Hi guys how ya all doin. I got my first Tang 2 days ago a beautifull Blue hippo tang. Now I know these guys are easy infect with disease and stuff which worries me as I have no experience in identifying any signs of disease. Ever since I got him home he still looks as if he is stressed out. he constanly lays under a rock or hide behind something sometime he even lays on his side or swims on his side, Is this normal behaviour???. I cant see any sign on disease on him no white spots and he is not breathing heavily. however his color does seem to be faded and is more of a purplish color than blue around the middle and more whitish below by the belly is this something to be worried about or is this just due to stress? I have not seen him eat yet either but I am not always at home so I dont know whether he has a bite to eat when I am not looking. I have wrapped some dried seaweed around a rock for him to nip on if he does ge hungry. He is still very young he is about 1.5". My water parameters are fine. Anyone with experience with these beauties please share any info you can about them and this I should look out for.
Got my first tang need help
- Thread starter timmyus
- Start date
marine_freak
In Memoriam
He should be fine try keeping your light periods shorter... blue hippos have a tendancy to hide like that often...especially if he is new to the tank..... offer food daily and as he gets accustomed to your tank and the enviroment he should come around.... Hope it works out for you.
marine_freak
In Memoriam
No anytime they get a little stressed they will fade out some..... not to worry... if he starts respir heavy or gets little white or balck spots then you have a problem.... I am guessing stress..... new to tank, decreasing the photoperiod will help.
marine_freak
In Memoriam
No photoperiod is how long you have your lights burning...drop to 4 hrs a day for 7-10 days that should suffice to allow him to get acclimated. Oh by the way no question is an ignorant one...LOL
markandkristen
Active member
mine too weve had him over a year . actually one of my heartiest fish yet. but if anything is done to the aquarium or if im feeding in a different way. hes in the rocks. once everything is clear he/she is the fastest eater. prob our favorite fish of all. good choice
hairymushroom
New member
wow, nice to see another south african online! dont worry about the tang , they do take a while to settle , do you know about the SARK site?
rustybucket145
New member
Might want to pick up some mysis shrimp to try. Everything loves mysis. And yes you should be feeding him other foods besides the nori.
spoiledcats
New member
My hippo tang is about 6 years old, and is a fat pig. They love lots of rockwork to swim in and around. All of my fish disappear into the rocks at night, and even the fat hippo can get into places you would never imagine. They lie on their side often giving the impression they are dead. The color fades under stress, and I've noticed that even when the lights first come on in the morning sometimes his color will appear faded, but in about 30 min. he's right back to bright blue. I don't know if this is PH fluctuation, or just a night time thing, but it's not a big deal. He's LOVES mysis shrimp, and lots of nori, but will eat just about anything we put in the tank (I try to vary their diet quite a bit). Do NOT buy any ornamental macro algae for your display tank, as you will just be buying tang food. I learned the hard way after spending $30.00 on codium that the LFS promised was "too rubbery" for tangs only to have him feast on it for 2 days till it was completely gone. I am glad he enjoyed himself though, at my expense!
Anyway, he is my absolute favorite fish, bully of the tank, and great fun personality. He will eat out of my hand if I want to take a chance with his little teeth.
You will have many years of joy with your new friend!
Anyway, he is my absolute favorite fish, bully of the tank, and great fun personality. He will eat out of my hand if I want to take a chance with his little teeth. You will have many years of joy with your new friend!
bguile
Premium Member
Wow...how'd you get yours to eat out of your hand. All my fish high tail it whenever I come around. I have to drop the mysid and move. Maybe I have my hand in the tank too much and give them a complex or something. Also, my Blue hippo never eats Nori. It's either Formula1, 2, or Mysid.
spoiledcats
New member
All of my fish come running when I feed them. Sometimes I tease them, and move the cup (which I defrost the frozen stuff in) back and forth and watch them follow it. They are right at the top of the tank when I put the food in. I can't get my hand out before putting the nori clip on the glass before the hippo is tearing it apart. I don't know why my fish are like that, but they all are. The only one who doesn't come right out for food is the orchid dottyback. But as soon as it is in the tank, he's feasting.
spoiledcats
New member
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Not to hijack the thread but the stuff you buy, does it say "Nori" on it? My LFS always has Seaweed Selects or some seaweed in a package in Asian letters. I think with a green and orange stripe.
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You are correct, it says seaweed select. I've also gotten some other stuff, forget the name, but I've seen people do buy the stuff from the grocery store for making sushi. I am going to look for that, as I've heard it's much cheaper than buying it at the pet store.
Not to hijack the thread but the stuff you buy, does it say "Nori" on it? My LFS always has Seaweed Selects or some seaweed in a package in Asian letters. I think with a green and orange stripe.
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You are correct, it says seaweed select. I've also gotten some other stuff, forget the name, but I've seen people do buy the stuff from the grocery store for making sushi. I am going to look for that, as I've heard it's much cheaper than buying it at the pet store.
Wow thanks for all the imput guys I hope everything goes well for me with this one I always wanted a regal. I hope he adjust well to my tank as he still hides and never comes out from behind the rocks not even to feed. I do see him peek no and again so I know he is still alive but from what everyone say that it takes time for them to adjust I will be patient and see. thanks agains for all you help. RC MEMBERS ROCKS. oh yes and hairymushroom I am registered with SARK too
bguile
Premium Member
Also Timmy, you may try dropping a few brine shrimp in the tank to "entice" him to eat. I usually do it as a last resort if I have new fish that don't eat for a couple days. Basically, there's no nutritious value in them (unless gut loaded) but I have yet to see any fish turn down at least nibbling at brine squirming in front of them.
