Odd behavior from Pacific Blue Tang

[Fin Mike]

I need to see if any of you Pacific Blue Tang owners are experiencing or have ever experienced behavior like I see from mine. I have had the old girl (I'm guessing) for at least six months and recently she has been hiding or retreating to her sleeping hole ever couple of minutes or so. After she has her stint in that spot, maybe a couple of minutes, she shoots out and gracefully swims around the tank with the greatest of ease. I can't figure why she is doing this. She is the king (or Queen) of the tank, so she is not under pressure from any other fish. She eats like a hog, and I suspect no pathogens are involved. So, is this normal behavior, or a sign of impending DOOM!....... Man does that sound dramatic!!!!!!:beer:

 

[TampaReefer79]

How big is the fish and what are the other tankmates? This is in a 55 correct?

 

[Fin Mike]

She's about 3.5 -4 in. Her tanks mates are a clownfish, starry blenny, and an Azure damsel. All get along just fine. It's not like she is being chased. She just ducks in for a quick rest and then back out again. Yes, this is in a 55 gal reef with lots of LR.

 

[Crabber]

Well even though the tang is IMO too large for the tank (because hippos are extremely active) but it sounds like he is hiding from you. Have you been messing with the tank recently or had your hands in there? He's hiding because he doesn't feel comfortable. I'd give him some time and space, hopefully he'll come around. If not, time for an upgrade, hippos need a lot of space.

 

[keto]

Mine will do that from time to time just give it some space and see what happens , a 55 is too small for that fish also ...

 

[Fin Mike]

Mine will do that from time to time just give it some space and see what happens , a 55 is too small for that fish also ...

Yeah I thought I would get dumped on for that, but the good news is that my 120 is in the bull pen, and will be making its debut in about a week.

The "afraid of me" theory is out the window. That fish is always at the front of the glass when I'm around. I feed them so often, that she must associate me with food. If fact, that is always when she bolts out of her spot.
Any other ideas? Is this just a quark in their behavior. I've never had one before, so I have no basis for comparison.

 

[pinnatus]

I've always thought that Hippos were on the insecure side. They like very much to have areas where they can wedge themselves for protection. My guess is it is just making sure it's safe place is still there and that it knows how to access it and get out of it easily. Conducting emergency drills if you will.:lmao:

 

[Crabber]

I'm not dumping on you, I think upgrading as necessary is fine. Just a head up though, I had a 120g 4x2x2 and was given a 4" hippo that was from a 72g and it was way to small for him. He was a terror, pacing back and forth, attacking other fish and even inverts. I gave him to someone with a 180g and he was much more docile. But back to the topic, have you been in the tank recently or rearranged anything? Any changes or moves so to say in the tank could have him spooked. As long as he is still eating and appears healthy, I wouldn't worry about it, fish are weird, my french angel acts very similar.

 

[Fin Mike]

"I'm not dumping on you, I think upgrading as necessary is fine." It's cool Crabber. I wasn't singling you out. There is great pressure on this website against putting any tang in a tank less than 100 gal. I knew before I posted that I would catch hell. So no hard feelings.

I regards to my tang, no I haven't moved anything around and I try to keep my hands out as much as possible. I hate getting saltwater on my skin. Funny that my two favorite hobbies involve getting wet in saltwater. :spin2: Anyway, sometimes she does square off with the starry blenny. Maybe she is just trying to claim that as her spot. Who knows! Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[pinnatus]

I think it is absolutely normal behavior for a hippo.