blue hippo question---- help-----

[payne66801]

Has anyone here ever had any kind of problems with there hippos not wanting to come out and eat??? I bought a hippo and a sailfin out of the same tank at the lfs and the sailfin came out from under the rocks where they both hide to eat the very next morning. I am feeding flakes and mysis frozen shrimp. Everyone in the tank eats like crazy and I bet in the last 8 days since I have had him he has only came out to eat 3 times and a very little bit. He has been nibbling on the romaine lettuce I put on a clip. How long can these fish hold out before they are starving and have to come out and eat??? He seems to be quarding his spot under the rock because he comes and then darts right back in...

 

[annanymous]

try to offer him nori on a clip, or if you have access to fresh kelp, he would love that IMO.
just because you dont see him eating, does not mean he is not picking up flakes in the back of rockwork and left overs after everyone is done eating.
give him some time. once he gets used to new environment and starts to come out in the open when there is no food around, he will definitely eat when food is offered.
try to give him spirulina enriched flakes and other food and maybe soak it in garlic to stimulate his apetite.
good luck