A tiny baby hippo tang Q's

[natan]

I just walked in to the LFS today, and found absolutely tiny (may be 4cm long) hippo tang peeking around one of the tanks. I was talled that this one was the only survivor out of 10, the rest were all dead in 2 days after arrival. It is in their for a week, in a so called reef system, meaning no drugs applied (no inverts at the moment). The fish looks good, feeding, but sort of hyperventilating (gill fluks?). No ich so far. I paid for it (15$), and promised to come back to pick it up in the end of the next week (till then no fish will be added to its tank). If it survives till then, how do u think I should teat this fish when I bring it home? FW dip it? If yes, 4 how long? It is naturally going in to the q tank. Do u think I should administer any drugs as long as it shows no symptoms.

And another q: how fast is it going to overgrow my current 65 g? I believe there should be no problem for the next 2-3 years, but what do u think? And, is it going to feed on and help control hair algae?

 

[paulamrein]

I always use hypo straight from the start for at least 6 weeks and it will cure ich if there's any on the fish. If you find anything else during that time it's usually not ich and should be addressed with another treatment. Dips really won't do much but it's a test for flukes. But in my experience and research it doesn't cure parasites. Also, you have to match ph and temperature exactly. With a fish that small I wouldn't risk it if it were me. Hyperventilation is not a sure sign he has flukes, it's a sign of many things including stress so I wouldn't jump the gun quite yet. As far as how quickly it will outgrow your tank, that is a VERY hot topic and you will catch a lot of flack for it. I for one have always believed that it is your tank, do what you want with it and you will know when it is too big for the tank. Depending on feedings and how many tank mates you have with the tang will tell how much it grows.
With the tang being the sole survivor of the group actually poses some question of his survivability, on one side, it shows there is something that killed his brothers and sisters that may get him. On the other, it proves he was the strongest of the bunch and perhaps strong enough to make the transition. As far as if he will solve your hair algae, it's hit or miss. Maybe he doesn't like it as much, like humans, fish have tastes and preferences. 15$ is a good price for a blue tang so hopefully it will work out for you if it doesn't die before you take it home. I guess it would be better for it to die at the lfs than in your tank huh? Keep us posted, let us know if he makes it into your system, that's most of the battle right there.

 

[natan]

>I guess it would be better for it to die at the lfs than in your tank huh?

Dont know about this being better 4 it, but, if it has to die, it definetly will be better 4 ME, as i'll get my money back than
That was the reason behind leaving it at the LFS for another 10 days. BTW it can stay longer, but than risk being infected from a new bunch of fish. My tank is nearly ampty of fish: 1 gramma, a pair of percs and a small juvenile mandarin. A pair of carpenters is the only planned addition 4 the forseeble future.

1 more thing: despite the hiperventilation problem, i dont think he is likely to die in the next 10 days. In fact, it was looking surprisingly healthy and viable, open fins, active in the tank. qurious about people arround (food anyone?)... quite an attitude Sufficient to say i was surprised enough to pay 4 it after skipping a couple of hundreds of its larger conspecifics for a year and a half without regret.

Thank U very much 4 the responce, it is very helpful.

 

[natan]

Went 2 visit the fish yesterday. I think i know why he is hiperventilating, have noticed him doing irt when any of the much larger tomatos came too close. once the tomato is gone, he breethes OK the next second. Interesting...