Blue Hippo Tang — Paracanthurus hepatus

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The Blue Hippo Tang, also called the Regal Tang, is an active Indo-Pacific surgeonfish with a bright blue body, a black palette-shaped marking and a yellow tail. Give it a mature reef with an open swimming lane and rock crevices where it can retreat.

Detailed care

• Adult size: Up to about 12 inches.
• Recommended adult aquarium: At least 180 US gallons and 6 feet long.
• Reef compatibility: Generally compatible with corals and invertebrates. Plan tankmates carefully, especially other tangs.
• Feeding: Offer marine algae or nori regularly alongside quality marine pellets and appropriately sized frozen foods.

François Neo’s advice

Choose this fish for the aquarium it will need as an adult. I recommend quarantining new arrivals and confirming they are feeding well before introducing them to the display.

S, M and L refer to the fish’s size at purchase. Contact us for the current batch measurements. The photo illustrates the species.

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Photo by Silvio Tanaka, CC BY 2.0.