New Baby, Blue Hippo Tang

[enjoiskater158]

Hey today i picked up a very small blue hippo tang at a LFS, he's about 1.5 in long, got him for only $15

Is there anything special i need to feed him since he is so small?
I put him in the tank about 4 hours ago and he is eating small peices of mysis shrimp, crushed macra algae, and angel formula which was recommended because it comtains marine sponge which the guy says tangs love.

 

[sianeds]

Mine loves brineshrimp and purple seaweed

 

[Mr.September15]

How big is your tank? The eyes are so big

 

[enjoiskater158]

ATM he is in a 30 gallon, 3 ft long. I am in the process of saving for a 180 gallon tank which i will have started around the middle of june. Am I correct that he is ok in this small of a tank for a couple of months since he is only 1.5 inchs?

 

[sianeds]

Yeah he'll be fine for now. I have mine in a 55gal until my bigger tank is up and running.

Just so you know....when I bought mine she was a tiny bit smaller than my blue gold damsel..about 3cm long. 4 months later she is as big as my maroon clown..about 10cm+. I can't believe how quickly she is growing. Just be aware and have a plan incase your bigger tank is late arriving. Also you will have to give it time to cycle and if he's in a 30gal he's going to outgrow it very soon!!

 

[Navarre]

Regals tangs are one of the fastest growing tangs i have ever witnessed. A year from now its going to be 3 or 4 times this size. It will be ok for now bt that new tank needs to be onthe drawing board lol

 

[enjoiskater158]

WOW i heard they grew fast but i didnt know they grew that fast. I'm 00% sure im getting the new tank, unless my house burns down or something else really bad happens. But in the case that something does happen and i dont have a big enough tank for him he will be found a new home.

Also is it normal for the blue tang to sleep laying down on the substrate? i woke up this morning a turned the room lights on and looked in the tank and he was sleeping on the ground but then got up and started swimming and now he's normal and eating. Also iv never heard of a blue tang eating corals but this one seems to like my pulsing xenia and kenya tree coral is this just a thing they do when juvinals? he doesnt do it often just every once and a while

 

[Navarre]

Yep completely normal. If they can find a good cave or crevace then they will hide inthis. They also play dead if they are starled etc.

 

[enjoiskater158]

he did find a nice cave structure in a rock which he can hide in and come out in all different directions. since he found it he hasnt been out as much except for food, will he come out after he feels at home in the tank?

 

[Mr.September15]

Yep completely normal. If they can find a good cave or crevace then they will hide inthis. They also play dead if they are starled etc.

LOL JUST LIKE FINDING NEMO

 

[rhysiboy]

i would imagine she would do. shes probably just taking note of everything thats happening and gaining confidence

 

[sianeds]

When I first got Dory she wedged herself into the rocks and got stuck I had a few sleepless nights with her in the first week, but she soon became really cheeky and was always swimmimg around at the front of the tank. She made her home at the base of my sarcophyton and would sit there resting on the rock watching the world go by

 

[enjoiskater158]

yeah she is starting to come out of her rock alot more and is eating very well, she loves the angel formula with sponge