Hippo Tang not eating

[DmitryB]

I got an aquacultured Hippo Tang - small-ish size - from Dr. Reef last Friday. I haven't seen it eating pretty much since. Its belly is pinched. He's any too so largely hiding under one overhang. He was introduced same time as a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth. Hippo is a bit smaller than the others, but I've seen no aggression since some tail flapping ok day 1. The Yellow and Bristletooth go on swims together often, and I've seen Hippo follow them just.m a few times. Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

 

[exnisstech]

If it arrived with it's belly pinched that's not good and a sign it may not have been eating for a while. I would have a problem. The good DRs fish are supposed to be eating and healthy, or at least that's what's I've read
I had no trouble getting mine to eat. I grew my little hippo out for almost a year before I felt it was large enough to add to the DT. I've found them to behave a bit differently than my other tangs. They are a shy fish and find a place in the rock where they can disappear and spend a good amount of time going in and out. Mine also don't attack food at the feed tube with the other tangs but stays back with the smaller fish and gets food that blows their way. I feed in front of a power head so food blows across the tank. I feed a similar mix of food.

 

[Paul B]

Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

I can't see your hippo tang from here, but I have been keeping them since the 70s and I wouldn't feed any of those foods to a Hippo tang. I do feed some mysis only because I have some pipefish that eat nothing else.

Frozen foods, especially if they have some shellfish in them are best. Of course, if your Hippo doesn't eat any of those foods, especially the frozen brine and mysis, there is most likely something wrong with him.

 

[DmitryB]

Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

I try frozen brine and mysis every day. So far it just ignores them floating by. I dunno. I ordered some garlic stuff since that supposedly helps sometimes. It's quite concerning at this point. I have frozen shrimp in the freezer that I could chop up. Also have frozen scallops and oysters.

BTW, love the pipefish! What kind is it? How easy/hard to keep?

 

[Paul B]

That is a Janss Pipefish. Kind of rare and not very easy to keep.

 

[exnisstech]

That is a Janss Pipefish. Kind of rare and not very easy to keep.

I'm assuming a very mature system helps to be successful with what are normally considered difficult fish?
An afternoon sitting in front of your tank would probably be a good time. Mine are cool I think but aren't natural looking like yours and a few older tanks not being fussed over.

 

[Paul B]

I am sure a very mature tank is beneficial to all fish. Especially this one.



And all fish that for some reason many people have problems with. In a mature tank, they find much of their own food and are not stressed because they can get out of sight for days if they like.



















There is no reason to feed all those small fish like mandarins, ruby reds and scooter bleenies and they normally spawn with no help from us.

 

[mfinn]

I got an aquacultured Hippo Tang - small-ish size - from Dr. Reef last Friday. I haven't seen it eating pretty much since. Its belly is pinched. He's any too so largely hiding under one overhang. He was introduced same time as a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth. Hippo is a bit smaller than the others, but I've seen no aggression since some tail flapping ok day 1. The Yellow and Bristletooth go on swims together often, and I've seen Hippo follow them just.m a few times. Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

What I have done in the past to aid in getting fish to eat is to use first a tigger pod. But that not a normal food for a hippo tang.
All of my hippo tangs have and are eating frozen brine shrimp and mysis shrimp.
When I feed I defrost the frozen food. Then I pour in into the stream of a powerhead. Moves it across the tank like it's alive.
Try that, but make it is out swimming around so that it see's the food moving.

I don't personally believe it, but there is a big crowd who says garlic is food simulant.

 

[exnisstech]

@DmitryB can you get a photo of the fish showing it's condition? You said it looked pinched so I'm wondering if it has not been eating for a while which is not good.

 

[DmitryB]

@DmitryB can you get a photo of the fish showing it's condition? You said it looked pinched so I'm wondering if it has not been eating for a while which is not good.

Here's a video I just got. It's in 4K.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I got an aquacultured Hippo Tang - small-ish size - from Dr. Reef last Friday. I haven't seen it eating pretty much since. Its belly is pinched. He's any too so largely hiding under one overhang. He was introduced same time as a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth. Hippo is a bit smaller than the others, but I've seen no aggression since some tail flapping ok day 1. The Yellow and Bristletooth go on swims together often, and I've seen Hippo follow them just.m a few times. Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

Was the tang fully pre-quarantined, or one of their pre-conditioned ones? How large is it?

I doubt that it will go for larger food items, or the nori algae. Live baby brine shrimp might be something to try....

 

[DmitryB]

I got an aquacultured Hippo Tang - small-ish size - from Dr. Reef last Friday. I haven't seen it eating pretty much since. Its belly is pinched. He's any too so largely hiding under one overhang. He was introduced same time as a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth. Hippo is a bit smaller than the others, but I've seen no aggression since some tail flapping ok day 1. The Yellow and Bristletooth go on swims together often, and I've seen Hippo follow them just.m a few times. Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

Was the tang fully pre-quarantined, or one of their pre-conditioned ones? How large is it?

I doubt that it will go for larger food items, or the nori algae. Live baby brine shrimp might be something to try....

Was supposed to be quarantined.

For algae, I had Nori on one side and Dulse on the other. Wasn't interested in either. I will do a batch of live baby brine and fingers crossed.

 

[Reef Jedi]

If it’s not eating like a savage pig then there’s something going on with it.

 

[winxp_man]

Stress or internal issues.

If you’re not seeing anything externally that is. I the video I don’t see any issues externally.

Just got a wild HI yellow tang. Pinched belly, nothing wrong with it out side of that. I put it in a QT tank to make sure it eats. And sure enough next day it started eating.

QT’ed fish, should still not just be put into a tank with fish its size or larger right away if they look skinny. I still observe fish even if they have been QT’ed by someone else. I have lost two fish that I bought QT’ed some years ago. And realized they needed a blacked out tank with low light for some time.

I would pull that fish out asap, in a QT tank, and low light. Life brine or live black worms if you can get them.

 

[Akumazeto]

I got an aquacultured Hippo Tang - small-ish size - from Dr. Reef last Friday. I haven't seen it eating pretty much since. Its belly is pinched. He's any too so largely hiding under one overhang. He was introduced same time as a Yellow Tang and a Two Spot Bristletooth. Hippo is a bit smaller than the others, but I've seen no aggression since some tail flapping ok day 1. The Yellow and Bristletooth go on swims together often, and I've seen Hippo follow them just.m a few times. Then it goes back to its spot. I've tried multiple pellets, flakes, frozen brine, mysis. There are two algae clips on the tank. Not sure how to get him to eat!!

I’d give him a little more time. Hippos can be super shy when first introduced, and the lack of aggression is a good sign.

I’d keep nori available, maybe place a small piece near his hiding spot. Try offering food when the lights are lower too. Since his belly is pinched, though, keep a close eye on him and make sure he doesn’t continue losing weight. Hopefully once he settles in and sees the other tangs eating, he’ll start following them!

 

[DmitryB]

About an hour ago, as the lights were dimming, I released frozen brine and mysis. The flow takes it all over the tank. He did take a few, though not as many as I would have liked. They were the smaller pieces.

I just started a batch of live baby brine shrimp, so tomorrow evening that will be ready to release.

 

[winxp_man]

About an hour ago, as the lights were dimming, I released frozen brine and mysis. The flow takes it all over the tank. He did take a few, though not as many as I would have liked. They were the smaller pieces.

I just started a batch of live baby brine shrimp, so tomorrow evening that will be ready to release.

You have access to getting black worms?

 

[DmitryB]

You have access to getting black worms?

No unfortunately not. There's no LFS store near me; roughly about 80 miles.

 

[winxp_man]

No unfortunately not. There's no LFS store near me; roughly about 80 miles.

You can actually drive out get a batch, if you’re ever going in their direction, and breed them. Super easy to take care of. And the fish love them! They can get better color, and great for gut bacteria. Careful though, as po4 can rise if you feed these on a regular. Great treat every three days or so. And the benefits listed above.

I feed mine on a regular, and run GFO almost full time. Po4 is around .08.

 

[DmitryB]

You can actually drive out get a batch, if you’re ever going in their direction, and breed them. Super easy to take care of. And the fish love them! They can get better color, and great for gut bacteria. Careful though, as po4 can rise if you feed these on a regular. Great treat every three days or so. And the benefits listed above.

I feed mine on a regular, and run GFO almost full time. Po4 is around .08.

Hmmm..... I'm kind of skeeved out by worms, but... I may be willing to do anything for my fish! On a grossness scale of 1 to 10, what's the gross factor with breeding these? Are there other places to source them besides an LFS? (I assume PetSmart and Petco don't carry these? Or do they?) (I'm looking at pictures and eeeeck!)