Hippo Tang - What's wrong with me?!

[Kanutrustme]

So 12 years ago when I had a fish only tank I was able to keep these blue hippo tangs without any signs of ick (55 gallon). Now since I started a reef tank months ago, I've had two die on me with ick. I want to be able to get one of these to survive but I'm having no luck. (3 tanks by the way, got addicted bad ).

Tried first in my 50 gallon reef tank then another in my 40 gallon fish only tank. Am I just getting bad luck on these fish or has anyone else had problems?? I can't find a reason! Levels were testing good and no one picked on them. I want to try again but I hate flushing fish.

[Mr.Peanut]

Get rid of the Ich first. Then Q/T the Hippo in hyposalinity for 8 weeks.

I had one bring ich into my system. 5 weeks into my hyposalanity treatment.

[Mr.Peanut]

BTW, mine died too.

[Kanutrustme]

Originally Posted by Mr.Peanut

Get rid of the Ich first. Then Q/T the Hippo in hyposalinity for 8 weeks.

I had one bring ich into my system. 5 weeks into my hyposalanity treatment.

They didn't show signs of ich to begin with. Got the white spots a day after then it slowly got worse until it over took their body. Bought them from two different stores so I know it wasn't the store.

what's hyposalanity?

[Loverotties]

He got stress from your tank,by water quailty and/or tank mates.

[Mr.Peanut]

One had Ich and brought it to your tank. It just took the move to your tank to stress/weaken him enough to let the Ich get the upper hand. There are 4 stages in ich's life. The only one you can see is the pregnant one.

Those white dots you see are the pregnant ich. It takes About a week of being infected to see those. So, if you say the spots appeared a day later, it was already infected.

Hyposalinity is when the salinity/specific gravity of the water is lowered to 1.009 over a period of a few days. Then kept there for 6-8 weeks. It will kill the ich. I can explain how if you want to know.

There are other methods also, copper treatments work faster, but are real hard on the fish.

BTW, neither hypo or copper can be done if you have Live Rock or Inverts. You must separate the fish in a Q/T.

I have a thread chronicling my hyposalinty treatment.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=124438

I am at the 5 week mark on 1/31.

[Kanutrustme]

Originally Posted by Mr.Peanut

One had Ich and brought it to your tank. It just took the move to your tank to stress/weaken him enough to let the Ich get the upper hand. There are 4 stages in ich's life. The only one you can see is the pregnant one.

Those white dots you see are the pregnant ich. It takes About a week of being infected to see those. So, if you say the spots appeared a day later, it was already infected.

Hyposalinity is when the salinity/specific gravity of the water is lowered to 1.009 over a period of a few days. Then kept there for 6-8 weeks. It will kill the ich. I can explain how if you want to know.

There are other methods also, copper treatments work faster, but are real hard on the fish.

BTW, neither hypo or copper can be done if you have Live Rock or Inverts. You must separate the fish in a Q/T.

I have a thread chronicling my hyposalinty treatment.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=124438

I am at the 5 week mark on 1/31.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll try that next time I attempt to buy one. I do have a Q/T now because of what happened to them.

[Mr.Peanut]

Best of luck.

[dodge250]

Regal tangs should really be kept in lower salt levels in a fish only aquarium but if you want there are a couple of ideas you can try 1.soak food in garlic product name garlic guard feed them at feeding time in your aquarium sugestion 2.cleaner wrasse if you don't want to effect the oceans from taking them from the wild even though I have one in my reef tank and he works hard 3. Research every animal before buying 4.neon gobies just like cleaner wrasse but does better in captivity than the cleaner wrasse but sadly a short lived fish very hardy a breeds well I captivity and my last suggestion number 5. Skunk cleaner shrimp a invertabrate that is for beginners and eat anything offered there is also a blood cleaner shrimp which is blood red and hides alot but many people have found they have been reported to eat polyps but it may depend on the individual concerned. Good luck

[kyrie_eleison]

interesting.