Anyone Have Experience With a Baby Hippo Tang?

[FiveGallonSea]

Hi everyone,

New to Tangs, but not the hobby. I bought a baby Hippo Tang (about 1.5") 6 days ago from my LFS. Thinking back, I wish I had gotten a bigger one, but I thought it would be nice to see it grow.

Anyway, he hides all day long and when he comes out he swims up and down the corner of the tank. Yesterday was probably the first day he didn't swim up and down, but he barely ever left his new little "home" in a crevice of rock work he seems to love. No one ever bothers with him or goes near him much to be "scared".

When will this little guy be the open space swimmer everyone loves to see in a nice large reef tank? How long does it normally take in your experiences?

Thanks everyone.

Background-
Red Sea Reefer 350
1 Yellow Tang (bought the same day as him)
2 Blue Mandarins
2 Baby Clowns
A bunch of inverts and coral
50 lbs of rock work
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt
Pristine parameters as I am very anal about keeping a clean tank
1.025 salinity
MP40 powerhead at less than 1/2 power
He eats PE Mysis, but won't touch the Ocean Nutrition Green Marine Algae on a clip

 

[USMC 4 LIFE]

I got one a while back when it was really small. Mine however was the second one in the tank. He was and still is, always out swimming. They do love to go in tight crevasses though when stressed or when it's time to go to bed.

How big is your tank?
The only fish I can see that might give him a hard time would be the yellow tang.

 

[FiveGallonSea]

73 gallon display and 18 gallon sump for the RSR 350.

I added them both at the same time and although the Yellow Tang is super active he never goes near him or bothers him.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

He's really small, I'd say that's kinda normal behavior for such a small fish. How big is the yellow tang?

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

Just give it time. They can be a bit skittish and like to wedge themselves in the rocks. Soon enough he'll be swimming around with the yellow tang.

 

[jsker]

You have some great experience answers above, and to add. I have had Ethel in my tank for over two years and she still head for the rocks when someone comes in the the room. When there is no one in the room or some distance away she will come out and swim with the rest.

When I first put her in the tank I would put nori with garlic on a veg clip and that would get her out.

 

[mfinn]

It may take a little time for it to feel comfortable out of it's hiding place.
Hunger will help get it to be braver.
My current hippo tangs ( 4-1/2"-5" ) were both about the size of quarters when I got them about 10 years ago.

 

[marvelousone]

Give him time.