Hippo Tang Extremely Sad...

[Newtybar]

My blue hippo tang has always kind of hung out or "shoaled" with the its two clown fish tankmates. They were always together....but I bought a carpet anemone a couple days ago and the clowns kind of love it in that thing and won't come out.

 

Ever since then, the blue hippo tang has seemed sad. Odd, I know, but on the first day it was just swimming slowly and aimlessly alone on one side of the tank (where all three usually hang out, opposite side of the carpet nem). Yesterday, it was just kind of doing the same...today it kind of just slept all day only to come out and eat. Sort of like me after a break up hahah.

 

Any ideas on what to do? I know it isn't likely, but the thing looks like it is going through depression.

 

Three musketeers prior to nem on their usual side of the tank....

 

 

Here are the fickle ones in their new nem (also a hitch hiker clown).

 

 

[FlowerMama]

I don't doubt it, his buddies have new interests and he's kinda lost right now. Is there another open space preferring fish you could get to be his friend?

[markalot]

Does he still have a cave for cover?

[Fluffeh]

i love the color of that carpet anemone

[Egginis]

Changes to the aqua scape and the addition of the carpet anemone certainly has affected the tang. It certainly is a beautiful carpet but I have had ones that caught gobies, butterfly fish, and a couple of tangs. I lost a blue hippo to the same species of carpet except it was purple.

[HarryPotter]

Have you made it an appointment with a psychiatrist?

 

Can one dose antidepressants in a reef tank?

 

(On a more serious note, hope it gets better. Changes in its environment must be tough)

[Tamberav]

I would guess the change to his environment and the clowns were perhaps acting as dither fish before, maybe he is more nervous?

[ajmckay]

Haha who knows... Fish don't think the same way people do but are you sure the tang is acting different than before?

 

Anyways, I doubt the cause of your fishes perceived change in behavior is due to "loneliness" but more a reaction to changes in the environment or another affliction altogether.

 

One thing to recognize is that you added a predator of fish to the tank. It's actually a good thing that it's on the other side of the tank because an encounter with the nem could kill it. Not even the clownfish are safe really... They have developed resistance to the stings of anemones, however, that doesn't protect them from simply being digested !

[Newtybar]

Thanks everyone.

 

The tang was definitely acting strange...hiding in the shade all day and barely ever coming out. It used to swim in the open water all day.

 

You have a point regarding the predator ajmckay...that could possibly be the thing that is putting the tang on alert...

 

My clownfish sleep RIGHT at the mouth...hopefully they wont get digested haha.

Changes to the aqua scape and the addition of the carpet anemone certainly has affected the tang. It certainly is a beautiful carpet but I have had ones that caught gobies, butterfly fish, and a couple of tangs. I lost a blue hippo to the same species of carpet except it was purple.

 

Egginis! The one who inspired me to start reefing with my original Nuvo 24! Good to see you commenting on this forum again.

[ninjamyst]

Same thing happened to Dory. That's why she set out to find her family in the next movie.

[Newtybar]

Same thing happened to Dory. That's why she set out to find her family in the next movie.

 

 

Hahaha epic.