{"product_id":"blue-hippo-tang-large","title":"Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eParacanthurus hepatus\u003c\/em\u003e is the fish that launched a thousand reef aquariums after Finding Nemo, but the real animal is considerably more interesting than the cartoon version. That electric-blue body with black \"palette\" markings and yellow tail hides a retractable scalpel blade at the caudal peduncle — a keratin-sheathed spine that surgeonfish deploy during territorial disputes — and startled individuals will jump from open-top tanks without warning. They do it fast enough that it looks like the fish teleported out of the water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJuveniles wear the same electric blue with cleaner, sharper black markings; as the fish matures, the markings soften and the black pattern expands slightly. In the wild, juveniles aggregate in branching coral colonies (\u003cem\u003ePocillopora\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAcropora\u003c\/em\u003e) for shelter, retreating into the coral structure when threatened — behavior that's completely impractical to replicate in captivity but explains why they're naturally skittish in open environments without adequate rockwork refuge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThey're herbivores that need nori and algae-based foods as the foundation of their diet, not just fish food they happen to accept. A Blue Hippo Tang fed primarily on meaty foods develops HLLE (head and lateral line erosion) over time — the pitted, discolored skin that marks a fish maintained on an inadequate diet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Paracanthurus hepatus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Indo-Pacific — branching coral zones and reef crests from East Africa to the Pacific, especially common in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Coral Triangle\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e Temp 74–82°F · Salinity 1.023–1.026 · pH 8.1–8.4\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank requirements:\u003c\/strong\u003e 125 gal minimum; 180+ gal preferred; needs extensive swimming room and rockwork refuge\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Herbivore — nori seaweed and algae-based foods must form the majority of the diet; supplement with meaty foods\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility:\u003c\/strong\u003e Semi-aggressive with other tangs; reef safe; provide adequate space to prevent territorial conflict\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHusbandry note:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cover open-top tanks. Blue Hippo Tangs jump at high speeds with essentially no warning and will find any gap in screening. This is not a theoretical risk — it's the most common sudden death cause for this species in home aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YoCamron's Aquatics","offers":[{"title":"Small\/Medium (1.5-2\", Bali) \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50315560190189,"sku":"STANH2013","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (2\"+, Bali) \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50315560222957,"sku":"STANH2014","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium\/Large (3\", Bali) \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50315560255725,"sku":"STANH2015","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (4\", Bali) \/ Wild-Caught","offer_id":50315560288493,"sku":"STANH2016","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407729901,"sku":"STANH2006","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium\/Large (2.5-3\") \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407762669,"sku":"STANH2005","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"(4.5-5\") \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407795437,"sku":"STANH2007","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Giant (6\"+) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407828205,"sku":"STANH2008","price":302.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Small (1\", Bali) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407860973,"sku":"STANH2011","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Small\/Medium (1.5-2\", Bali) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407893741,"sku":"STANH2013","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (2\"+, Bali) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407926509,"sku":"STANH2014","price":165.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium\/Large (3\", Bali) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407959277,"sku":"STANH2015","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (4\", Bali) \/ Aquacultured\/Captive-Bred","offer_id":50337407992045,"sku":"STANH2016","price":207.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0806\/1032\/8813\/files\/lg_73746_Blue_Tang_764d23ea-d7f3-4723-a3d5-088d7e5b9c6b.jpg?v=1784692371","url":"https:\/\/www.yocamronsaquatics.com\/products\/blue-hippo-tang-large","provider":"YoCamron's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}