Tiny Blue Hippo Tang Needs to eat

[emm0909]

I bought a tiny blue hippo tang off SWF.com and he is awesome. Problem is, he's so small it's hard for him to eat. I have an algae clip in there that he doesn't seem interested at all in. I fed mysis today on my lunch but he can't fit much in his mouth. I'm goin got try to feed tiny mysis today and see if he can fit that. What do you think I should try feeding him? I wonder what SWF.com was feeding him.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by emm0909
I bought a tiny blue hippo tang off SWF.com and he is awesome. Problem is, he's so small it's hard for him to eat. I have an algae clip in there that he doesn't seem interested at all in. I fed mysis today on my lunch but he can't fit much in his mouth. I'm goin got try to feed tiny mysis today and see if he can fit that. What do you think I should try feeding him? I wonder what SWF.com was feeding him.
I've got one too (not from swf.com, but same fish), it was less than an inch long when I got it. You might want to try cyclop-eeze in addition to the algae sheets. It will eventually tear up that algae, so keep offering it. Another good one is Emerald Entree, which is a frozen food. Cut off a piece of one of the cubes and drop it right in the water. It contains phytoplankton and mysis so that stuff feeds the tank too. Another one I've heard of but haven't yet tried is Marine Cuisine.
Hope that helps!

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by emm0909
I bought a tiny blue hippo tang off SWF.com and he is awesome. Problem is, he's so small it's hard for him to eat. I have an algae clip in there that he doesn't seem interested at all in. I fed mysis today on my lunch but he can't fit much in his mouth. I'm goin got try to feed tiny mysis today and see if he can fit that. What do you think I should try feeding him? I wonder what SWF.com was feeding him.
How about, just to start some brine shrimp soaked in vita-chem, galic and/or selcon.. LEAVE the algae clip in there as well.. HIPPO's are scardy cats.. especially the smaller they are,, BUT as they get larger and get to know you,, they will or should become very bold eaters..

 

[mcbdz]

The formula foods are also good. Mine would take flakes really easy and tears up algea. Also grazes rocks all day. Once they start eating they want stop.

 

[1journeyman]

Try soaking the algae sheets in a liquid garlic solution to entice it to eat.

 

[emm0909]

well the little guy found the algae sheet finally. Well, at least found it enticing. He's been poking at it and filling up. I also cut mysis up into tiny pieces and he can get some of those as they whip by. Looks like he'll do well.
I added five fish at the same time to my 75gal which now has six fish. The tank is so peaceful right now I love it. My big white stripe maroon has been practically alone for two years and he's scard of all the new fish almost. So funny.

 

[rudedog40]

You added 5 fish at once? You may want to actively monitor your ammonia and nitrate levels over the next couple of weeks. The tank may look peaceful now, but with that major bio load you added, and the expected increase in feeding, I imagine they will go up.

 

[m0nk]

That's quite a few fish to add at one time. Keep a good eye on your water parameters and feed lightly for the first couple weeks. Technically, I would have suggested adding one fish every two weeks, on average. Be prepared to do water changes if you see any spikes. Since it sounds like a fairly well established tank your biological buildup should be ok, but it's still a little worrisome.

 

[sepulatian]

I am glad that he is eating well now. Definately keep a close eye on your parameters and have mixed water ready for changes.