Emergency help please.

[AtlReef]

I heard a noise like a fish jumped. So I turned the lights on the tank and noticed my hippo sleeping or stuck in between the suction cups and my powerhead. Never "noticed" this before so I un stuck the powerhead from the wall and she just kinda floated out. Now she is just sitting on a rock kinda transparent (im sure because of the light being off) But she is breathing heavly and not moving. Is this normal after them being "woke up" so abruptly??

pics coming

 

[AtlReef]

 

[AtlReef]

Okay, well I cut the lights back off and she is swimming really slow around the powerhead. This makes me nervous because there is nothing to keep the fish from being sucked up against the bottom. Anyone have any ideas on how to keep her away from sleeping there. Ive ALWAYS seen her in the LR sleeping this is a first seeing her in the powerhead area.

 

[uscharalph]

Mine hides behind a huge LR sheet I have along the back wall of my tank. Kind of like a backround. It's pretty tight back there. I think they really like sleeping in tight spaces.

 

[psimitry]

Adding the protector to prevent your fish from being sucked into the powerhead would not be a bad idea.

That said, there's not a whole lot that can be done. You might do a water test to see if there's anything wonky about your water conditions that might cause "drunkenness" in your fish (such as ammonia poisoning), but chances are you're just going to have to play the waiting game and hope it recovers.

 

[masonicman]

I had one for a month until it died from itch. It would hide in the craziest places. So I read up a little and I learn that they do this alot in the wild. They like to wedge them selves in between rocks or lay on their side almost like playing dead. After all my reading I came home from a weekend trip and my emerald crab was enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner. It look like it was recovering. So I'm not sure if it died or the crab grab it while it was resting. It was kind of small.

 

[hyperfocal]

IME, there's something wrong with a fish that can't resist the pull of a powerhead intake. The behavior of your tang doesn't seem right -- how long have you had it?

 

[TX26257]

I agree if a fish is that week to be sucked up by the intake there is something wrong. either sick or water condition

 

[melev]

That area that you photographed isn't a dangerous area to the fish, since the intake is at the base of the powerhead.

Mine liked to sleep in tight spots as well, and thus was named Tucker because he tucked himself into the branches of an Acropora every night.

Hopefully your fish will be fine. I'm sure your unexpected interaction spooked it a bit, but then again today is 10/31. I guess it was trick rather than treat this morning.

 

[RicGio]

I agree with Mark. they stress out really easily and love to hide in odd tight places. Turn the lights off for the rest of the day and let him chill.

 

[plyr58]

Yes, don't worry. He is just chilling in a location in which he feels safe. I bought mine at about 1.5 inches long and he is about 4" now. The hole he used to disappear into is now too tight of a fit, so you will see him with his head wedged in his hole and half his body hanging out.

 

[AtlReef]

Update:

The fish is doing fine today. He didnt get sucked in the powerhead I was just worried he would from sleeping back there

Thanks for the info eveyone! I was probably over-reacting... It just spooked me to see him chill after I moved the PH But he is cool now!