Small Hippo Tang question

[EddieJ]

Here is a question for all the tang experts out there.

I have a Baby Blue Tang in QT. She has been there for around 30 days now. When we bought her at the LFS she was very tiny, around the size of a quarter. She has grown a bit in this time. She eats well, mix of flake,Formula 1, Mysis, Brine etc.. My concern is that she really beats herself up. I treated her with Instant Ocean Lifeguard 2 weeks back due to the wounds she inflicts on herself from flashing on the pvc, rock, silicone or whatever she can flash on. She looked better after the meds for a bit and now she is beating herself up again. This fish is so nervous/fraidy cat it's unreal. The QT is in a quiet/peaceful setting. Should I medicate her again so the wounds don't get infected? Any ideas? Will she eventually grow out of this behavior? I have recently started to add Kent Zoo vitiamins to her food.

 

[kilmca]

The Blue Tang I have was about the size of a quarter when I added it to my tank. It too was very shy and only came out to feed. In a couple of weeks it was fine and out swimming around all the time. My Blue Tang still gets scratches because of where it wedges itself at night. It does not always have scratches but on occasion I notice them. I think since Blue Tangs are notorius for wedging themselves in small spaces they are going to get scratches. What do you have for structure in the QT? Maybe it's too sharp and when the fish hides it hurts itself. Just a thought.

If the fish is eating well and you are adding vitamins that is great. Do you feed any algae? I feed algae almost everyday plus frozen and flake.

 

[EddieJ]

I have put some algae sheets in, but I think the little shaver is scared of the sheets!! LOL!! or maybe it is the clownfish on the clip... I am going to keep introducing the sheets and hopefully she will figure it out.

The injuries are from her flashing purposely on the rock, PVC or even the silicone. She just keeps doing it like a she is maybe stressed out. No sign of ICH or any type of infection...

 

[EddieJ]

b

 

[Tang Salad]

How long do you intend to QT it for?
It may do better in a more natural environment.

 

[Dewey58]

My small blue tang was extremely shy until I put her in the DT. Once she seen that the rest of the fish were ok and beind treated well, she came around and is now the queen of the tank. Probably took about 3 weeks to ascend to royalty.
HTH
Dewey

 

[vtminter]

It may be flashing to rid itself of something on it's skin?

 

[EddieJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11851396#post11851396 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tang Salad
How long do you intend to QT it for?
It may do better in a more natural environment.

Intended on the standard 4-6 weeks. I was hoping to get a little size on her before putting her in the DT. My concern now is that the scratching/flashing is from some sort of parasite/ich/etc. Upon close observation I don't see anything other then where she just flashes and wears a spot out on her skin.
Tough call, being so small and darting everywhere all the time it is very hard to get a real good look at her. I might have to collect her in a small clear container for a upclose evaluation. Both spots are towards her tail on both sides in the black area.

I guess what I am wondering is do they self mutilate themselves sometimes just from stress/whatever or is the flashing/scratching always a sign of something irratating their skin?

 

[kilmca]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11851818#post11851818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dewey58
My small blue tang was extremely shy until I put her in the DT. Once she seen that the rest of the fish were ok and beind treated well, she came around and is now the queen of the tank. Probably took about 3 weeks to ascend to royalty.
HTH
Dewey

I agree that a more natural environement may help. Since the fish is eating and has gained some size I would add it to the DT. JMO