hippo tang thoughts?

Divemaster561 · May 30, 2022

Hello,
I introduced a baby hippo tang to my tank today which has lots of happy zoanthids, xenia, and plenty of live rock.
I use beach sand when cycling my tank. When I first acclimated the fish it was fine, swam and started eating off of a piece of rock that I have in the tank, even ate sea monkeys. She was shying away in a corner so I placed a small live rock near the baby tang and it is now on its side, trying to hide under the rock. ( its a small piece of live rock ).. but the tang hasn't moved for a little over an hour, is definitely still alive, is this normal behavior for a hippo tang when first being introduced to a new tank?

Miami Reef · May 30, 2022

Welcome!

Blue tangs are very weird. They lay down and tuck themselves in rocks. No other tang has this type of behavior IME.

As long as parameters are good and you don’t see diseases, I’d increase feedings to multiple times a day. Baby fish need food more frequently.

N1tew0lf1212 · May 31, 2022

Welcome to the r2r team....i hope you are able to figure this out.

Projects with Sam · May 31, 2022

Welcome!

blaxsun · May 31, 2022

AydenLincoln · May 31, 2022

How old is the tank?

SPR1968 · May 31, 2022

It’s probably just getting used to it’s new home, they can sometimes be very timid when placed in a new environment as can many fish

And welcome as well!

fishguy242 · May 31, 2022

hi,welcome to the reef ...

sounds like normal hippo behavior to me,
they will lay flat under rocks, or sideways in the weirdest spots,
to sleep / hide.

Divemaster561 · May 31, 2022

Miami Reef said:
Welcome!

Blue tangs are very weird. They lay down and tuck themselves in rocks. No other tang has this type of behavior IME.

As long as parameters are good and you don’t see diseases, I’d increase feedings to multiple times a day. Baby fish need food more frequently.

Thank you so much for this answer! This definitely explains the behavior. We thought about disturbing her and thought the behavior was fine.. but we weren't sure! I wish I had seen this before.. We got worried and moved the little piece of live rock she was tucked under for so long! ugh!!
She is doing fine though and is swimming in the same area as the rock near another larger live rock.. and she seems to like swimming near the powerhead..
I'm thinking its all just behavioral and she just needs time to adjust to her new reef.
I looked her over well and she is gorgeous and healthy and shows no visible signs of any parasites..
But I was reading that they do carry fluke and other parasitic.. I will watch her everyday and keep up progress!