P. Hepatus opinions

[garvin90]

I'd like some opinions on peoples experience with this fish. I saw a small one (about 2-3in) at the petstore with no visible signs of HLLE or fin erosion and am wondering if it would be a good buy. I did ask the guy to feed it and it seems alright, somewhat shy but i believe that is due to the threadfin anthias it is in with. Its feeding response wasnt imediate, however when the commotion died down it swam from its hiding spot to snag some brine shrimp.
They said they have had it since Friday and it was currently picking at all the rocks in the tank before food was offered.

 

[Teremei]

I have no experience with them but have seen many owned by local reefers in person who keep great water conditions. So long as he is in a big enough tank with good tankmates and good water conditions, you shouldn't see any major problems with disease.

Do you have any specific questions about them? We are talking about the blue "hippo" tang, right? I am setting up a 125 and I know I want one, because they are beautiful. There have been a few scattered stories of peoples Hippos eating zooanthids, even though tangs are supposed to be reef safe. But it's probably not a common problem with these fish. Anything specific to ask, just ask. .

 

[Dave Cox]

2-3" is a reasonable size for a new Hippo.

I introduced 3 at around an inch long into my tank about 8 months ago. They are now 3"+, and are growing at a frightening rate !

They had a bout of ich soon after I got them, but this cleared up quickly and has never returned (I run UV).

I think its quite common for the young to be skitish, and spend quite a lot of time hiding in rock crevices, but they also need a lot of open water and can be very fast swimmers around the tank.

 

[BTTRFLYGRL]

I have 2 in qt right now. Please make sure to quarentine these fish as they are ich magnets. Mine do hide a lot and I am finding that getting a pair was not a good idea, they don't seem to like each other. This fish will grow to need a 6' tank as it can get to 1' in length
both mine were a little under 2" when I got them

 

[garvin90]

Yes, im completely for the quarantine process. Speaking of which, even though they do tend to hide, which one of my quarantines should i put the fish in; 20L or 15gal. I have 2 sitting by the way side right now. Im in no rush to get this fish since i had the petstore put it on hold till Friday.

What is everyone feeding their tangs? I really would like to avoid any erosion possible since ive seen some BAD looking adult fishes.

 

[Amphiprion]

Quarantining is definitely an important process for any new fish. Remember that P. hepatus are primarily planktivores, not herbivores like other tangs, so it is necessary to provide them with lots of meaty plankton-like fare. If they are the tiny ones, be sure to feed them well and often, as their metabolism is quite fast. They will also still do well with occasional algae, but it is not nearly as important as with other tangs.

 

[Rondelet]

I picked up one that was 1.5" about six months ago. He's a little over three inches now. Feeds on all kinds of things, mostly ON Frozen Formula 1, 2, Angel Formula and Sea Weed Selects. He also likes live Caulerpa, fresh clams (which he eats off the half shell) and feed that I've made up with fresh squid, clams, mussels. He eats like a champ. I made the decision to not quarantine him and he did OK. It was a calculated risk as I was having some difficulties with my quarantine tank. Acclimation with him was the most difficult I've seen with any of my fish. First couple of days he appeared in dazed and hanging out in the upper corners near my stand-pipe out/in flows. He slowly started to venture down in to the water column and then found a hiding spot. Within a few days he seemed OK. Not sure what went on. Not long after a couple of ich spots appeared but never amounted to anything. He's in a 120 with a much larger Regal Angel, a couple other similar size angels a butterfly and some smaller fish. Never gets into it with anyone. The angels get it on from time to time though! He's a super fish. Just make sure he has lots of swimming room where your aquascaping is concerned.

 

[Dave Cox]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6847814#post6847814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by garvin90


What is everyone feeding their tangs? I really would like to avoid any erosion possible since ive seen some BAD looking adult fishes.

Mine have a peck at the nori clip, but are more interested in flake, pellet and frozen.

 

[garvin90]

Thanks for everyone's advice so far. Right now my new little fish is sitting in its acclimation cup waiting to be quarantined.

Should i add my coppersafe now or when i see ich on the fish(which as i understand is inevitable correct)?

Even though it is a more carnivorious fish, has anyone had it munch the Gracilaria parvispora and Ulva seaweeds? Just wondering since ill be adding these to my tank for my other fishes.

 

[Btboy2004]

Ordered mine online, she's bout 2" and very healthy. Eats everything I throw into the QT tank( flakes, pellets, Nori, mysis, zooplankton) . Very shy fish, she's inside the PVC pipe most of the time. Been in QT for a week now and so far no signs of sickness.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6866604#post6866604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by garvin90
Thanks for everyone's advice so far. Right now my new little fish is sitting in its acclimation cup waiting to be quarantined.

Should i add my coppersafe now or when i see ich on the fish(which as i understand is inevitable correct)?

Even though it is a more carnivorious fish, has anyone had it munch the Gracilaria parvispora and Ulva seaweeds? Just wondering since ill be adding these to my tank for my other fishes.

Yes. Even though this species is largely planktivorous, it doesn't seem to stop them from grazing as well. They technically do both, just skewed a bit more toward the carnivorous end.

 

[Teremei]

Hippos are awesome! I must get one!!

 

[garvin90]

Thanks again so far to everyones advice and help. I answered my own question this morning about the coppersafe... my fish has pimples! lol no just some mild ich.

I ws very surprised to see the size of food items it will eat. Its smaller than my melanopas clowns but will eat food they wont touch. Im assuming this is just since clowns swallow food and palettes actually chew it up... the clowns have to wait for my trigger to make it bite size for them and they pick up the leftovers.

I will have a picture or 2 on this thread later today or 2nite so stay tuned... ill try to get some of the main tank as well.

 

[garvin90]

Heres both of the tank pics, top is pretty much the full view and the other is obviously a close up for comparesion.

 

[Dawn II]

Rondelet mentioned he didn'r quarantine his. On 2/3 There is a thread (2/3/06- Blue Hippo Tang-Help?) On this thread are testimonials from people who DID quarantine , and ended up with ick months later, with no new tank additions- how do you figure this out? And- why then quarantine?

 

[garvin90]

Good question, ich if i remember correctly is always present in the water, atleast trace amounts and only reappears when fish become stressed and more susceptible to the pathogens. When we treat for it, all we can do is kill the free swimmers which leaves the rest. As long as we have good water quality then its not a issue.

The only big issue with trying to cure after fish have been introduced and contract ich is treatment. Products like Coppersafe for example are of course not to be acceptable in reef tanks and i know of only one (Kick Ich) that my local fish guy says is "reef safe" meaning it shouldnt have copper in it... but i still have my suspicions and that product is considerably more expensive.

How long do people QT btw? I know some only do it for 1 week however i believe the 4 week process is much safer. Atleast in that time you can wholey make sure your fish doesnt have a relapse or is eating well if a shy individual.

 

[Dawn II]

This person QT for 6 weeks- no sign of disease- struck several months later. I have read recently that it is not present in all tanks. Once again- why QT if this will happen??

 

[Teremei]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6878357#post6878357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dawn II
Rondelet mentioned he didn'r quarantine his. On 2/3 There is a thread (2/3/06- Blue Hippo Tang-Help?) On this thread are testimonials from people who DID quarantine , and ended up with ick months later, with no new tank additions- how do you figure this out? And- why then quarantine?

Maybe he didn't quarantine long enough. I don't know. Personally I don't quarantine and I beleive in keeping good clean roomy tanks and the "minimalist" approach. Meaning, don't stress your fish out even more chasing it with a net just because it's got 5-10 little ich spots on it.

Someone I met who's kept a DSB for 6 years said he beleives ich is always "inside" tangs, I don't know if I beleive that or not. But we do share the same "minimalist" approach. He for 6 years with no losses, me with 1 year with no losses.

 

[garvin90]

I dont know about the "ich inside" the fish however species like hepatus do have... less scaling and as such dont have a very good slime coat. The upside to this(if you can call this a upside) is they can portray the perverbial "canary in a mine shaft" approach, warning of impending water quality issues.

 

[Dawn II]

teremel- I see you have no tang in your list. The fish you have prob. don't often attract ich?