Help. Baby hippo from petco “tiny” needs help!

[Reefering1]

Looks better in this last pic! What have you tried feeding him? Try frozen? Send more/ better pics. If he doesn't look worse, I would probaly want to get him eating before medicating. That tiny little guy won't last very long if not eating. Are you managing ammonia in this tank?

 

[BasementBox]

Looks better in this last pic! What have you tried feeding him? Try frozen? Send more/ better pics. If he doesn't look worse, I would probaly want to get him eating before medicating. That tiny little guy won't last very long if not eating. Are you managing ammonia in this tank?

It’s day one. I’ll do a small water change tomorrow and I’ve tried crushed pellets. Smashed up nori and I did a little bit of brine shrimp but no reaction to any of it.

 

[Steve Fast]

At that age they also like to hide. It will probably be under a lot less stress if it has some place to hide

 

[Reefering1]

At that age they also like to hide. It will probably be under a lot less stress if it has some place to hide

Agree. People use pvc fittings for them to hide in during qt. Especially a hippo tang. They don't act right until they feel comfortable and can disappear from sight

 

[Coral Memere]

Tiny is still with us after 24 hours. Still no eating but he seems to have found a spot where the water moves over him near the overflow and he doesn’t really have to expend energy. Every time I think it might have been his time a small prod and he swims around. Seems to be taking an extra liking to the bubbler for now. Tomorrow we’ll try some more flakes and crushed pellets.

And you got the coppersafe?

 

[Coral Memere]

At that age they also like to hide. It will probably be under a lot less stress if it has some place to hide

Very true... Got some PVC pipe hanging around?

 

[Coral Memere]

Very true... Got some PVC pipe hanging around?

My fat, adult hippo STILL wriggles himself into this hole in a rock every night... Just his tail sticking out (you don't see me). Every morning he wriggles backwards out of it. This afternoon, it took him 3 tries to get his fat belly wriggles in. Oopsie

 

[BasementBox]

Update: tiny didn’t make it. Suprisingly because he was looking more lively but when I scooped him up huge parasite had somehow formed on his eye, maybe post mortise. Either way bummer but as someone in another group said - it was valuable experience and I should have these things on hand for the fish I really care for anyway. So. Positive spin.

 

[Coral Memere]

Update: tiny didn’t make it. Suprisingly because he was looking more lively but when I scooped him up huge parasite had somehow formed on his eye, maybe post mortise. Either way bummer but as someone in another group said - it was valuable experience and I should have these things on hand for the fish I really care for anyway. So. Positive spin.

I'm so sorry. You really tried hard! I remember losing 1/3 of my freshwater tank to whatever parasite causes stringy poop. I never looked the same way at the tanks at Petco or PetSmart, again. Good thing is you knew enough to quarantine him and not bandit out to any other residents. (Another mistake I made too late).

I hope this doesn't put a debt in your love of the hobby! Thank you for letting us know the outcome.