Advise for Hippo Tang

[frofan]

I have a juvenile hippo tang that has been in my tank a week. After doing a 20% water change this weekend, I noticed ick on the tang the following day. I don't know if the large water change and cleaning all of the pumps caused it, or if it had it from the LFS. It is very small, probably around an inch to inch and a half in length. It is currently in my display tank with all of my other fish. None of them show any signs of having it as of yet.

I have a 10 gallon hospital tank that I just started, but I'm not sure if I should pull the tang out or leave it. I have heard that some times it is best to just feed them good and leave them in the main tank, as it can be more stressful to put them in a small tank. It currently only has 3 or 4 small dots on it, and is swimming and eating very good. I have noticed that it scratches against the live rock every once in a while. I have premixed water ready for the 10 gallon tank, and copper. I'm going to have a very hard time catching it, as it likes to hide and swim in between my 110 lbs of live rock. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SumBub]

Catching it would be best if it doesn't stress it. But if you can't just feed very well. Try soaking some garlic in the food.

 

[alleykat81]

Garlic isn't a cure for ich. It just helps boost the immune system. Hippos are extremely susceptible to ich. I would do my best to catch it and put it in a hospital tank. Did you QT the hippo before you put it in your DT?

 

[ginger7286]

All fish have ich (my understanding). It is probably the equivalent of our "cold". It is always there, they just need a lowered immune system to have an outbreak. You can use the Kick-Ich from Ruby Reef. It is reef safe (I used it once over a year ago and have not had any problems since) so you don't need to stress her out in an effort to catch her. However ,if you feel better placing her in the QT go for it. Keep in mind if you see the outbreak it is probably in the main tank. So QTing the tang will only help until she is placed back in the main tank. Keep your extra water as close to the parameters of the main tank this is will help in the future.