Dead Blue Hippo Tang

[ismvel]

Turned on my lights about 11:50 a.m. and saw my blue hippo just being thrown about the current in the tank. It was all over the place, upside down, sideways...poor fellow

He is gone....don't know why, how, when (well overnight).......

I picked it up a little over a month ago, it was a small one (which I have read many times, have a lower survival rate than the larger ones). A couple of days later I saw it scratch itself against a rock...ICK ....But I rode it out. It stopped scratching itself after a week.....it was eating just fine, was getting a little fat, and swimming around. I have (despite owning a clown tang, who is great in my tank and doesn't mess with anyone) a relatively peaceful tank. The only bully I have in there is a larger chromis who only OCCASIONALLY chases the smaller chromis.

Coincidentally this morning I was testing my parameters for the first time in months....yes, I have become a non/occasional tester.....getting water ready for a 25 gallon water change...and BAM, (the fish ninja) showed up overnight and took the little bugger from me. All my parameters (outside of calcium and alkilinity which I was about to test) tested perfect....

Last time I saw the guy was last night before lights out, just swimming happy (or so it seemed) as can be. It was even getting sucked into the Seio, before I grabbed it, it slipped out of my hand and now under a stack of rocks....

It will be food for the crabs and snails I presume because I can't get to it (unless after the wavebox kicks back on it comes out from under the rocks).

Such is the hobby....

[ErikH]

aww man, I know you liked that little guy! It always sucks losing a fish...

[p00num3lli]

im sorry, i would absolulty hate loosing my lil hippo tang. i also got mine when he was a lil under an inch. and he was my first fish in my tank(didnt know they werent good beginner fish, this was like 8 months ago). ive heard how easy they are to loose and get dissease. idk whats up with my hippo but he is the toughest fish ive seen, he has taken ALL of my beginner mistakes, and let me tell you i did alot. i am luky to have him.

maby u could get another one and it be like mine

wouldnt that raise your levels if u cant get him out?

[ismvel]

im sorry, i would absolulty hate loosing my lil hippo tang. i also got mine when he was a lil under an inch. and he was my first fish in my tank(didnt know they werent good beginner fish, this was like 8 months ago). ive heard how easy they are to loose and get dissease. idk whats up with my hippo but he is the toughest fish ive seen, he has taken ALL of my beginner mistakes, and let me tell you i did alot. i am luky to have him.

maby u could get another one and it be like mine

wouldnt that raise your levels if u cant get him out?

Yes it can raise your levels.....but in a 220 with a 45 gallon sump, a pretty good sized clean up crew I have, and 4 -5 (can't remember) opportunistic peppermint shrimp trying to get things.....I am not overly concerned about that 1.5" blue hippo doing much damage....to the overall levels of the tank...and like I said if the current brings it back out I will snatch it out.

I may get one in the future not sure.....they are nice fish, but there are others ones I would rather have...

aww man, I know you liked that little guy! It always sucks losing a fish...

I did...It does....but that is reefkeeping business...it happens in shipment to LFS and it happens to the hobbyists....fish die

[ismvel]

U MY BOY BLUE!!!!

[papijames]

man I feel your pain. my hippo is the 1st fish I ever purchased, and I've made several rooky mistakes where all the other fish have died every other day except for Dory(my hippo). I've learned things like that will always happe in this hobby.But after caring for your pets(fish and corals for must of us) then you create a bond, and that's why it touches you every time you lose one.

[Mr Cob]

"......I seeeee bluuuueeee.......and......he loooooks gloooorious!"

Sorry about the tang Ismael. I was pretty sick recently when my poweder blue died....I don't normally spend $50 on a fish.....I'll be ready again soon.....they make such great STARS for the tank.

peace.

[alton]

As a general rule one month is the breaking point. If you can keep it alive past that your safe for a life time. Also it takes about a month for cynide to take it's course. Sorry about the loss.

[ismvel]

"......I seeeee bluuuueeee.......and......he loooooks gloooorious!"

Sorry about the tang Ismael. I was pretty sick recently when my poweder blue died....I don't normally spend $50 on a fish.....I'll be ready again soon.....they make such great STARS for the tank.

peace.

LOL....oh man...yeah i bet you were about the powder blue.....I want one of those along with a achilles....but we'll see.......they are great additions to the tank...I don't think I will purchase another one of those tangs in such a small size...i'll go for mediums or large fish...
thanks though....kids came home from school I told them, and they had me go to the tank to give a moment of silence and said a little fish in heaven prayer...
...it was kinda cute actually...LOL

[ismvel]

As a general rule one month is the breaking point. If you can keep it alive past that your safe for a life time. Also it takes about a month for cynide to take it's course. Sorry about the loss.

Was never aware of that......thanks for the info Alton....