Hippo Tang

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Hippo/Regal Tang

Scientific Name Paracanthurus hepatus

Max. Size: 30 cm (12 inches)

Tank Size: 90 Gallon (5ft)

Aggression: Generaly mild, but can be aggressive to fish of same species or body shape

Hardiness: Medium to Dificult

Reef-Safe: Yes; However can eat some soft corals, zoanthids and button polyps.

Available as captive-bred: No.

Regal (Hippo) Tang

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Physical Description

Blue and a Black painter's palette marking with a yellow tail and Facial Markings in the form of spots.

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Distribution

Solomon Island, Fiji, Indo-Pacific

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Taxonomic Stuff you know you Care About

Family: (Acanthuridae)

Genus: (Paracanthurus)

Species: (Paracanthurus hepatus)

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Behavior

Very Skittish and Sensitive. Once established can become quite dominant over smaller fish. Will not tolerate fish of the same body shape as it self, or of the same species.

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Feeding

Feed a diet that consists of meat and plant matter. However, make sure to feed more plant matter. Sushi Nori can be purchaced at an organic food store, and is an excelent source of plant matter.

It is thought that the onset of HLLE (Head and Lateral Line Errosion) can be diet orientated. If it is observed there have been cases where the progression has been stopped and/or reversed by making available different types of nori (ie, green (typical), red and brown). Also there are other products offered such as garlic extract that is thought to also help stimulate the fish's immune system. It has not been proven that this will work but it has been noticed that the use of garlic extract does stimulate appitite and can be used to start picky fish onto new nori or attract them to new feeding locations.

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