what the heck is my blue tang doing?

Benhuan · Mar 20, 2020

Hi all,
Recently got a blue tang (2 days ago). Why is he hiding like this? He also hasn’t swam openly at all and has pretty much been like that the whole time.

fishguy242 · Mar 20, 2020

hi they are very skiddish at first ,give him some hiding places,sorry but try not look at too much few days ,look when feeding back away let get comfortable ,it is normal for them to lay down,happy reefing

Benhuan · Mar 20, 2020

fishguy242 said:
hi they are very skiddish at first ,give him some hiding places,sorry but try not look at too much few days ,look when feeding back away let get comfortable ,it is normal for them to lay down,happy reefing

Ok makes sense thanks. I have 2 pvc pipes in there but guess he prefers the heater haha

piranhaman00 · Mar 20, 2020

I cant get a blue tang through QT becasue of this. They hide sideways under something and then die shortler after. Hope yours makes it!

fishguy242 · Mar 20, 2020

little warmer there too lol

Squidward · Mar 20, 2020

Normal behavior. They are skittish like that.

Treasure Coast · Mar 20, 2020

Needs something in the corner towards the bottom like a rock or anything that will block being able to see him. I don’t think he will do well staying up top, they usually hang mid to lower tank.

Flame2hawk · Mar 20, 2020

Normal. Mine did it for 10 days while in QT. Started coming out to eat nori and food but still dashed back to hiding place when I approached the tank. When I put him in a nice big tank after Qt, he hid for a couple of days and now swims all over as happy as can be. In time, Hope yours does the same. Good luck.

Tony616 · Mar 20, 2020

Very shy fish. Usually take a week or two for it to come out.

esther · Mar 20, 2020

Following along. We got one yesterday and she's doing the same thing. Hiding lots. Good luck with your tang!

DeniseAndy · Mar 20, 2020

Definitely give it more things to hide under/behind. They are very shy in qt. Good luck!

Also, I would cover the heater with mesh to avoid burns.

Big G · Mar 20, 2020

Consider trying a few floating plastic plants in the tank. Sometimes that helps a lot with shy fish. Are you leaving the lights off for awhile and only using ambient room lighting?

Paul B · Mar 20, 2020

Hippo tangs always do that as they need to hide and they hate PVC pipes. If you can see them, they can see you.

Yours is extremely stressed and needs to get out of sight right away

Qasimja · Mar 20, 2020

my hippo hid behind the heater in my QT he made it through QT and is now in my DT doin well

Gareth elliott · Mar 20, 2020

Besides above i have also noticed hippo tangs come out more when there are other mid level fish. Do not have have to be the same species. Mine started coming out when i added a pair of clowns to the qt. If you were thinking of adding other fish after just something to keep in mind, that could add together. Just restart the qt clock.

They also rest at night in some very tight places.

davescj · Mar 20, 2020

I am grateful for this thread. I had the same question. I have 125g. 2 clown fish, lawnmower blenny, and 2 cleaner shrimp, plus hermit crabs and snails all happy. Yesterday, I brought him home and he would look at his reflection and go up and down the side at one end. Today he keeps his nose in the the angle of the overflow and tank, right near the surface. Y I'm hoping that he calms down and starts swimming over the next couple days.

jreefier · Mar 20, 2020

davescj said:
I am grateful for this thread. I had the same question. I have 125g. 2 clown fish, lawnmower blenny, and 2 cleaner shrimp, plus hermit crabs and snails all happy. Yesterday, I brought him home and he would look at his reflection and go up and down the side at one end. Today he keeps his nose in the the angle of the overflow and tank, right near the surface. Y I'm hoping that he calms down and starts swimming over the next couple days.

Him is referring to a new hippo tang and he went right into your display? I hope I've read this wrong. Setting up a QT literally costs a fraction of what you will spend if your tank is wiped out from disease.

Dave Cureton · Mar 20, 2020

Mine still darts under the rocks like this when the lights turn on/off or something spooks it (like my 50lb kids stomping around the house like elephants). Did you try putting Nori in for it? They typically can't resist the stuff.

jreefier · Mar 20, 2020

Benhuan said:
Hi all,
Recently got a blue tang (2 days ago). Why is he hiding like this? He also hasn’t swam openly at all and has pretty much been like that the whole time.

Is this fish in QT ?
Personally I keep some cured mature liverock in my QT for new fish to hide in and pick at, especially tangs.
Some people treat all their fish w/ copper and other chems regardless, but I feel like why add more stress if you don't have to. I watch mine for 75 days and only treat if I see symptoms, so could remove the live rock and let it dry and reuse if ich or something else develops and I need to treat. My yellow tang hid for the whole QT period and I never saw him eat once. Once in DT he was much more comfortable coming out and eating since other fish were also doing the same. That little bit of algae growing on the live rock though may have been what sustained him while in QT.

AquaholicAquariums · Mar 20, 2020

I have one finishing Qt always hides under the rocks. Imo totally normal they aren’t a fan of Qt tanks at all. I would let it be instead of making more moves as long as it’s eating