It's Hip to Own a Hippo: Are Blue Hippo Tangs Overrated?

[AlyciaMarie]

There are all kinds of uber-popular fish to be fascinated with, and Blue Hippo Tangs are no stranger to being in the limelight. Known for their iconic blue and black color combo with bright yellow accents (and maybe aggression?), these guys can be found in tanks all over the globe. But is the popularity warranted? Let's discuss it...

Are Blue Hippo Tangs overrated? Show off your Hippos!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I just don't want to have the size tank needed to take care of these guys long term.

 

[Nate Chalk]

The whole reason I went from 13 gallons to 90 to 200 display.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would get a hippo tang if I had the tank size for one

 

[Formulator]

I feel like they have a bad rap because of Finding Nemo. Almost like some kind of resistance against the hobby’s association with that movie. Like: “I’m a real reefer, I don’t pick fish based on kids movies! Hmph!”

I actually like the fact that anyone who comes to the house immediately recognizes Dory and Nemo. It draws folks in who might otherwise not have much interest in an aquarium, and starts a conversation about my favorite thing to talk about

 

[TL1]

Finding Nemo killed my love for hippo tangs and clown fish. They're too cliche now. I had them in the past and everyone's first impression was "oooo Dori, or oooo Nemo", which is frustrating considering everything else in the tank.

I have orange skunks clowns and will not keep a hippo tang... although I'm often tempted towards the latter

 

[piranhaman00]

Hippo tangs are my favorite marine fish and before finding Nemo

 

[Formulator]

everyone's first impression was "oooo Dori, or oooo Nemo", which is frustrating considering everything else in the tank.

This is why I like having a hippo and clown! It gets people talking about the tank who otherwise might not take any interest. Embrace it!

 

[Pntbll687]

I've had one for years, no issues or complaints. When I got it, it was maybe 2in and now it's an 8in fish in my 180g tank.

It's not a fish I had to have, it was a fish that had good color and swims all over adding movement to the tank.

It is the "boss" of the tank and will chase my foxface or purple tang every once in a while, usually when I forget to feed for a day or two and they all get more aggressive because of lack of food. It's the one fish my kids named, it's now referred to as "Big Blue"

 

[TL1]

This is why I like having a hippo and clown! It gets people talking about the tank who otherwise might not take any interest. Embrace it!

I've yet to be able to embrace it lol... but hey maybe one day, it has the opposite effect, currently lol

 

[paragrouper]

I can’t fit one in my tank. Hopefully, I can ponder this question in the not-too-distant future.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Mine closer to 8" and a model citizen

 

[bj274]

Mine acts like it bumped its head !!! It’s slap nuts and stays in the rocks laying almost sideways a lot, not aware it’s yellow tail is sticking out..lol

 

[Reefer Matt]

They’re cool. No room for one in any of my reef tanks though. 135 gallon is the largest I have, but it’s a predator fowlr tank, and probably still too small.

 

[Tamberav]

They don’t look too bad but not for me. I like angels, wrasse and butterflies.

If I had a tank big enough for a full adult hippo then I would just get a golden lined rabbit fish instead.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I’m trying to avoid ich in my tank. No hippos.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Mine is about 8 inches of gooey goofiness. She parks herself backwards like an 18 wheeler trying to park in a clown car spot into a small groove is the rock structures. She swims really fast to the surfaces and grabs some air and then releases bubbles all over. She eats right off the tongs and eats algae as I scrape it off the glass. One of my favorites in the tank!

 

[jackson6745]

They get big very fast! Mine is starting to look too big for a 200g but it's a puppy dog. Eats from my hand. The color speaks for itself.

 

[Danny McElroy]

There are all kinds of uber-popular fish to be fascinated with, and Blue Hippo Tangs are no stranger to being in the limelight. Known for their iconic blue and black color combo with bright yellow accents (and maybe aggression?), these guys can be found in tanks all over the globe. But is the popularity warranted? Let's discuss it...

Are Blue Hippo Tangs overrated? Show off your Hippos!

I had a yellow belly version, great fish, except it was nipping at some LPS corals so I had to get rid of it.

 

[Nextlevelreefer]

I have 2 of them they both get along great with my 3 yellow tangs probably my favorite fish. What's Finding Nemo?