Blue (hippo) Tang not growing

[fishmonger]

I bought a Blue Tang 1 yr ago. It has barely grow. It is about 1.5 in. long. I have been feeding it mostly frozen brine shrimp because that is what the sales person told me to feed it. Today I saw some of the same fish about 3-4 in long. The sales person said they were about 6 months old. He said I should net be feeding brine shrimp because they are really only skeletons and are not a very good food for the fish. I know I should provide a varied diet, but what is going on?

[Reefland]

Hi fishmonger, Welcome to Reefland!

You should be feeding a varied diet and that, along with the size of aquarium the fish is in could be stunting it's growth. Feed the fish a mix of food including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, flake (Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef or other) and various alga's; soaked in Selcon or other vitamins if possible, would be a much better diet.

What size tank is this fish in?

Scott Z.

[fishmonger]

the fish is in a 75 gal tank. I just added 80 lbs live rock. I had no live rock before. I have a moroon clown and an angle fish I have never been able to identify

Hi fishmonger, Welcome to Reefland!

You should be feeding a varied diet and that, along with the size of aquarium the fish is in could be stunting it's growth. Feed the fish a mix of food including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, flake (Ocean Nutrition Prime Reef or other) and various alga's; soaked in Selcon or other vitamins if possible, would be a much better diet.

What size tank is this fish in?

Scott Z.

[Reefland]

If the fish does eat well and otherwise seems healthy, focus on a varied diet.

Scott Z.

[fishmonger]

If the fish does eat well and otherwise seems healthy, focus on a varied diet.

Scott Z.

Thanks for your Opinions. I have bought some frozen veggies and a complete meaty diet. Lets see my hippo grow.



David

[Anthony D]

I bought a Blue Tang 1 yr ago. It has barely grow. It is about 1.5 in. long. I have been feeding it mostly frozen brine shrimp because that is what the sales person told me to feed it. Today I saw some of the same fish about 3-4 in long. The sales person said they were about 6 months old. He said I should net be feeding brine shrimp because they are really only skeletons and are not a very good food for the fish. I know I should provide a varied diet, but what is going on?

You should feed this fish a vegetable based diet; you do not want to give this fish protein because they are prone to HLLV (Head & Lateral Line Virus). If you want this fish to live a long time, I would suggest a diet of mostly broccoli or a diet with beta-carotene such as Formula-2 by Ocean Nutrition and buy a grounding probe.

[Ninong]

The natural diet of Paracanthurus hepatus is primarily zooplankton as a juvenile. It combines that with benthic algae as an adult. Brine shrimp are not very nutritious. There are lots of other things you could be feeding in addition to, or instead of, brine shrimp -- mysid shrimp, Cyclop-Eeze, Golden Pearls, etc.

In addition, you should include a good quality flake food that includes spirulina whenever you have herbivorous fish in your aquarium. As it matures, it will require more and more algae based foods. If you are ambitious, you can even try nori and broccoli later on. Right now you should make an effort to provide a wide variety of foods so that all of the fish in your aquarium will find "the right stuff" for them.

[Ninong]

...you do not want to give this fish protein because they are prone to HLLV (Head & Lateral Line Virus).

I believe you mean HLLE (Head and Lateral Line Erosion). It's not a virus. It's a nutritional deficiency and it can be cured with proper nutrition and good water conditions.

I agree that Formula Two is an excellent food for surgeonfish but if you are convinced that protein is somehow the cause of HLLE, why would you recommend it? It's 50% protein by weight.

[Anthony D]

Yes I did mean HLLE but it is a disease but in regards to the amount of protein you are slightly off it’s actually 18.5%. I have been feeding my Surgeon Fish this formula for years and had much success with it.

I believe you mean HLLE (Head and Lateral Line Erosion). It's not a virus. It's a nutritional deficiency and it can be cured with proper nutrition and good water conditions.

I agree that Formula Two is an excellent food for surgeonfish but if you are convinced that protein is somehow the cause of HLLE, why would you recommend it? It's 50% protein by weight.

[Ninong]

Yes I did mean HLLE but it is a disease...

It is listed as a "Nutritional Disease" on Robert Fenner's website and that is the way it is classified by most other authorities. Claims that it is the result of so-called "stray voltage" have never been substantiated.

...but in regards to the amount of protein you are slightly off it’s actually 18.5%. I have been feeding my Surgeon Fish this formula for years and had much success with it.

For Formula Two flake food, the guaranteed analysis printed on the label reads: Crude Protein (min) 50.0%, Crude Fat (min) 11.5%, Crude Fiber (max) 1.0%, Ash (max) 6.0%, Moisture (max) 8.8%. It also lists minimum amounts for vitamins A, C, D & E.

The frozen Formula Two has a similar concentration of protein (more than 50%) when you take out the moisture content. Its guaranteed analysis is: Crude Protein (min) 11.8%, Crude Fat (min) 1.3%, Crude Fiber (max) 7.2%, Moisture (max) 76.7%. It contains only vitamin C. (Protein as a percentage of dry matter 51%).

...you do not want to give this fish protein because they are prone to HLLV (Head & Lateral Line Virus).

Both the flake and the frozen Formula Two contain more than 50% protein. I agree that it is excellent food but it is mostly protein, so if you are concerned that protein is somehow responsible for HLLE, you shouldn't be feeding it.

I feed both the flake and the frozen. Even my Orchid Dottyback eats the flake but not the frozen. My fairy wrasses and my foxface rabbitfish love both the flake and the frozen.

P.S. -- The above values were taken directly from my personal supply of Formula Two flake and frozen foods. I decided to check the manufacturer's website to see if they have changed their formulations and the guaranteed analysis on their website for the flake food is the same as what's on the label of my can (50% protein) but the guaranteed analysis on the frozen is different. According to their website, the frozen food is now 94.4% protein as a percentage of dry matter:

http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc...formula02.html

http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc.../formula2.html

My frozen Formula Two is about 6 months old, so maybe they have a newer formula now. My flake Formula Two is only about 2 months old and it has a sticker on the lid that reads: "New, 2% Garlic Added!"

[kenn157]

My hippo gets a variety of foods. Seaweed Selects (red marine algae), aqua yums (mysis) (silversides) and thats usually for the bubble tips but sometimes I through some in for the others in the tank. Formula one flakes is his favorite though. once in a while frozen brine.

[Anthony D]

Everything on there website says 17% http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc...formula02.html

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It is listed as a "Nutritional Disease" on Robert Fenner's website and that is the way it is classified by most other authorities. Claims that it is the result of so-called "stray voltage" have never been substantiated.

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]For Formula Two flake food, the guaranteed analysis printed on the label reads: Crude Protein (min) 50.0%, Crude Fat (min) 11.5%, Crude Fiber (max) 1.0%, Ash (max) 6.0%, Moisture (max) 8.8%. It also lists minimum amounts for vitamins A, C, D & E.

The frozen Formula Two has a similar concentration of protein (more than 50%) when you take out the moisture content. Its guaranteed analysis is: Crude Protein (min) 11.8%, Crude Fat (min) 1.3%, Crude Fiber (max) 7.2%, Moisture (max) 76.7%. It contains only vitamin C. (Protein as a percentage of dry matter 51%).

Both the flake and the frozen Formula Two contain more than 50% protein. I agree that it is excellent food but it is mostly protein, so if you are concerned that protein is somehow responsible for HLLE, you shouldn't be feeding it.

I feed both the flake and the frozen. Even my Orchid Dottyback eats the flake but not the frozen. My fairy wrasses and my foxface rabbitfish love both the flake and the frozen.

P.S. -- The above values were taken directly from my personal supply of Formula Two flake and frozen foods. I decided to check the manufacturer's website to see if they have changed their formulations and the guaranteed analysis on their website for the flake food is the same as what's on the label of my can (50% protein) but the guaranteed analysis on the frozen is different. According to their website, the frozen food is now 94.4% protein as a percentage of dry matter:

http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc...formula02.html

http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc.../formula2.html

My frozen Formula Two is about 6 months old, so maybe they have a newer formula now. My flake Formula Two is only about 2 months old and it has a sticker on the lid that reads: "New, 2% Garlic Added!"

[Ninong]

Everything on there website says 17% http://www.oceannutrition.com/produc...formula02.html

Everything? Sorry, but is says (Protein as percentage of dry matter - 94.4%). Surely you aren't counting the 82% that is WATER?