MY blue hippo tang has been sick for nearly two years now, he has some sort of disease that makes the flesh around his face area and top of his body seem to be rotting away... sort of zombie-like even... is there anything I can do to help him? He seems happy and fine except in appearance..
Blue hippo tang sick.. anything I can do?
- Thread starter Jerm0007
- Start date
bboudreaux
New member
look up HILLE
Rea17
New member
Julian Sprung (green and purple) and Ocean Nutrition (red and green) and the favorites of my tangs. There are many potential causes to HLLE, most notable being poor diet, poor water quality, stress (small tank), carbon dust, etc. Blue tangs are very suceptible to this condition. Start by feeding him primarily veggies (sometimes it takes time for them to figure out the seaweed clip). If you can post tank size and water parameters for us that will help narrow down what's wrong, if there's anything other than diet.
Here's a pretty thorough article on HLLE: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/
This is my fav "feel good" HLLE thread (be sure to also read the original thread): http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1786961
This is my fav "feel good" HLLE thread (be sure to also read the original thread): http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1786961
Lsufiregal
New member
92 gallon corner I think.... if the fish is large that maybe the problem. I know low pH over time will cause HLLE. Also if you run cheap carbon or constantly run carbon it *can* cause HLLE.
A lot of very good info, thank you. I have since gotten the Phosphates down, but I do run carbon 24/7 so I will stop that for a while. I am running a phosban reactor to get the phosphates down. Does running that reactor have any affect on the illness? for now I will stop running the carbon and try to get it to eat some algae and see it that helps. Thank you all for the great info!
He is about 5-6 inches from nose to tail. I've had him over six years. He has had the disease for nearly two years, and hasn't really grown much in the past three. I will admit that until the past year I was keeping a softy tank and didnt really monitor phosphates so until the past 6 months or so they were pretty high. I have always done bi-weekly water changes though, and all of my other fish are happy and healthy. I also have two carpet anemones and RBTA that are happy and healthy. I did try to do an algae clip a little over a year ago and it sat untouched to for nearly three days before I simply removed it. If I try soaking the algae in garlic or something will that help convince him to eat it?
SPotter
Active member
Garlic is definitely worth a shot but however the bigger problem is he's too big for the tank. I dont think the number of fish you have in there is the issue as much as the hippo doesnt have a lot of real estate to swim around in. I would consider trying to give him to someone with a much larger tank...nothing less than 6ft long. I would bet that with improved water quality and the larger tank the hlle will improve in time.
SPotter
Active member
Definitely needs more room to swim. Many people have different opinions on what size tanks tangs should be in and most will always agree the bigger the better. If you were to get another one just make sure its the smallest you can find and be prepared that you will have to give that one away too at some point in the future.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
This thread is loaded with ideas on what causes HLLE. However; I don't think anything has ever been proven to do so. I think any statements that anything causes HLLE are either second hand or purely anecdotal. In the last 35+ years, I'll bet I've heard of at least 50 causes of HLLE, none with any scientific back-up. The case for powder residue from carbon seems to have some serious research behind it. But that's it.
On the other hand: good diet, time, vitamins & pristine water have always been a known cure.
On the other hand: good diet, time, vitamins & pristine water have always been a known cure.
Had a yellow Tang in QT for 12 weeks that completely ignored the seaweed clip to the point where I stopped offering. Took less than a day in the DT before it was ripping at the clip along with its piggish tank-mates. I guess fish do observe and learn.
hoaglanddiver
New member
I've heard soaking your algae in Zoecon can help. (first hand experience here and it seems to be working)
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I always feed meaty stuff to tangs when they are refusing food, like mysis. they may be considered herbivores, but meaty items are a big part of their diet. I have kept many tangs, over many years, and always fed them mysis or enriched brine as a 1st food in the QT. It isn't vital that you get tangs eating a lot of greens, especially when they have a good supply of mature for grazing. I have butterfly fish that eat more veggies than a few of my tangs.
Are we sure that the tang in question does have HLLE? It sounds like it, but could be something else. A pic would help. Regal tangs are incredibly hardy fish and can often survive when other fish would croak. If the tang has had HLLE off and on for two years what are your water parameters and tank size?
Are we sure that the tang in question does have HLLE? It sounds like it, but could be something else. A pic would help. Regal tangs are incredibly hardy fish and can often survive when other fish would croak. If the tang has had HLLE off and on for two years what are your water parameters and tank size?
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