Hippo Tang Went Missing!

jbilliel · Apr 17, 2020

I got a new blue hippo tang from LA on Tuesday and it seemed to be doing well. It was playing with the other tangs and swimming all around the tank and then last night it went missing and still can't find the fang thing. I have a 90 gallon tank and can't for the life of me find any indication of it or that it's dead. I am afraid that if it did die that my CUC has already got ahold of it as I can't find anything. I did a water change thinking I might spook it out of hiding and nope... Nothing. All the other 20 or so fish are doing well and i just tested everything in the tank yesterday.

Where does it go? I am afraid that LA is thinking I am playing games with them and if I can't produce a body I guess I am out the $100?

Halal Hotdog · Apr 17, 2020

90 gallons with 20 fish and a hippo tang is definitely cramped. Hippos are notorious for hiding initially. You are correct, if you cannot produce a body then you have no way to show them the fish is dead.

jbilliel · Apr 17, 2020

Can a CUC "remove" a fish in 12 hours?

jbilliel · Apr 17, 2020

I have looked high and low all day and cannot find the missing fish anywhere...

MattR · Apr 17, 2020

I highly doubt a clean up crew could completely clean a hippo tang that quickly unless it was a baby baby tang. Even though tho I would think you would seem cloudiness/bones...

Uncle99 · Apr 17, 2020

If your tang is dead then check ammonia level if you have a test.
Should be up.

Murica · Apr 17, 2020

Hippos commonly wedge themselves in rock work when they’re stressed or sleeping, just food for thought

GeoSquid · Apr 17, 2020

do you have a tight lid on the tank?

jbilliel · Apr 17, 2020

The ammonia is not up and I do not have a cover on my tank. I mean he could have jumped, but I have searched the floor everywhere and can't find a dead fish. I guess I will need to give it more time to see if he comes out.

jbilliel · Apr 17, 2020

The rest of the fish are doing great in the tank

SDK · Apr 17, 2020

How large is it? Hippo Tangs can wedge themselves into almost impossibly small spaces. I’ve had small ones disappear for days in large tanks, only to pop out after settling in for a few days.