Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)

Add Image

Reef Safe?

True

Invert Safe?

True

Maximum Fish Size

Minimum Acceptable Tank Size

40 gallons

Description

Found dispersed throughout the waters of the Indo Pacific region. Its common name "Hippo" is a reference to the similarity in sound between the scientific name Hepatus and the animal "Hippopatamus." This fish has a number of alternate common names including: Regal, Royal, Pacific Blue, Painter's Palette, and Hepatus Tang. These Tangs are agile swimmers and entertain the aquarium viewers with their amusing antics. Because most Tang can be susceptible to parasite infestations when stressed during shipment, it is best to quarantine them or be prepared with a parasitie antibiotic treatment before placement in a display aquarium. These fish exhibit interesting behavior and do well in groups. The Blue Hippo likes lots of rockwork to help make it feel secure. They can be kept singly or in groups. The Blue Hippo can be very timid and may wedge themselves under rocks and into caves and crevices when young or new to an aquarium. In the wild they will wedge themselves into coralheads and branching corals. They are very peaceful towards other fish and do well in a peaceful community or reef tank. This fish will often lie on its side and "play dead".

Feeding

Tangs are herbivores and their diets should therefore contain a variety of marine vegetable matter, such as seaweed (spirulina).