Hippo Tang

[hrheyne]

I just acquired an entire set up from a guy here locally and included was this Hippo Tang. I was told he spent some time in a tank with lava rock and that is the reason his face is all torn up. Is there anything I can do to help this fella? He swims around and acts perfect but he really looks bad.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[bigreefer]

I think it is Head Lateral Line Errosion. There is lots of info on it in the disease section. It looks really bad though.

 

[addicted2]

that poor hippo...they are beautiful fish..looks like lava rock is not his only problem..there is a disease forum here that is really informative..you should post his pic there....hopefully someone can help you.
hope your tank endeavor is a good one! This is a great hobby! welcome!

 

[ophiura]

That is a terrible case of HLLE - water quality, stress and diet. How big is the tank?

 

[hrheyne]

It's a 55 gallon tank and has the tang and 2 clowns in it. We brought it home - bought it from someone here in town and moved it on the 1st. The nitrates were very high 160- we got those down to 80 as of today by doing 2 25% water changes. The nitrites are at 0 and the ammonia has been between .25 -.50 - the ph has gone from 8.0 to 8.2 to 7.8
I don't know what he was feeding but there is some formula two in the supplies I was given - what should I be feeding?
Is there anything I can do to help him?
Thanks

 

[ophiura]

Frankly?
Short term improve diet (try nori, and lots of diversity in frozen foods...NOT flakes). Improve water quality - but not so crazy that it results in big changes in ammonia and pH.
Find a kind hearted person with a big established tank - 150+ who will take these tangs. That is a very small tank for a tang, and in fact I will use this sort of thread whenever people say "oh, I'll trade it in when it is too big." Because this is what can happen, and no LFS will take that fish.
Where do you live? Honestly, if in a town get on the local reef board with a heart to heart offer to make life better for this fish.
Definitely post this in the disease forum for more pointers.

 

[hrheyne]

Originally Posted by ophiura
Frankly?
Short term improve diet (try nori, and lots of diversity in frozen foods...NOT flakes). Improve water quality - but not so crazy that it results in big changes in ammonia and pH.
Find a kind hearted person with a big established tank - 150+ who will take these tangs. That is a very small tank for a tang, and in fact I will use this sort of thread whenever people say "oh, I'll trade it in when it is too big." Because this is what can happen, and no LFS will take that fish.
Where do you live? Honestly, if in a town get on the local reef board with a heart to heart offer to make life better for this fish.
Definitely post this in the disease forum for more pointers.
Thanks for the advice!
I was planning to find him a larger home once he looked better because I know he needs 150 gallon plus to be happy, - but who will take this fish? I live in a big city Columbus Ohio but I don't have any contacts here.

 

[ophiura]

OK, Google "columbus ohio aquarium club" and there are lists of local clubs. Most will have contacts, meetings and boards. Definitely good to make local contacts that way, and maybe find some kind hearted keeper who can see this guy deserves a good home in the future
Thanks for making a change for him now

 

[bonebrake]

That is the worst case of HLLE I have ever seen.
Kudos to you for trying to provide and find this guy a better home.

 

[zeroc]

I'm in columbus. the local reef club is corareef there are quite a few people around here. There may be a LFS around here that would take him in to take care of him since we have a few independently owned stores around here.