Hippo Tang, Weird Behaviour?

[Hugh Mann]

Twice now I have come across threads about people asking about the behaviour of their new Hippos.

Upsidedown, jammed into a rock at night, unresponsive is apparently a normal thing.

Laying on the sand is also apparently a normal thing for Hippos.

Neither of these came up when I've been reading about caring for Hippos. So I am asking what other weird and strange behaviour might a Hippo Tang exhibit that is perfectly normal but looks worrisome, and how can I tell the difference between the two?
I thought I was prepared for one of these fish, but now I am not so sure...

 

[andrewey]

Yup, they will convince you they're "dead" the first few days between being jammed in the rocks or laying down during QT!

I'd say their most surprising "behavior" is just how quickly they go from good to bad when it comes to disease management. People like to use the term "ich magnet" to describe hippos, but what that really doesn't convey is when they get ich, they seem to go from 0 to 60 faster than most other tangs I've owned/seen (well, with the exception of the Acanthurus who really don't do well with ich, but that's a whole different story!). It's a pretty common story actually- it's usually some variant of a hippo that wasn't QTd, housed in a tank that's too small, and the hippo is happily eating nori in the morning. By the time they come home from work, it's covered in ich, heavy breathing, the whole nine yards- it's really quite amazing how quickly these emergencies present. Long story short, don't underestimate disease, proper nutrition, and good husbandry in this species!

 

[Zenchi]

They are drama queens. They regularly wedge themselves into seemingly too small of areas of rockwork and just lay there whenever spooked, tired or pretty much whenever they feel like it. Heck my hippo scared me half to death thinking it had ich because it got sand stuck to its side from jamming itself in the rocks. Be prepared that after lights out they will hide and may not come out for a bit after lights are back up. Mine takes about an hour each morning to leave her favorite cave after the lights come back up.

 

[Vette67]

Mine does this thing, almost every time it eats. For about half an hour after feeding, mine will quickly dart to the surface of my tank, and skim the top of the water surface. He’ll return to the lower level of the tank and expel air from his gills. He’s been doing this for a year or so now. Healthy otherwise, but just his thing. My Thompson’s tang thinks it’s a game and likes to chase down the bubbles as the hippo expels them. It’s amusing to watch.

So yes, they are quirky fish. But definitely one of my favorites.

 

[Qasimja]

when i had mine in the QT he would lay down on its side i didnt know they did this i figured he was going to die cause fish never lay on their sides but its perfectly normal and mine sleeps wedged in between 2 rocks on its side

 

[Hugh Mann]

Had I not known any of this priors, I would definitely be terrified my fish is dying, so thanks everyone.

I shouldn't have ich in my tank, everything has been fallow or filled with copper long enough everything should be gone, unless the tang it brings it in, which is also shouldn't, as the lfs is treating it for ich, so if they do it right should be clean.

Anyways, how then can I tell the difference between the odd behavior and signs of actual distress? Heavy breathing, prolonged periods of laying down?

 

[NashobaTek]

I have a weirdo, it stays hidden most of the time. No one chases or harrasses it. It sleeps wedged in the rocks, and hangs out with the Royal Gramma and clowns one end of the tank

 

[Boomerang]

I have a weirdo, it stays hidden most of the time. No one chases or harrasses it. It sleeps wedged in the rocks, and hangs out with the Royal Gramma and clowns one end of the tank

Mine too... it does go to the other tangs much