Blue hippo tang

[Murica]

My blue hippo was a pig, eating everything I put in the tank. I added a few more tangs over the months and now it seems like every time I go near the tank, she hides. My concern is she isn't eating as much. My fish never gave into seaweed clips so with that not an option I'm at a loss.. Hopefully she'll get over it but does anyone have any thoughts/ideas?

 

[shaggydoo]

Are the new tangs picking on your hippo at all? How does she look besides hiding?

 

[4FordFamily]

Rubber band nori to a rock to get them to start eating it. I’ve never had it take more than a week or two to have one of the tangs figure it out. That’s all it takes, the others will jump in once one figures it out.

In fact, my qt has 4 new tangs in it, it took them collectively 24-36 hours to discover the clip and ravage through a sheet per day. I never needed the ribbernand rock trick.

But the reason this works is because it most closely mimics the way they feed on algae in the wild.

 

[Murica]

Are the new tangs picking on your hippo at all? How does she look besides hiding?

Everyone leaves the hippo alone and it looks good but you can tell there's less in her belly

 

[Murica]

Rubber band nori to a rock to get them to start eating it. I’ve never had it take more than a week or two to have one of the tangs figure it out. That’s all it takes, the others will jump in once one figures it out.

In fact, my qt has 4 new tangs in it, it took them collectively 24-36 hours to discover the clip and ravage through a sheet per day. I never needed the ribbernand rock trick.

But the reason this works is because it most closely mimics the way they feed on algae in the wild.

I'm gonna try this. I'm using omega one brown seaweed.. Is that good? Also it gets torn apart by the current after a few hours, even if I fold it a few times. Suggestions??

 

[tdileo]

How big is your tank, how big are your tangs and what other tang species do you have? Tangs can be known to get pretty aggressive, especially when crowded, even if you don’t see it.
I second the nori on a rock idea. First I did that, the tang tried it and taught the blenny and the next day I put it on a clip and now the 2 tag team it and turn a 4-5” chunk of nori into nothing by the afternoon the next day.

 

[Murica]

How big is your tank, how big are your tangs and what other tang species do you have? Tangs can be known to get pretty aggressive, especially when crowded, even if you don’t see it.
I second the nori on a rock idea. First I did that, the tang tried it and taught the blenny and the next day I put it on a clip and now the 2 tag team it and turn a 4-5” chunk of nori into nothing by the afternoon the next day.

It's a 240 gallon. Blue hippo, blond naso, yellow, purple, and kole. All juvenile sizes.

Right now the kole solely feeds off the algae on my live rock, hopefully doing the rock idea will help him start to eat as well. I've heard a lot of stories where koles live fat healthy lives from just rock picking but.. Who knows.

 

[tdileo]

It's a 240 gallon. Blue hippo, blond naso, yellow, purple, and kole. All juvenile sizes.

Right now the kole solely feeds off the algae on my live rock, hopefully doing the rock idea will help him start to eat as well. I've heard a lot of stories where koles live fat healthy lives from just rock picking but.. Who knows.

Ah okay, if they are all under 4-5” it shouldn’t be a territory issue then. Not really related but I’d love to see a FTS with all the tangs present, must be a sight to behold!
Hope your hippo will get back on track. Mine seems to have a favorite food preference towards flakes and nori, but I haven’t found anything she won’t eat.

 

[Murica]

Ah okay, if they are all under 4-5” it shouldn’t be a territory issue then. Not really related but I’d love to see a FTS with all the tangs present, must be a sight to behold!
Hope your hippo will get back on track. Mine seems to have a favorite food preference towards flakes and nori, but I haven’t found anything she won’t eat.

I'll add one tomorrow!

But be warned... Just a Fowlr tank as of right now... Can not wait to get the reef going again!

What flakes do you use? I use omega one, is that a decent brand?

 

[Murica]

 

[DSC reef]

Have you tried LRS herbivore frenzy? Good quality food with a wide variety of seaweed for all your herbivores. Be warned, once your fish get spoiled be prepared to buy it monthly. Lol.

 

[Murica]

Have you tried LRS herbivore frenzy? Good quality food with a wide variety of seaweed for all your herbivores. Be warned, once your fish get spoiled be prepared to buy it monthly. Lol.

No but I've been thinking about frozen foods, the only issue is availability where I live. I have to drive an hour to get to my lfs, pellets and flakes get delivered to my door

 

[4FordFamily]

I'm gonna try this. I'm using omega one brown seaweed.. Is that good? Also it gets torn apart by the current after a few hours, even if I fold it a few times. Suggestions??

They seem to prefer red nori, IME

 

[DSC reef]

No but I've been thinking about frozen foods, the only issue is availability where I live. I have to drive an hour to get to my lfs, pellets and flakes get delivered to my door

Is that your closest LFS? Larry can do wonders with getting food to stores.

 

[Murica]

Is that your closest LFS? Larry can do wonders with getting food to stores.

Yeah unfortunately.. I think I may have figured it out though. Whenever I wear dark/black shirts she hides but has no problem with lighter shirts. Weird.