Blue Hippo nesting in my Birds Nest??

Jerms01

Jerms01

New member
Hey All,
I am new to SPS and picked up some this weekend (Birds Nest, some Acro, and a Monti). I just ordered a 3rd Ecoxotic 48" Panorama strip which I am hoping should be sufficient.

Anyways sinc Sunday I have noticed my Blue Hippo Tang keeps nesting in the Birds Nest. See picks below. i tried searching the forums and internet but mine is not nipping. Seems quite happy just being nestled in the coral. It does not stay there all day but will enough to cause concern.

Is this an issue and should I be worried? What should I keep an eye out for to know if the tank is harming the coral?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Jerms
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0134.jpg
    IMG_0134.jpg
    64.1 KB · Views: 1
  • IMG_0178.jpg
    IMG_0178.jpg
    62.6 KB · Views: 1
maybe the poor thing doesnt have enough room in a 75 Gallon tank ?

but blue tangs do sleep at night .... they shove themselves in between rocks or corals to sleep lol they usually do the same during the day when something scares them.
 
Possibility but he is very small no more than 2.5 inches. May look a lot bigger in the pics. Appreciate the concern :)

Anything I should be keeping an eye one for the birds nest?
 
well just make sure it isnt nipping on the polyps ... I have seen quite a few blue tangs eat corals !
 
When mine was small, he always tucked himself in between branches of the birdsnest. Never harmed anything. I think just felt safe there. Sometimes he would get so far into the bnest, he had trouble backing out.
 
Finland said:
When mine was small, he always tucked himself in between branches of the birdsnest. Never harmed anything. I think just felt safe there. Sometimes he would get so far into the bnest, he had trouble backing out.
Click to expand...

Perfect that's what I was hoping for. If I heard nothing but horror stories then I was going to start on Plan B lol. I have never seen him nip and would agree he looks like he is just nice, cozy, and safe in there. Comes out to play with the others for a bit then nestles right back in.

Thanks for the feed back!
 
My baby hippo sleeps in a rock next to my birds nest, hope he doesn't get the same idea ;) Don't sweat the tang police as long as he is small and happy its all good.
 
Last edited:
Mine does the same thing I think it irritates the bn a little but havnt had any issues with the corals health or growth
 
Allmost said:
not a good phrase to use .....

and Id like to know where you learned to speak fish, to ask them if they are happy.
Click to expand...

Everything we keep in our tanks isn't meant to be. Keeping corals that you don't know what your doing and killing them isn't any different IMO :deadhorse:
 
It seems to be a sensitive subject when there really is no reality to the subject at hand. We are trying to duplicate a piece of nature in our homes. Whats scary is how much we have all killed in our homes ;) Sadly I will admit to a lot of killings, some by choice and others not.

Right now I have a happy baby hippo (2") in my 40g, though he is doing well (so it seems ;)) I do have planes to upgrade and or give him away to a large home when the time comes. You can see him in the photos attached, my Yellow Corri right now is bigger then him LOL.

Back to the subject of the BN, my hippos seems to favor the same type of BN as well. Parked his home right next to it, go figure. Jerms, how is the BN doing, is it effecting it in any way?
 

Attachments

  • photo 1.jpg
    photo 1.jpg
    36.9 KB · Views: 1
  • photo 2.jpg
    photo 2.jpg
    44.4 KB · Views: 1
  • photo 3.jpg
    photo 3.jpg
    47 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
Lol I hear ya both, I do. I personally don't have a problem jumping into the deep end with SPS. I have done my research to the point where I am comfortable I have a real chance at being successful with it. To say that you shouldn't try something just because you don't know how seems very limiting, to me anyways. How else are you supposed to know your ready unless you try at some point?

As far as the birds nest it seems to be doing fine. I just picked him up Saturday and will continue to monitor him very closely over the next couple of weeks. I can see the small polyps open I have seen no discoloration, debris, or algae on it. Flow seems to be enough to keep him clean.

Thank you all for your feed back it has been more than helpful! *IF I do notice anything over the next couple of days I will surely be updating this post :)
 
You will be fine. Hippos like to find a sheltered spot to rest at night for protection. They are not aggressive tangs so they naturally seek shelter. Seems like your birds nest is the right spot for it. I did have a hippo that picked at LPS corals. They are wonderful fish though. One of my favorites.
 
As far as the tank size discussion, very little that we do in our tanks is "ethical". Two extra feet (4 ft vs 6 ft) really doesn't make as much of a difference. Neither one of these systems are large enough for the tang to behave naturally. I hope this doesn't make this thread get off topic. :)
 
Normal behavior IME. My hippo sleeps in the layers of my purple rim cap at night and will retreat into corals and small spaces in the rock work when startled.
Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
120 Gallon Mixed Reef Tank for Sale
Replies
6
Views
895
vanbro1
vanbro1
A
New Naso Tang breathing heavy and not swimming much anymore
Replies
2
Views
379
griss
griss
L
Kole Blue Eye Tang Circular Gash
Replies
8
Views
499
leebca
L
newlifeolsen
Mix of fish for my 150 saltwater fish only tank
Replies
0
Views
147
newlifeolsen
newlifeolsen
A
Stocking Recommendations for established 92 gal
Replies
8
Views
418
Aquado
A
Back
Top