hippo tang behavior

[spoiledcats]

I have a 3 year old hippo tang, and would like to see if anyone else has one who behaves this way and why. I have shells on the bottom of the tank for the hermit crabs to change into when ready. My hippo picks them up, swims around with them and then drops them somewhere else. He seems to like to put them into the live rock, but sometimes they just fall back on the sand. He is not trying to eat algae off of them. He is well fed (a fat pig), just likes to move them around all the time. He has even picked up a rock frag and moved that. Now, I'm wondering is there a purpose to this behavior? I can't find any info on this anywhere. It's entertaining, but sometimes they get wedged into holes in the live rock, and the hermit crabs can't get to them.

 

[Dawn II]

That is really cool- though I have no idea why, and mine never did that!

 

[keefsama2003]

I have seen a hippo about the same age rip sps frags off live rock and move them to the other side of the tank

 

[marrone]

This is pretty common, mine Hippo does this all the time. I think some are just try to clean up the area that they're in so they can get inbetween the rocks to hide in or just making more room in the tank. I see other fish do this from time to time like Damsels, Clown, Dottyback/Bassets where they pick up a piece of rock or shell and carry it a couple of feet away and just drop it.

 

[hanas]

When I had my hippo, he would do the same thing, not sure why though.

 

[MarksReef]

Mine doesn't but he sure is a nut case and one of my favorates. I've had him for 3 + years.
I've seen this happen in a friends tank and it was 10 -12 inches long.