Wierd Behavior

[yukonblizzard]

I have a Blue Hippo Tang for about 6 months and he always swims to the surface of the aquarium taking a big gulp of air and then goes back down releasing the air then through his gills. None of the other fish do the same. I also have good circulation, but could there not be enough oxygen in the water. Is it just a Hippo thing? Or is it a problem?

Also he has had ich before, but when its gone he seems to have almost scar like marks on his black scales where the ich once was. Is this normal?

Any replies would be appreciated.

 

[euod]

I have seen this before w/ Hippo and will tag along.

 

[slojmn]

My foxface does the same thing in my tank and I know I have plenty of oxygen, although I am not really sure what my ORP reading is...but I have a lot of flow, surface agitation, etc. I just figured it was a behavirol kind of thing. I'll tag along as well .

 

[yukonblizzard]

Nobody Knows???

 

[jmaneyapanda]

What do you feed? Many herbivorous fish that dont get enough protein will "eat" bubbles, or gulp at the surface (where proteins collect) in a vain effort to get protein.

 

[yukonblizzard]

I feed Nori, Krill, Herbivore flakes, Squid, shrimp and i dont know if he eats it but there is a lot of coraline algea completly covering all the rock.

 

[Zaita]

I have a long time reefer friend whose Hippo (12") does this after every feeding for about 30 minutes. It's just a behavioral thing and nothing to be worried about. Another friend's hippo (5yr reefer, 7" Hippo) does exactly the same

I am actually waiting for mine to start doing it as it's very entertaining to watch.

 

[jimwat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12818393#post12818393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slojmn
My foxface does the same thing in my tank and I know I have plenty of oxygen, although I am not really sure what my ORP reading is...but I have a lot of flow, surface agitation, etc. I just figured it was a behavirol kind of thing. I'll tag along as well .

My foxface does the same thing. BTW, ORP is not a measure of the oxygen level in your tank.

 

[yukonblizzard]

Ohh, OK

Yeah I was a little worried about the Hippo. Thats a strange behavior isnt it?

 

[GoSUV]

My Hippo Tang does this too. After feeding, and this can continue for up to half an hour, he will dive up to the surface and ingest air bubbles, seemingly to grab food that is still floating on the surface. Of course all the food was gone. I think he is always hungry and makes sure that all the food is eaten. I can assure you this behaviour is not due to lack of proteins because he grows fast and is fat like a pig

 

[Zaita]

A fellow reefer believes they do this to clear their swimbladder.

 

[slojmn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12820268#post12820268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimwat
My foxface does the same thing. BTW, ORP is not a measure of the oxygen level in your tank.

I kind of know a little about the whole ORP-oxygen redox potential thing...but not clearly. I know it does have something to do with oxygen but not in the true sense of available oxygen in the tank.

Interesting on the herbivore protein thing. Lately I have not been leaving the sea veggies on a clip for my foxface. I am going to go back to it daily and see if he stops going for bubbles at the surface. It isn't Not scientific proof or anything but it would be interesting to see if the "behavior" decreased or stops all together.

 

[JeffGil]

mine does it all the time too (that and eat like a pig). at first i thought he was trying to jump out of the tank...weird, but fun to watch.

 

[Big E]

There was an article in Coral magazine back in '05 that mentioned this behavior. It's caused by boredom & the fish get a positive feeding response from gulping the air & the protein film creating a full feeling.

My purple tang has been doing it for years & he's sixteen so, imo it's not a nutritional deficiency response.

 

[jimwat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12843260#post12843260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Big E
...he's sixteen...

Wow! You've had a fish for 16 years?? He must be like family!!

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12842949#post12842949 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slojmn
I kind of know a little about the whole ORP-oxygen redox potential thing...but not clearly. I know it does have something to do with oxygen but not in the true sense of available oxygen in the tank.

ORP is the oxidation-reduction potential. It measures the ability to lsoe or accept an electron, and doesnt really have anything to do with oxygen at all.