OK, at the risk of incurring the wrath of the Tang police .....
I bought a 48" 90 gal off Craigslist a couple of months ago. The tank contained, amongst its population of fish, two 4 inch Hippo Tangs. Frankly, in a prior run of almost 15 years with a reef tank I never kept these fish because they are just too susceptible to disease, and I thought about selling them when I got the tank ... but they really looked very healthy.
Initially both fish got quite pale and blotchy, and I thought, here we go .... but they recovered and looked terrific for weeks. Have added no new fish to the tank in 8 weeks, but suddenly, last week, both Hippos had a bunch of white spots on them (didn't really look like ich, spots were too big, but might be). Tried to catch them ... but impossible in a stocked reef tank. Went away for the weekend, and when I get back, both Hippos look fine again. What gives!
None of the other fish have yet shown any sign of disease. About the only thing weird is that one of the Hippos regularly goes to the surface of the tank to gulp air.
Water parameters are good and stable, and O2 levels are fine.
Having never kept Hippos before, is this just the way they are? Would appreciate any insights form experienced Hippo-ers!
I bought a 48" 90 gal off Craigslist a couple of months ago. The tank contained, amongst its population of fish, two 4 inch Hippo Tangs. Frankly, in a prior run of almost 15 years with a reef tank I never kept these fish because they are just too susceptible to disease, and I thought about selling them when I got the tank ... but they really looked very healthy.
Initially both fish got quite pale and blotchy, and I thought, here we go .... but they recovered and looked terrific for weeks. Have added no new fish to the tank in 8 weeks, but suddenly, last week, both Hippos had a bunch of white spots on them (didn't really look like ich, spots were too big, but might be). Tried to catch them ... but impossible in a stocked reef tank. Went away for the weekend, and when I get back, both Hippos look fine again. What gives!
None of the other fish have yet shown any sign of disease. About the only thing weird is that one of the Hippos regularly goes to the surface of the tank to gulp air.
Water parameters are good and stable, and O2 levels are fine.
Having never kept Hippos before, is this just the way they are? Would appreciate any insights form experienced Hippo-ers!
