Blue hippo tang not doing so hot..

[eric.tech]

So my blue hippo tang has been doing good over the past year or so, but all of the sudden he’s hanging at the back of the tank and does not look so hot. His dorsal fin looks a bit beat up, he’s not swimming around, and seems super stressed. His body also looks a bit blotchy. Don’t mind his tail, he was a fish given to me and arrived with it damaged. Anyone have any ideas??

 

[rastareefs]

How big is your tank? Are there any other inhabitants picking on it?

 

[eric.tech]

75 gallon and not too sure. Everything was good until this weekend. There’s a sail fin tang, hawk fish, mandarin, Eibil angel, and a couple chromosome in there as well. The only thing that changed was I added a Valentini puffer over the weekend to try and take care of some vermentid snails. In the process of setting up a hospital tank to see if I can’t nurse him back.

do you think the puffer set off the sail fin?

 

[rastareefs]

My first assumption is the tank size may be a potential cause of the stress. You have two large tangs, the blue tang being the more sensitive of the two, in a 75 gallon tank. That could cause the animals to stress after a certain point.

 

[eric.tech]

Agreed with the tangs in the 75. The plan was to house them temporarily in the 75 until we got a 180 this summer, but due to some family health issues it has been put on the back burner. Any thoughts on reducing stress in the mean time? Maybe throw some fresh veggies in there? I feed seaweed daily to try and help.

 

[rastareefs]

Might not be what you want to hear bu if the tank size is the culprit then my recommendation is try to re-home the fish. Would your local LFS or someone in a local reef club be able to help you out until you get a bigger tank?

 

[eric.tech]

LFS might be an option as I’m pretty cool with the owner. The thought crossed my mind when you mentioned it. Wasn’t sure if there was a “bandaid“ that was possible.

 

[rastareefs]

LFS might be an option as I’m pretty cool with the owner. The thought crossed my mind when you mentioned it. Wasn’t sure if there was a “bandaid“ that was possible.

Would be clutch if the LFS comes through, hope it works out! Post some results, would like to hear what happens.

 

[eric.tech]

Will do! Thanks for the advice!

 

[Qasimja]

i know the first thing people will say is 'hes too small for the tank' which he probably is but if he was fine in the tank for a year now all of a sudden hes having issues maybe something else is at play just sayin

 

[eric.tech]

Valid point for sure. After adding the valentini puffer, the sail fin did start acting a bit erratic and did not seem happy at all. The gf kept saying the tank seemed angry.

 

[Gareth elliott]

While waiting if the fish can be returned can try some changes to diet. And not knowing exact symptoms.

Mix
1 part diced clams
1 part fish, want whole fish(descale though and minus head) as liver is a must for vitamin a content. Remove bone as from final product.
1 part rehydrated nori, Pill of fish oil on rubbed on sheet, 5minutes, then 5 minute soak on water.
Process or chop together, freeze in a zip lock bag.
Can swap out nori for fresh ulva.