new hippo tang

I picked up a small hippo tang yesterday and put him in my quarantine tank after acclimating him for 30 minutes. Since then, he won't eat the purple nori I put out for him (normal, I know, at this stage). But he just goes to the corner of my tank and lies on his side under the bag of carbon in the corner. He just lies still on his side for hours. At one point I thought he was dead, so I move the bag of carbon and then his fins started moving and he swam a little.

Is this normal, or should I be worried? Should I keep the lights on or off (he is the only fish in the QT). Should I try different food, or is the purple nori best?

 

I know vegies are important for tangs, but he is knew to the tank, and is feeling a tad stressed and probably does not recognise the nori as food as yet

I would be tempted to feed some frozen mysis- something that moves/ drifts about as this may encourage a feed responce

its often a pain with the 1st fish in any tank (Minus Damsels) as sometimes a fish learns by seeing what the other guys do - hence if there was a fish in there eating nori, your hippo would probably investigate it ( but you cant do this in a QT I appreciate)_

dont worry at this stage as it can take a couple of days for them to settle in

Steve

 

Thanks Steve. My main concern is less about the food and more about how he just lies on his side at the bottom of the tank. Hopefully that will pass and he will start swimming around soon.

 

the lying on the side is typical IME mine always used to rest at night in a almost flat position against the back wall behind the rocks - do you have any PVC pipe work in there or other inert decorations? something to give him/her the feeling of security ?

the more hiding places they have, the less they are likely to hide

Steve

 

It's normal for tangs to lie on their side sometimes. like they're dead. Mine doesn't do it but have read it here enough and seen it in stores to know it's normal. He's probably just nervous about the new tank at this point.

 

Thanks guys - that makes me feel a little better. Will keep you posted on his progress.

 

Yeah, keep us posted. My LFS has hippos that they keep in a couple DTs they have, and the fish lay on their sides sometimes curled around rock or PVC in their little homes! Is your QT in a quiet place, maybe some dark paper around the sides with low light? This seems to help isolate and settle newcomers down a bit.

 

They'd get over it in a few days. When they get accustomed to their new environment. The only thing I'd watch out for is ich. Observe very closely for the fish making any rapid movements, scratching itself on rocks, sand or decor. Let us know how he's settling in. He should get settled after two days of being introduced.