Blue Hippo issue

[BuckeyeTodd]

I have a show size blue hippo. I've had the fish for over 5 years(the first four years in fowlr). When I set up the reef a year ago he went in. I had no issues, beside him being a bully to new fish. Well my duncan colony hasn't opened in two weeks, thought this was odd but hadn't figured anything out. Well two night ago I had a magician paly(one full with two babies) that was doing fine dissapear over night. The only other larger fish I have is a two and half inch female wantanabe angel. I'm assuming that its got to be the hippo to eat the whole thing in one night, as its three times the size of the angel.

I have no new fish in the tank, all have been in tank at least eight months. Is there another answer to how a paly doing fine(reproducing) could dissapear litterally between midnight and four the next afternoon? Is it common for a fish to get a taste for softies after being fine for a year(never touched whole colonies of zoas)?

 

[mfinn]

Yes it is common for a hippo tang to eat zoanthids/palys.
I've had several that developed a taste for them.

 

[ritter6788]

I just sold my blue hippo for chewing on my open brain corals so it's very possible. The angels can be problems too.

 

[julie180]

My hippo likes to move things around. I did not know they might eat coral. That sucks!

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

so is there a fish that can actually live in a reef without eating expensive stuff??? frustrating, never heard of a hippo tang not working in a reef.

 

[ritter6788]

so is there a fish that can actually live in a reef without eating expensive stuff??? frustrating, never heard of a hippo tang not working in a reef.

I don't think it's as common as angels nipping but I've heard quite a few stories about tangs eating or at least nipping at corals. I think it happens more often than people know about or care to believe. I've seen several threads on here about LPS that won't open or polyps dissapearing and they always have an angel or a tang but refuse to believe that the fish are the cause. I caught my blue hippo in the act a couple times only because I can see the tank from the other side of the room. It would never do it while I was standing near the tank.

 

[bryan007]

There is no such thing as a guarantee with these animals. Tangs are commonly stated as being strict vegetarians but as they mature become omnivoires. If their well feed just like the angels it is possible to keep with corals and not have problems but if their hungry they try just about anything. Believe me I know from personal experience.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

so with expensive zoas still in tank, can I correct the behavior? Or does he have a taste for it now, and he needs to go

 

[jc-reef]

wow...interesting! I have a hippo tang also that has an absolute tenatious appetite. It eats like a mad man when ever I feed....knocking the other fish out of the way. It even poops away while it eats and then turns around and eats its own poop again.....crazy. I'll be sure to keep an eye out on mine.

 

[tidepool2]

I'm wondering if issues like this can be corrected with a fortified diet. I cut up tiny pieces of Nori seaweed, soak them overnight in Kent Zoe (fish vitamins and supplements), and I feed the Nori and frozen mysis shrimp (also soaked in Zoe and liquid garlic drops). I also use Copper Free Marine Probiotics in my reef tank. I store the nori and mysis shrimp foods in the refrigerator. My Hippo Tang hasn't bothered my corals and I think it's because he's getting what he needs in his diet. Also, I was able to cure my Hippo Tang of ich by using this diet with vitamins and garlic. I also add probiotics to my tank. The other important thing to do is to heat your water change water to the tanks temperature before adding it to the tank. Hippo Tangs are delicate fish and are much healthier/happier without stress. Good luck!

 

[crodger]

I have had problmes with angels but not my hippo

 

[nixer]

my purple tang munches on zoas.

 

[mfinn]

so with expensive zoas still in tank, can I correct the behavior? Or does he have a taste for it now, and he needs to go

Once a fish finds something it considers a food source, then it will always go back to it.

 

[ritter6788]

I'm wondering if issues like this can be corrected with a fortified diet. I cut up tiny pieces of Nori seaweed, soak them overnight in Kent Zoe (fish vitamins and supplements), and I feed the Nori and frozen mysis shrimp (also soaked in Zoe and liquid garlic drops). I also use Copper Free Marine Probiotics in my reef tank. I store the nori and mysis shrimp foods in the refrigerator. My Hippo Tang hasn't bothered my corals and I think it's because he's getting what he needs in his diet. Also, I was able to cure my Hippo Tang of ich by using this diet with vitamins and garlic. I also add probiotics to my tank. The other important thing to do is to heat your water change water to the tanks temperature before adding it to the tank. Hippo Tangs are delicate fish and are much healthier/happier without stress. Good luck!

They are grazing fish and will taste almost anything. Once they figure out they like it they will keep going back to it no matter what other foods you are offering. Angels and tangs can be very well fed and still aquire a taste for corals.

Once a fish finds something it considers a food source, then it will always go back to it.

Agreed.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

Thanks everyone for the advice...I've had this fish for years, so I'll give him one more chance...Increase feeding and see what happens(hoping the paly just came unglued or something)

 

[mfinn]

Thanks everyone for the advice...I've had this fish for years, so I'll give him one more chance...Increase feeding and see what happens(hoping the paly just came unglued or something)

I'd keep any expensive corals ( zoanthids/palys) out, because the hippo will eventually go back to that food source.
I have tried just about everything to keep a pair of hippos I had to stop eating my zoanthids. Nothing worked. No amount of extra feedings helped.
Good luck with yours