[patsfan1130]

Hey everyone!

I took home the first resident of my newly setup FOWLR today!! A beautiful Hippo tang!! I've done quite a bit of research on him and know I will be providing her with lots of "greens" but I guess I am more looking for some of your feedings habits for Hippo tangs. Do you feed less amounts more frequently? What has worked for you?

Thanks in advance


Mark

[Airmotive]

By Hippo Tang I assume you're talking about Paracanthurus hepatus, aka Pacific Blue Tang, Regal Tang, or "Dorrie". She is actually much less of a vegatarian than other tangs. Zooplankton is thier main diet in the wild. (Compare their mouths to the mouths of other heavy veggie-eating tangs like Zebrasoma flavescens--Yellow Tang. You'll see why hepatus is not an algae grazer like flavescens). A well balanced and varied diet should work fine. Mine never refused a meal of any kind and grew quickly. Keep this in mind. They can grow quickly and need room! If you're running a tank smaller than 55 gallon, don't plan on raising this fish to maturity. Cramped confines cause this fish stress...and will react by wedging herself into rock crevices or even playing dead. When stressed they are very suceptable to parasitic infection. When they're happy and comfortable it is also obvious...they're very active swimmers (hence the need for a larger tank).

Hope this helps...and congratulations on finding one! They're very hard to come by this time of year! (I'm looking for one here in Virginia and noone can get their hands on one).

Blue Skies
JJ

I took home the first resident of my newly setup FOWLR today!! A beautiful Hippo tang!! I've done quite a bit of research on him and know I will be providing her with lots of "greens" but I guess I am more looking for some of your feedings habits for Hippo tangs. Do you feed less amounts more frequently? What has worked for you?

Thanks in advance


Mark[/quote]

[Ninong]

In the wild juvenile Paracanthurus hepatus feed primarily on zooplankton. Adults feed on zooplankton and benthic algae.