Blue Hippo Tang

Tim&Amanda · Jan 30, 2011

We just added our first fish today which is a hippo tang. The fish seems to stay in the corner of the tank next to the heat stick. I have read that they like to hide but is this normal since we just introduced the fish to the tank?

VelasCorals · Jan 30, 2011

Yes, lots of new fish will hide when first introduced to a new tank. The Hippo Tangs are know for lying down or squeezing between rocks to hide and sleep.

On another note, is the fish in your 27gal. If so, how big is the Hippo? Regardless, I would either take the fish back or find a new home for him soon. Reason being, the they max out around 12" within a few years and will quickly become stressed in a tank that small.

FishLipz · Jan 30, 2011

Yes. Give it time and it should be out and about. These fish like to swim, and swim fast back and forth.

Tim&Amanda · Jan 30, 2011

We purchased a small hippo tang bc we were aware that they at least require 70 gallons or more. When the fish gets too big, i hope to have a larger tank by then or i will make sure he gets to the right home.

FishLipz · Jan 30, 2011

Be aware, they grow quick. Mine started as a 1 inch juvi and in 2 years is now 4 inches and swims the entire length of my 180 like a torpedo. If you think the fish is unhappy, you might want to consider trading it in.

VelasCorals · Jan 30, 2011

One of the first signs of being stressed it pacing the tank from end to end. Also as stressed fish could jump out too.

Tim&Amanda · Jan 30, 2011

Thanks Shaun i do agree with you! I will keep a close eye on his dimeanor.

VelasCorals · Jan 30, 2011

How big is it? They do sell them very small .5-1" where it could be fine for 4-6 months.

Tim&Amanda · Jan 30, 2011

He is about 2"

jordan3548 · Jan 30, 2011

I bought mine about 2 years ago and it was literally the size of a dime lol its now about 4 inches

Captain Nemo · Jan 30, 2011

Congrats on the new fish. Just be careful with him as tangs are more. Prone to sickness. Especially if they are stressed. I would consider keeping only him in the tank or only one other small fish. He will defiantly need a bigger tank soon.

Jolene · Jan 30, 2011

My tang has been in my tank for almost a year and will still wedges itself in the weirdest places.

Tim&Amanda · Jan 30, 2011

Haha, yes same pattern here with wedging itself in random spaces. Thanks for the advice everyone.

kingfisherfleshy · Jan 30, 2011

Im a founding member of the tank police...however...these fish will not grow to 12" in a couple years.

Very few will get to that size in captivity, and most likely not in 2 years.

I bought mine as a 3" or so over a year ago. My tanks h2o is pristine, the fish is healthy, and has only mad minor signs of ich once in its life. It gets feed PE mysis, NLS, selecon, and different kinds of nori and live micro/macro algae all the time. It is now probably a little over 5" (barely).

Tangs grow fast, but not that fast. The tank needs to become at least a 125g (6' variety) sometime in the near future however.

Tim&Amanda · Jan 31, 2011

Today i started noticing white spots on him. I read that they are very prone to ich. He has scratched himself on the LR and on the sand. For the most part he hangs next to the heat stick. I fed him take and he did eat a little. I have read a couple recomendations to start for treating ich such as green sea weed soaked in garlic. Any personal recomendations. He is the first fish in the tank and he has been in there for 24 hours.

VelasCorals · Jan 31, 2011

Tim&Amanda said:
Today i started noticing white spots on him. I read that they are very prone to ich. He has scratched himself on the LR and on the sand. For the most part he hangs next to the heat stick. I fed him take and he did eat a little. I have read a couple recomendations to start for treating ich such as green sea weed soaked in garlic. Any personal recomendations. He is the first fish in the tank and he has been in there for 24 hours.

He most likely had the ich but it wasn't visible in the store for a number of reasons. Pulling him from the LFS and adding to your tank just added some stress which probably allowed the ich to show itself again on the little guy. Basically the stress allowed a "flare up".

There are number of things that you can do to treat the fish. I always leave the fish in the tank and just keep it well fed and make sure the water parameters are spot on. Another option is to remove the fish and setup a Hypo or Copper hospital tank. You would need to treat the fish in the other tank for 12 week while your display tank has all the ich die in it. The reason for the 12 weeks is the ich life cycle can last up to 12 weeks with no host.

From my experience having tried all the solutions, keeping the fish in the display tank and keeping it well fed is the easiest to has proven the best out come for me.

btkrausen · Jan 31, 2011

kingfisherfleshy said:
Im a founding member of the tank police...however...these fish will not grow to 12" in a couple years.

Very few will get to that size in captivity, and most likely not in 2 years.

I bought mine as a 3" or so over a year ago. My tanks h2o is pristine, the fish is healthy, and has only mad minor signs of ich once in its life. It gets feed PE mysis, NLS, selecon, and different kinds of nori and live micro/macro algae all the time. It is now probably a little over 5" (barely).

Tangs grow fast, but not that fast. The tank needs to become at least a 125g (6' variety) sometime in the near future however.

Oh no, please don't start the tang police thing on R2R. Once reason I left ReefCentral cause I was so tired of hearing that phrase. haha

aalvarado87 · Feb 1, 2011

btkrausen said:
Oh no, please don't start the tang police thing on R2R. Once reason I left ReefCentral cause I was so tired of hearing that phrase. haha

Seriously i really can't stand when people start that.

Do you have a quarantine tank? It would be best if you could pull him out and treat him. If you go this route do be patient I wasn't added the fish to my display and once again here came the ich. It was really frustrating to the point I took the powder blue back to the lfs. and didn't add any fish to my tank for an extremely long time. I finally added a fish and the ich cycle had died off. Any how just remember do not add any kind of copper to your display to treat the ich as it will stay in the tank.

raymond · Feb 5, 2011

they sure do grow fast, and right after i got mine i thought he was dead but he was just asleep on his side wedged inbetween 2 rocks, it is crazy how they sleep

Tim&Amanda · Feb 5, 2011

The route that we took was dropped the salinity to 1.018 and added a herbal conditioner. Also have been giving freshwater dips every other day for 2 minutes. Also giving seaweed soaked with kent garlic extract. He is still very shy but is eating immediately. I am also feeding him about 10-15 sprectra pellets every day.