FishIntermediate care125g minimum
Blue hippo tang reef compatibility check
Paracanthurus hepatus
Popular but commonly under-housed; treat as a large-system fish.
Minimum tank
125 gallons
Care level
Intermediate
Reef safety
Safe
Bioload score
4
Stocking stage
Late
Flow need
Varied
Light need
None
Compatibility warnings
- Outgrows common starter tanks.
- Needs excellent oxygenation and swimming room.
- Use 125 gallons as the planning floor.
- High oxygenation and open swimming room matter as much as nominal gallons.
- Do not treat juvenile size as permission for a small long-term tank.
Professional planning context
- Use the 125 gallon minimum as an adult-planning floor; display length, aquascape, and existing tankmates can raise that floor.
- This can be planned early after cycling, but only after quarantine/acclimation logistics and stocking order are settled.
- Professionals should model aggression by territory and introduction order, not only by care level.
Tank fit and maturity gate
Tank minimum
125 gallons
ReefCrafter uses 125 gallons as the planning floor for adult size, swimming room, nutrient load, and aggression margin.
Maturity gate
No special delay
This species can be planned early when the tank is cycled and the rest of the stocking list is compatible.
Care notes
- Temperament
- Semi Aggressive
- Reef safety
- Safe
- Adult size
- 12 in
- Placement
- large open swimming lanes
- Diet
- Vegetable matter, nori, and varied meaty foods.
- Flow
- Varied
- Light
- None
- Bioload
- 4