new yellow belly hippo hiding or dead???

[Tylers Reef]

I just got a quarter size yellow belly hippo 2 days ago. since i got him he has been out and about, eating both pelleted and red seaweed foods, and has been interacting very well with my other fish. i do have plenty of rock work for it to hide in, but my lights have been on for 3 hrs and no sight of him. is this normal for them to hang out then hide like this? i just cant seem to find him anywhere..live stock includes 2 false percs, pacific sailfin, 2 firefish, starry blenny, green mandarin, royal gramma.

 

[Sk8r]

[welcome]
I truly hope he isn't sick: hippos, like all tangs, are extremely prone to carry ich, and should definitely be quarantined for 4 weeks before being admitted to the tank. The sailfin also, if significantly larger, may have taken exception to him.

 

[Tylers Reef]

well the sailfin is quite a bit larger, but they swim and graze together actually, so i dont believe he has anything to do with it. it had no signs of illness at all and was swimming and grazing until i turned my moonlights on, and now that my lights are on the hippo is no where to be found.

 

[BrianD]

Is this in your 56 gallon tank?

 

[Tylers Reef]

yup..hippo is lil bigger than a quarter, and sailfin is a lil bigger than a silver dollar

 

[BrianD]

Your tank isn't suitable for either of those tangs. I would recommend you remove the sailfin and hopefully the hepatus is still alive and can be removed.

 

[Tylers Reef]

there is plenty of flow, rockwork and open water for them to swim in now, for their size they will be fine. as the grow larger i already have a planned home for them in my friends 180...but as for now, at least my sailfin is fine, hoping my hippo shows up somewhere because i know they are known for hiding sometimes.

 

[snorvich]

Your tank isn't suitable for either of those tangs. I would recommend you remove the sailfin and hopefully the hepatus is still alive and can be removed.

What he said!

 

[Tylers Reef]

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[BrianD]

there is plenty of flow, rockwork and open water for them to swim in now, for their size they will be fine. as the grow larger i already have a planned home for them in my friends 180...but as for now, at least my sailfin is fine, hoping my hippo shows up somewhere because i know they are known for hiding sometimes.

No, they are not "fine", but no one is going to change your mind. Carry on.

 

[Tylers Reef]

Dont get me wrong, i respect your input, but once you spend so much money on them and have them part of your tank, not easy to let go. its like their part of the family. ive only had the hippo since tuesday so i dont have as much attachment, but for all hopes i hope i have it still. the sailfin tang ive had about 6 months now.

 

[BrianD]

You indicated you were going to get rid of them later anyway. Click my homepage for an idea of how big those fish will get (and no, it doesn't take long).

 

[Hormigaquatica]

In an effort to actually answer the OPs question and avoid loosely related tangents...
Hepatus can be shy at time- I've had them come out and cruise openly for days, only to spend a full day hiding in the rock work for no apparent reason. So, don't lose hope just yet. That said, as sk8r mentioned they are prone to ich and other infections, which can quickly kill a hep that looked perfectly normal just days (or hours) earlier. This is especially true with small juveniles like yours- it doesn't take much to do them in I'm afraid. Hopefully he is alright, but you're just going to have to wait and see really.

 

[BrianD]

In an effort to actually answer the OPs question and avoid loosely related tangents.

PM me the "tangents". I am interested.

 

[Tylers Reef]

True...today he still hasnt shown up so im beggining to lose hope. it seemed strong as it was grazing, eating pellets and hanging with everyone else in the tank, but no show isnt a good sign. someone also mentioned at night the sleep in crevices and it coulda gotten stuck, but i looked everywhere possible and cant find him unfortunately :/ crazy how it can happen in just 7 hrs after i turned my moonlights on

 

[dzfish17]

I'm not trying to be mean here but Brian was right in telling you to rehome these fish as a 56g tank is way to small for them. Why dont you think about the fish instead of your own selfish desires. Please read the sticky about tang size requirements.

I also noted that the hippo would be your 9th fish in this tank. A 56g tank would be fully stocked at 6-7 sm fish. I know its hard to stop adding fish because there are so many beautiful choices.

 

[snorvich]

I'm not trying to be mean here but Brian was right in telling you to rehome these fish as a 56g tank is way to small for them. Why dont you think about the fish instead of your own selfish desires. Please read the sticky about tang size requirements.

I also noted that the hippo would be your 9th fish in this tank. A 56g tank would be fully stocked at 6-7 sm fish. I know its hard to stop adding fish because there are so many beautiful choices.

Yes, Brian was right. And this poster makes some good points.