hippo tang grow out tank, how long to leave in a 50g?

[happyface888]

well friend got a hippo tang thats about the size of a quarter. How long should he leave the little guy in the 50g? He doesn't want to toss him in the 100g seems like its going to get punked or dissappear since its so dam small. How long will it take for the little guy to reach say 3inches in the 50g?

[MoonTang]

They grow really fast.

I would say around 6-12months.

[jetta]

porbably fairly quick, less than a year is my guess.

[tangafish]

they grow realllly fast. mine has grown atleast 2 inches in the last 2 months i have had him. I got a mimic tang about 3" and the hippo was about @ maybe 2 1/2" at the same time, now the hippo is almost twice the mimics size!

While in quarantine they were in a 46 gallon which isn't much smaller than yours and they seemed stressed with the size. I personally would not consider putting one long term even just the 8 months you mentioned it will outgrow it way to fast. I would just wait until i got a larger tank or go with maybe a kole or the mimic because they are slower growers.

[FishAreFriends2]

Hmm I seen alot of those quarter sized hippos recently, kind of reminds me of little damsels.

[yoboyjdizz]

it will be 3inches in a few months.. mine went from just under and inch to about 6 inches in a year.

[howdy777]

yea I agree, less than a year...

[yellowslayer13]

agreed

[happyface888]

Wow you guys make it seem like that fish is on roids or something but really how long would it take for the little guy to reach 3inches in a 50g before moving it over? My friend doesn't want to toss the little guy which is the size of a quarter in his big tank. Might get chased around seeing its so dam small.

[snorvich]

Given appropriate feeding, most likely six months.

[hybridgenius]

Its depends on the fish and the diet. I know alot of people who have had tangs for 5-8 yrs and it took about a good yr or two just to grow 6inches... then I know a few who bought a tang about 3inches and it grew to 7-8 inches by the end of the yr. Really depends on the water conditions and diet.

[AquaReeferMan]

They are not on riods they just grow really fast. Mine went from 1" to 6.5" in about 2 and a half years. Even the 100g is going to be too small. Mine has pretty much outgrown my 125g already.

[jazzmanb]

they must be on roids ,or you guys might be exageratting or overfeeding...with a balanced diet of spurina,algae,mysis,rods reef food and fed twice a day,my blue hippo is still 3 inches big,and ive had him for well over a year...hes grown a solid inch in a year...in a 50,you realistically have a good year or two before youd have to worry about him outgrowing your tank...my 2 cents..

[flameangel88]

I'd one grew from 3" to 5" in 16 months in a 75g on feeding twice a day of pellets in the morning and frozen at night. This one was definately not over fed as it'd to compete with 16 other fishes which were mostly angels. I added a bigger YT after the Hippo but it sure didn't take long for the Hippo to out grew the YT.

If your friend's concern is that it will get beat up in the larger tank because of the larger fishes then do what you said put it in the 50g when it gets to 2.5-3" then transfer it to the bigger tank. Is the 50g running right now? If not then then your friend still can use it for QT and at the same time the Hippo will grow nicely in there.

[mattsilvester]

3" to 8" in 12 months

fastest growing fish I have ever owned

[happyface888]

Its his QT tank, Im just trying togather enough info to tell him how fast it will grow. He wants it in the bigger tank but it looks like its going to get eaten. His tank has some fish that might devour that little guy so he wants to get a idea of just how fast the little guy will grow in the 50g. TIA

[donald_202]

5 months

[hybridgenius]

Oh everything should be ok then. Once it gets big enough he could transfer it to the big tank. Blue hippo tangs arent chumps once they get bigger.

[Delphin25]

I think Fenner recommends 3 inch min to start so I'd say wait till he's 2-3 inches, at least 2 and thick behind the eyes/head,eating well balanced, divers diet, before you move him.
I use prime reef flakes, mini mysis, 2-3 times a day some garlic gaurd occasionally, and she loves frozen phytoplankton (coral food) 2 times a week.
watch out for blue damsels with similar coloration.
yellow tail, Azure, electric blues,
I had to give one away cuz he almost killed my new hippo
second submissive damsel is still there and OK.
Once established tang could become the agressor.
monitor ich etc too for 2-4 weeks min
mines just clear of the 1st round still treating it.
cleaner shrimp is good for him/her too.