The Blue Hippo Tang ( Paracanthurus Hepatus ) is a species of surgeonfish that has many different common names, including the royal blue tang, regal tang and palette surgeonfish. These fish have 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.
The Blue Hippo Tang will make a striking addition to any saltwater aquarium and is one of the most active swimmers of the available tangs. The blue hippo tang will reach a length of 12 inches, is considered to be "reef safe", and should be kept in an aquarium larger than 100 gallons to provide plenty of swimming room. This tang is one of the more peaceful of the bunch and may get picked on by other tangs that are already in the tank. A lot of territorial aggression can be determined not only by the size of the tank but also by the order of introduction into the aquarium.
Blue Hippo Tangs are native to the Indo-Pacific region, ranging from East Africa to Japan and through the Indonesian and Hawaiian Islands. Their vibrant electric blue body is only contrasted by bold, black stripes along its back and dorsal fin with an equally vibrant yellow tailfin.
Diet: Many aquarium hobbyist purchase this fish based on an assumption that like the rest of it's Tang cousins, it will consume problem algae in the aquarium. Sometimes as an adult it will consume algae as a supplement to it's regular diet, but it's staple diet consists of plankton and meaty foods. Feed frozen mysis shrimp, finely chopped raw shrimp, flake, pellet and frozen preparations. They will also enjoy eating frozen preparations for herbivores.
