The Hippo tang is one of the most widely recognized of the tangs, and goes by many names. Its body is primarily bright blue, with a distinctive black pattern extending from the eye towards the tail, which gives it another popular name, the Pallete tang, because this black pattern looks like a painter's pallete. Its bold blue color has also earned it the name Pacific blue tang. This beautiful fish also has a bright yellow tail. Males and females are visually identical.

The Hippo tang can grow to be approximately 12 inches long and needs a large aquarium as an adult, we recommend at least 180 gallons or larger. It can be difficult to keep so we recommend it for experienced aquarists only. It is especially prone to parasites such as ICH. It may also easily develop head and lateral line erosion, common causes are insufficient aquarium size, improper diet, and excessive use of activated charcoal.

The hippo tang is the only fish in its genus Paracanthurus, which means as long as an aquarium is large enough it can typically be kept with any other type of tang with no aggressive issues.

Tangs are also called surgeonfish or doctor fish because they have at least one spine just in front of the tail which, when the tail is bent, can be stuck out and used as a threat display or weapon against competitive fish or predators. It is important to be cautious of this spine when handling the fish in a net. They feel most secure when there is plenty of live rock to hide in, as well as open space for swimming. In the wild some tangs live in schools, however in the confines of an aquarium it is usually best to have only one of each genus, or they may be extremely aggressive to each other. They are typically very peaceful with other types of fish.

Care should be taken with tangs to ensure they do not catch external parasites, such as Marine ICH and velvet, to which they are very prone.

Tangs do not eat coral or invertebrates and are considered reef safe. They are primarily herbivorous, and although they love to eat meaty foods, they must be fed plenty of marine algae in order to remain healthy and vigorous. Having a proper diet may also reduce aggressive behaviors; tangs naturally graze on algae throughout the day. Diet should include plenty of marine algae and Spirulina, frozen mysis shrimp, and other high quality items. They typically learn to eat dry foods easily. It is preferable to feed more than once a day, with an algae clip offered approximately every other day.

FREE SHIPPING OVER $119!*

- does not apply to livestock -

$11.99 FLAT RATE FOR LESS THAN $119.00 - CANADA WIDE!

*EXCEPTIONS:

• Any heavy or bulky items will incur a 100% charge of the actual shipping cost (valid for both Canada and the US). Heavy bulky items include (but are not limited to): salt, dry rock, sand, chillers, sumps, aquariums, stands, and some filter media.
• Frozen or perishable food can only be shipped via UPS Express. We have discounted the express shipping of these items to help the hobbyist out.
• Livestock is covered by a different shipping policy. To view the policy and further information regarding shipping livestock, click here.

GENERAL NOTES:

• We always make our best effort to ship your order via the carrier chosen during the check-out process; however, for some multi-piece shipments and/or remote destinations, we must reserve the right to use another carrier at our discretion (and without prior notice). If you require notice of any changes made to the carrier, please mention it in the special instructions during check-out.
• Upon request, we will ship your dry goods as per your specifications (courier, airlines, on your account, etc.).
• Quoted rates are the carriers live discounted shipping rates after adjusting for any/all shipping promotions.

Return Policy — Aquarium Equipment & Supplies

• All returns and/or exchanges must be made within 30 days of receipt of product.
• Before returning or exchanging any goods, you must contact J&L Aquatics to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). Items returned without prior authorization will be declined.
• Returned items must be unused, in original packaging, in as-new condition, and in perfect sellable condition. All returns are subject to inspection upon receipt.
• A 15% restocking fee applies to all online returns. This fee includes the cost of outbound shipping.
• Customer is responsible for return shipping costs on standard returns.
• Order cancellations made before shipping are not subject to a restocking fee.

Non-Returnable Items

• Special order items
• Clearance / final sale items
• Open box items

Regular sale items (non-clearance) are returnable within the 30-day return window, subject to our standard return conditions.

Defective, Warranty & DOA Items

• If you receive an item that is defective, not working, or dead on arrival (DOA), please contact us as soon as possible.
• Confirmed defective and warranty returns have no restocking fee and no Affirm fee. Customer does not pay return shipping — J&L Aquatics will provide a prepaid return label.
• All defective claims are subject to inspection. Items showing signs of customer damage, improper installation, or misuse are not covered under warranty.

Carrier Damage & Lost in Transit

• If your order arrives damaged by the carrier or is lost in transit, please contact us right away with:Photos of the damaged product (if applicable)Photos of the damaged box/packaging (if applicable)A description of the issue
• Important — Do not throw out any packaging! Please keep all original packaging, boxes, and packing materials. These are required to process your claim. Discarding packaging may affect our ability to resolve your claim.

High-Value Items ($100+)

• For items valued at $100 or more, customers must provide a return tracking number before a replacement will be shipped.

Affirm & Financing Orders

• Affirm or similar financing orders that are cancelled or returned in-store are subject to a 5% service charge. This covers the processing fee charged to us by the financing provider.
• The Affirm service charge does not apply to confirmed defective or warranty returns.