My lfs just released a bunch of small (1-3") Hippo Tangs out of quarantine today and I had them put one on hold for me.
Anyways, I have done a lot of reading on Hippo Tangs, and I understand there are certain difficulties keeping this species, specifically Ich and Lateral Line Disease, as well as requiring a solid diet of nori and assorted vitamin enriched frozen and lots of room to swim.
Ich, I have never had to deal with it yet, as to my knowledge it is not in my tank, which has just undergone nearly 7 weeks of Chelated Copper at 2ppm for Velvet, so there shouldn't be any laying dormant in my tank either. By the time I go pick up this fish it will have been in the stores QT for 2 weeks, which will be followed by at least another 2 weeks in my QT for observation. Contemplating performing TTM, but am nervous about stressing the fish from all the transfers.
Lateral Line Disease. As I understand it the cause of this isn't exactly known, but that it is associated with high nitrates and activated carbon. I am not running carbon, and my nitrates are currently ~25(Salifert) and will be going down as I do water changes over the next week to remove the copper, and then I will be running a protein skimmer with weekly water changes to keep them down.
Tank Size. This is my main concern, as my display is only 55 gallons, 48" long and I know an adult Hippo requires a minimum of 72", but I have read numerous threads on here and elsewhere about keeping smaller hippos in shorter tanks for later upgrades or rehoming. I will be buying a 210 gallon in a couple of months, no later than December.
Feeding. I know they require a good diet of nori and vitamin enriched frozen multiple times a day in addition to whatever they may graze off the rocks. I already feed my tank 3x daily a combination of flake, frozen and nori.
Do I have my bases covered?
Are there other considerations to take into account when keeping a hippo tang?
Other known causes/preventions/treatments for Lateral Line Disease? How common is it in Hippos?
Most importantly, is a 55 gallon enough length/volume to house a 1-3" Hippo for 6 months? My lfs wouldn't specify the exact length, but that is the size category I was told.
The tank mates would be a Marine Betta (5"), Greyfaced Moray Eel (14"), and a Maroon Clown (1.5"), among assorted snails and hermit crabs.
Anyways, I have done a lot of reading on Hippo Tangs, and I understand there are certain difficulties keeping this species, specifically Ich and Lateral Line Disease, as well as requiring a solid diet of nori and assorted vitamin enriched frozen and lots of room to swim.
Ich, I have never had to deal with it yet, as to my knowledge it is not in my tank, which has just undergone nearly 7 weeks of Chelated Copper at 2ppm for Velvet, so there shouldn't be any laying dormant in my tank either. By the time I go pick up this fish it will have been in the stores QT for 2 weeks, which will be followed by at least another 2 weeks in my QT for observation. Contemplating performing TTM, but am nervous about stressing the fish from all the transfers.
Lateral Line Disease. As I understand it the cause of this isn't exactly known, but that it is associated with high nitrates and activated carbon. I am not running carbon, and my nitrates are currently ~25(Salifert) and will be going down as I do water changes over the next week to remove the copper, and then I will be running a protein skimmer with weekly water changes to keep them down.
Tank Size. This is my main concern, as my display is only 55 gallons, 48" long and I know an adult Hippo requires a minimum of 72", but I have read numerous threads on here and elsewhere about keeping smaller hippos in shorter tanks for later upgrades or rehoming. I will be buying a 210 gallon in a couple of months, no later than December.
Feeding. I know they require a good diet of nori and vitamin enriched frozen multiple times a day in addition to whatever they may graze off the rocks. I already feed my tank 3x daily a combination of flake, frozen and nori.
Do I have my bases covered?
Are there other considerations to take into account when keeping a hippo tang?
Other known causes/preventions/treatments for Lateral Line Disease? How common is it in Hippos?
Most importantly, is a 55 gallon enough length/volume to house a 1-3" Hippo for 6 months? My lfs wouldn't specify the exact length, but that is the size category I was told.
The tank mates would be a Marine Betta (5"), Greyfaced Moray Eel (14"), and a Maroon Clown (1.5"), among assorted snails and hermit crabs.