blue hippo ????

aquarium125g

aquarium125g

Member
i just got a blue hippo its about 1 inch and i have giving him brine shrimp and pellets but he dont seen to like them. the wierd thing is that is swimming around like nothing. is there any opinion on this?.
thanks
 
t316

t316

Active Member
He's new, so he's scared and stressed out. Try giving him some algea sheets on a clip. Cut it up into small strips and drop it down to the bottom to make it appear more natural.
 
bjlsnez

bjlsnez

New Member
he might just not be used to eating pellets or brine. If you keep feeding it that however it will eat it. If he is hungry he will eat.
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by BJLSNEZ
http:///forum/post/3031952
he might just not be used to eating pellets or brine. If you keep feeding it that however it will eat it. If he is hungry he will eat.
In most cases with wildlife this is true, but not fish. If he just came in, wild caught from the ocean, then he's stressed, doesn't see his normal diet (food source) and will sit right there and starve before he figures out the new food source.
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by AQUARIUM125G
http:///forum/post/3031966
am worry cuz this is the 3 day with no eating
If he's already skinny, he "might" last two more days not eating, but that's about it. Start trying all kinds of things, and try soaking the different foods in garlic to help entice him. Try turning down the lights to make him feel more at ease. Keep everyone away from the tank as to not distract him.
 
joslinhome

joslinhome

New Member
i just got my first hippo tuesday(2 days ago) and she is only 1 inch and very sickly looking...fins and tail are horrible and is swimming completely upside down. However the past few days when i throw my frozen krill in the tank she gets enough energy to come out from hiding(behind my filter) and eat as much as she can...this is only time i noticed my damsels dont bother her, i think cause they are eating too. So i have been praying and have fingers crossed she will make it thru, im hoping she live to get at least 3 inches or more...those fish are so pretty..."JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING...JUST KEEP SWIMMING, SWIMMING, SWIMMING....WHAT DO WE DO, WE SWIM, SWIM, SWIM!!!!"
 
nina&noah

nina&noah

Member
My blue hippo LOVES mysis shrimp soaked in garlic. Mine is very shy. Maybe yours is scared of you. Try feeding it and then hiding behind a corner or something to see if it comes out to eat.
Worked for me, now he is much more comfortable and will come out for me.
Hope he makes it!
 
t316

t316

Active Member
Originally Posted by joslinhome
http:///forum/post/3032006
i just got my first hippo tuesday(2 days ago) and she is only 1 inch and very sickly looking...fins and tail are horrible and is swimming completely upside down. However the past few days when i throw my frozen krill in the tank she gets enough energy to come out from hiding(behind my filter) and eat as much as she can...this is only time i noticed my damsels dont bother her, i think cause they are eating too. So i have been praying and have fingers crossed she will make it thru, im hoping she live to get at least 3 inches or more...those fish are so pretty..."JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING...JUST KEEP SWIMMING, SWIMMING, SWIMMING....WHAT DO WE DO, WE SWIM, SWIM, SWIM!!!!"

Sorry to say, this situation is not in your favor. All to often I see where folks buy these fish very tiny at the lfs, but they are in poor health, right out of the ocean. Best of luck to you, but it sounds like your tang has multiple problems.
 
videoguy

videoguy

Member
Before purchasing a fish from the lfs make sure it's eating. Take your own food into the store and feed the fish. lfs are in business to make money. Most don't care about the livestock once it leaves there store.
Also a side note always test your lfs water quality.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by AQUARIUM125G
http:///forum/post/3031960
but he looks so skiny
LOL they are flat as a pancake
skinny is normal. They play dead too.
They are algae eaters, they like shrimp and brine shrimp as treats.
He most likely is stressed out. Give him time to adjust
P.S. My hippo was the size of my pinky fingernail, very tiny. I got it as a freebee it is almost 4 inches now.
 
joslinhome

joslinhome

New Member
Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/3032222
Sorry to say, this situation is not in your favor. All to often I see where folks buy these fish very tiny at the lfs, but they are in poor health, right out of the ocean. Best of luck to you, but it sounds like your tang has multiple problems.
i actually bought him from this website, www.saltwaterfish.com. He died last night, we found him under a crab shell under a rock!!!
....hopefully ill get credit for him. but im not giving up hope for this type tang....but next time i will get a larger one!!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by joslinhome
http:///forum/post/3033773
i actually bought him from this website, www.saltwaterfish.com. He died last night, we found him under a crab shell under a rock!!!
....hopefully ill get credit for him. but im not giving up hope for this type tang....but next time i will get a larger one!!

So sorry to hear it didn't make it. My Hippo is my favorite fish. Sorry for your loss.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Originally Posted by joslinhome
http:///forum/post/3033773
i actually bought him from this website, www.saltwaterfish.com. He died last night, we found him under a crab shell under a rock!!!
....hopefully ill get credit for him. but im not giving up hope for this type tang....but next time i will get a larger one!!

If you order a small...you'll get a small....Next time order a large one
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3033793
If you order a small...you'll get a small....Next time order a large one
I very much agree. Very small ones have a poor survival rate. Order a medium at least. The very small ones just don't have the greatest chance at survival. They are babies, taken from their natural environment. They haven't had the chance to feed on natural foods which builds up their immune system.
 
coastie5685

coastie5685

Member
i just got my blue hippo today as well. bought her small as can be. she didnt eat at feeding time ( brine and mysis ) yet she is becoming more comfortable and swimming in front of the rock near the rest of my fish ( 3-4" clown , gramma, orange spot goby ) now she is sound asleep right under my clownfish. he doesnt bother her thank god.
i will be getting algae sheets tommorrow and sticking a little in the tank to see which she prefers.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I have a 4 1/2" yellow belly blue hippo... it has taken literally like 3 bites of frozen food in 2 weeks... but tears up algae sheets. It came in fat and healthy... and the belly stays plump with the algae sheets so I'm not going to complain. I just put it in about the same time and same location everyday.
I would like the tang to eat frozen foods but it naturally eats algae and its healthy so no real complaints.
 
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