Wanting to add a few fish...

I gave 50% of what I could sell something for. However, there were certain exceptions. I certainly don't need any more brown coral (anthelia, kenya tree, xenia) and I certainly don't need a fish that is weak or with ich. I don't want your evil damsel that is killing other fish and in the case of Hippo Tangs, that's one of the fish that is also often an exception. People bring them in and they are sickly (pinched belly, HLLE, ich, dull) and not only do they not get the amount of credit they are expecting, I often won't give them ANY credit. Putting a Hippo Tang into a stressful condition, weakening it, and then thinking you'll get credit for it isn't a reasonable thing to ask of your LFS.

 

Sorry but this is a serious forum, there are a lot of very well educated people on here that give great advice, a few of them have said some good opinions to this topic. Please because from what I read about your post you dont fully understand this hobby if you think it is okay to stick two tangs in a 46 gallon tank. Your point about the ocean is noted but the spacing we are suggesting is to try and keep your fish alive, without getting disease and stressed to death.

And as Inwall Said if your tang is stressed and sick it doesnt matter how big it is, you prob wont get very much if any credit for it.

 

i agree, we do our best to simulate the ocean enviornment and since tangs are open swimmers they need large tangs therefore you are not doing so so it is you that are in fault.

 

Thanks for those of you with helpful and informative advice. I didn't mean to start up anything. The tang is healthy right now and very small. As soon as it starts to grow it'll have a trip back to the LFS trade or no. I'm not really concerned about the money. I won't add any new fish until it's gone.

@bigjim thanks for the tips about the blenny. My LFS has a bicolor in their show tank that I've never seen eating anything. I'll look into them a bit more before I decide whether to add one in the future or not.

 

Just an FYI, I got my blue hippo 3 months ago and it was about 2 1/2". I said to my wife "watch, it'll be 6" in less than 6 months". She didn't believe me. Well, 3 months later, currently it is right around 5"... so these guys grow fast.

Look at is this way, if you remove the tang from your tank, you could probably add another two or three small fish to replace the bio-load of that one tang, plus your tank will be much healthier and stress free in the long run.