Hippo Tang food

Hey would like some advise.
Right now I feed hq flake and pellet, vitamin enriched brine and squid.

I finally added the last fish our hippo tang it is looking healthy and happy after 3 days. No signs of ick so far

But has eaten very little food only a small piece of brine shrimp. I was going to try soaking it in garlic tonight.

Any suggestions?

 

Lots and lots of seaweed. IME, the more greens, the better.

Any meat foods I used to feed my tang had selcon too. IT helps a lot with them.

But they are herbivores, upwards of 75% of their diet should be dried seaweeds on a clip. I like green ones because they stayed on the clip better.

 

But all the research I have read says Hippo tangs are zooplankton feeders. Not herbivores like other tangs

 

When I had mine, I followed the instructions on Liveaquaria, it says that blue tangs are herbivores there and that they "will eat meaty foods along with the other fish in the aquarium, it is important that they are offered plenty of marine based seaweed and algae. This will strengthen the Blue Tang's immune system, reduce aggression and improve their overall health. Offer dried seaweed tied to a rock or use a veggie clip, and feed at least three times per week". IME, the tangs I've had (including a hippo tang) have done well with this.

I fed mine algae on a clip 5 days out of a 7 day week , along with meats when I would feed my other fish. The more varied the diet, the better. But algae is hugely important.

Again, this is only my experience with tangs, take what you want from it.

Hope everything goes well with your tang.

 

as far as I know all tangs are herbivores.

 

thanks for the info - very interesting that such a popular fish has questions about what they eat.
I usally get my info here and here: Blue Tang, Regal Tang, Blue Surgeonfish, Indo-Pacific Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus

Other places say they are omnivores others say they are herbavors and the above says they eat zooplankon - now I am very confused.

 

what other stock tdo you have in the tank? a 75 is a little small for a hippo tang

 

That's very odd that your reference site would say Zooplankton. Maybe you will need to find a different reference

J

 

Thanks Luva I did my research on the hippo - and am in the process of a 120 build. But with my livestock hippo will do well in my light stocked tank.
He is only an inch and 1/2 right now.

 

Thanks Jason - well the reason I go there is b/c the site is info from marine biologists and not looking to sell you a fish.

I do think other sites are useful and give the right info. Like I said I do come here first - but it's always good to follow up research.

Have you seen a hippo tang eat nori?