preventing HLLE (blue hippo tang)

[RealReef7]

So my 2.5" blue hippo tang is just about done with QT (8 weeks). I know these guys are notorious for developing HLLE as they mature, whats the best way to prevent HLLE?

 

[cloak]

A varied diet IME.

 

[elegance coral]

What cloak said, and lots and lots of food. Keep nori in the tank pretty much at all times. The use of supplements like selcon is a good idea. If you run carbon, be sure to rinse it really really well. I run the discharge from my carbon reactor into a sock just as an added precaution to help keep carbon dust out of the display.

 

[downbeach]

You might add a stress free environment. So overcrowding, and tanks that are too small should be avoided.

 

[Moort82]

You might add a stress free environment. So overcrowding, and tanks that are too small should be avoided.

+1 they do need adequate space to thrive, that includes similar species who might be territorial competition.

 

[roenicknewf]

The best way to prevent HLLE is to leave the fish in the ocean...
Its been researched a ton and there is no simple answers ..I had a PT years ago start to develop it and started adding vita-chem to food and it reversed and never showed up again..Others may have removed carbon ,while others added a grounding probe ..Some even think its from lack of natural sunlight ..
There is no cut and dried answers to the mystery of HLLE..
Just follow the advice of all the above ..

 

[MrTuskfish]

The best way to prevent HLLE is to leave the fish in the ocean...
Its been researched a ton and there is no simple answers ..I had a PT years ago start to develop it and started adding vita-chem to food and it reversed and never showed up again..Others may have removed carbon ,while others added a grounding probe ..Some even think its from lack of natural sunlight ..
There is no cut and dried answers to the mystery of HLLE..
Just follow the advice of all the above ..

I agree, I guess I pretty much agree with everything on this thread. Nobody knows how HLLE and nobody know how to cure it. We could name at least a dozen suspected causes; the latest seems to be carbon dust on the cause side. (The fact that this may be the most abused fish in the hobby may help cause it too) Its pretty much common sense on the cure side; because that's all we have. Plenty of room, good foods, pristine water, vitamins, etc.

 

[jda]

Vitamin A on nori is what I used for a long time. Now, it is NLS pellets as about 50% of the diet - it is a great food. I raised one from about 1.5" to 6" (and fast) and it looked as good as one caught out of the ocean.