Humma hiding.......is this normal?

Kaos

Kaos

"Lurker"
I just got a small (1.5-2") Humma yesterday from the LFS. He was sickly looking (around the mouth and stomach was caved in) and had some ick. He was being kept in a tank (at the LFS) w/ some Wrasse's and Angels that were way bigger then him, so I figure that is where the ick came from. The tank I bought him for is just for him so I wasn't worried about the ick. Later when I FW dipped him and put him in the tank I noticed he didn't have a trace of it (ick) left. Shortly after I put him in the tank he really became comfortable, swimming around and pecking at the rocks, and anything else he could find. Now, today, when my lights came on he was hiding (which I'm not worried about), but the lights have been on for over an hour and he's still wedged in a rock crevise. It seems like a completely different fish from yesterday and I don't want him to miss many feeding since he is malnurished. Is this behavior normal, or should I be concerned? Is there anything I can do help entice him out? I've already fed the tank this morning hoping he would come out but didn't. Sometime today I am going to stop by the fish market and get some shrimp, oysters, and whatever else they have and soak it in some Zoe and Zoecon (and maybe some garlic extract) and see if he'll eat that. Any experiences/opinions wanted! TIA.
 
Well, I got some fresh shrimp from the market and stuck a small piece next to his hiding spot. He come out quickly and ate some for a little bit then went back into hiding. He will come out every once in awhile if I stick the shrimp next to his hiding spot. But then he goes back in. Yesterday afternoon when he was wedged in a crevise one of my Sally lightfoot crabs started trying to get him. I had to scare the crab away to get him to stop. Today I come home from the fish market and find my coral banded shrimp was going at him while he's lodged in a crevise.

I'm starting to think this guy needs to be on his own or I got him too small (1.5"-2"). At this point I really don't know. I hope he'll get used to the tank and come out. I thought by the way he acted yesterday that he would hit the ground running and be like the Humma's I've heard so much about. I'm really wanting this guy to make because watching a Humma eat at the LFS 5 years ago is what got me into this hobby. I took a break most of last year and decided to give it a go again because I had gotten into the hobby because of this fish but never owned one (when I set my very first SW tank up my wife couldn't understand why I would go to all that trouble for one fish in such a large tank, so I comprimised and got several less aggressive fish and never got my Humma). Now I have one and really want him to thrive.
 
It's a good sign, of course, that it is eating.
My huma used to wedge itself for a few days when I first got it till it got adjusted to the tank.
Then it marched around the whole tank.
They seem like tough fish so I wouldn't be too worried yet.
 
alot of people have had issues like this, if his eating its a good sign give him time to settle. triggers in general are friendly fish so he should be out in no time, i give it a month max....
 
Thanks for the encouragement. I think in the back of my mind I know he will be fine. It's just that, so far, everything has gone pretty well w/ this tank and I am expecting the worst.
 
its fairly normal for fish to hide out when they are first introduced to a new tank . As long as he is eating I wouldn't worry about it .
 
Well, it's day 3 and my little Humma (little dude) is coming out more today. He only came out for a few minutes but he is getting a little more bold. I rearranged the rock in the area he likes so that it forms a cave w/ a bunch of hiding spaces inside to wedge in. Now he's not out but he is swimming around in his little cave. I wonder if I have too much flow for him. The tank has an AC 110, Aqua C Remora w/ MJ1200, and one MJ1200 on each end of the tank on a Chauvet light timer. I know the skimmer reduces the MJ down allot but I figure at any one time I have about 600gph going around a 55gal. Do you guys think this may be too much flow? I could switch the MJ 1200's (295 gph) on each end for a couple of 400's (100 gph each). I like the flow like it is because it's random and it keeps food and detritus stirred for my filters. Any advice/experience welcomed.
 
I think your current in the tank is fine. I swam with humu's in hawaii and the current was brutal so I don't think it's a problem. I think your fish is going to be fine. Sounds like your really giving it the right attention it needs. I find it ironic that the shrimp and crab are harrassing him because it won't be long until Mr Humu will be dining on them.
 
sean48183: Glad to hear he can handle the current, because I really like it the way it is. Humma's are what put me over the edge and caused me to buy the 55 gal. tank he's in over 4 years ago to start keeping SW fish and reefs. Now, I'm coming full circle. I quit the hobby last year because of hair algae outbreaks, and now I've decided to give it another try w/ the fish that got me started but I never got to keep. I'm being very peculiar (sp?) this time because I feel I'm better educated and can do it this time. He threw me for a loop when he was swimming all around the tank the first day and then the next 2 he spends hiding. But, now I think he's gonna be alright. Atleast he's eating well. Thanks for the response.
 
Well, he didn't make it. I came home from work today to find one of my Sally Lightfoots picking at him. I guess the stress of collection (no telling what method was used), malnurishment, and the fact the LFS had him in a tank w/ preditors much larger than him, was too much for him to overcome. I fed him almost everyday, and sometimes twice a day, w/ frozen brine shrimp and pieces of shrimp all soaked in Zoe and Zoecon along w/ Kent Garlic Extreme. He never would eat allot, but would eat.

I'm not giving up on finally keeping my Hummu. I think this time I will try and get a larger one. Other then the reasons mentioned above I think his tankmates may have made life harder on him. I've had to get the Sally Lightfoots and the CB shrimp off him on a few occasions.
 
I had a similar experience with my first humu. He was eating and acting fine for the few days, then he hid in one spot for the last day and died. Sorry for your loss.

Don't give up on the picasso.......such an intriguing and beautiful fish!
 
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