In my main reef tank i have a blue hippo tang about 5" and he is a fat sucker, eats practically everything but is super shy and hides as soon as it sees anything at the glass or even if the tang senses a person....anyways my newest addition is a tiny little yellowbelly blue hippo and he is only an inch and really small, he is the same and is always hiding but peeks out so you know he's there, well the two are perfectly fine with each other but as soon as the big blue sees the little yellowbelly out it swims over superfast and usually the hole is too small and ends up trying to get in and swims hard for a second or two and quits and just swims away, he does this randomly when he spots the little fellow, is this some sort of maternal sense to protect the little guy or some kind of aggression? The yellow hasnt been hit or anything and it doesnt seem to "look" hurtful but i want to be sure....might be able to get video but doubt it
Blue hippo chasing baby
- Thread starter Soccerjay
- Start date
Well i was planning on taking the big one out but before that i just want to know why its doing this, so at least i can tell my friend (gave me the small one as a kind of trade since the big out grew my current tank)
He has other tangs in his tank and i should at least tell him if it may be a problem although he's got a few huge tanks and a collection of little QT ones
34 gallon
Thank you snorvich for answering me. To OP why do you think, becuase they are in way to small of a tank. What is your justification for this. Of course they will chase and hurt each other. Your giving a bad example to all responsible aquarists. Please take both of them out and get more size appropriate fish
A blue hippo tang needs a tank 6-8 feet long, minimum. 34 gallons is far, far, far too small.
Those two fish are not meant to live together. The big one will kill the little one if this continues, either by attacking it or by keeping it in the rockwork until it starves.
Remove both fish and re-home them.
Those two fish are not meant to live together. The big one will kill the little one if this continues, either by attacking it or by keeping it in the rockwork until it starves.
Remove both fish and re-home them.
