that set up. Perfect size.

Thank you! The setup is top notch and the reef itself a work in progress. Im about to stuff it with SPS (work was insanely busy for a while) so I have more time to tend to it.

Fair play, that would look amazing. Best of luck mate, iv never tried sps its a bit nerve wrecking for me. But if u have the time go for it and send some pics when you do. Love to see how they'll grow in a years time.