Baby blue hippo playing dead

kipper1012 · 09/18/2013, 01:11 PM

I wife just added a baby blue hippo 1/2" to her tank 4 weeks ago all it does is play dead all day long except for feeding time he will swim around the bottom and pick at the sand for a bit. I now this is "normal" when scared but non stop for 4weeks seems strange. Oh and non of the other fish are picking on him either

Water Parameters are fine
1.025 ph 8.2 amonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5 phosphate 5

hkgar · 09/18/2013, 02:35 PM

That is a very small fish and may have a problem eating. You might try feeding phytoplankton or hanging nori on a veggie clip.

lespaul339 · 09/18/2013, 03:05 PM

I would say for a hippo that small that even after 4 weeks it's still probably normal behavior. I'm sure in the wild they spend most of their time hiding when they are that small, and it's probably just following it's instincts. If it is eating fine, I wouldn't worry to much about it. 1/2" is very small so it will probably act shy until it gets a little bigger. I would try to rubberband some algae to a rock, or stick it to a feeding clip close to where he is hiding out to make sure he gets plenty of food. That will entice him to come out of hiding and maybe he will get over his shyness.

Maze503 · 09/18/2013, 03:11 PM

Very normal! I had mine for around a year & half and thats what he does all the time.He even likes to get into the crevasse' of the live rock and just lay there.

kipper1012 · 09/18/2013, 08:13 PM

Ok guys thanks for reassuring me. He is eating ok so I won't worry to much

Salinity01 · 09/18/2013, 08:42 PM

Mine still lays around inside the rock work too. Ive had him for about a year now. He comes out and swims around when he doesnt think your looking

Ckyuv · 09/18/2013, 08:51 PM

I would say your safe as well, I used to have one and it would swim under the lr and lay on the bottom when the was a lot of movement in my living room. When there wasn't much commotion or I was feeding it would be out and swimming no problem

Spyderturbo007 · 09/19/2013, 07:03 AM

My bristletooth is a big wus too. If you get to close to the tank to quickly, he hides under the live rock.

09/18/2013, 01:11 PM	#1
kipper1012 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 50	Baby blue hippo playing dead I wife just added a baby blue hippo 1/2" to her tank 4 weeks ago all it does is play dead all day long except for feeding time he will swim around the bottom and pick at the sand for a bit. I now this is "normal" when scared but non stop for 4weeks seems strange. Oh and non of the other fish are picking on him either Water Parameters are fine 1.025 ph 8.2 amonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 5 phosphate 5

09/18/2013, 02:35 PM	#2
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	That is a very small fish and may have a problem eating. You might try feeding phytoplankton or hanging nori on a veggie clip. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

09/18/2013, 03:05 PM	#3
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	I would say for a hippo that small that even after 4 weeks it's still probably normal behavior. I'm sure in the wild they spend most of their time hiding when they are that small, and it's probably just following it's instincts. If it is eating fine, I wouldn't worry to much about it. 1/2" is very small so it will probably act shy until it gets a little bigger. I would try to rubberband some algae to a rock, or stick it to a feeding clip close to where he is hiding out to make sure he gets plenty of food. That will entice him to come out of hiding and maybe he will get over his shyness.

09/18/2013, 03:11 PM	#4
Maze503 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Augusta,Ga Posts: 10	Very normal! I had mine for around a year & half and thats what he does all the time.He even likes to get into the crevasse' of the live rock and just lay there.

09/18/2013, 08:13 PM	#5
kipper1012 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 50	Ok guys thanks for reassuring me. He is eating ok so I won't worry to much

09/18/2013, 08:42 PM	#6
Salinity01 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 144	Mine still lays around inside the rock work too. Ive had him for about a year now. He comes out and swims around when he doesnt think your looking

09/18/2013, 08:51 PM	#7
Ckyuv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 88	I would say your safe as well, I used to have one and it would swim under the lr and lay on the bottom when the was a lot of movement in my living room. When there wasn't much commotion or I was feeding it would be out and swimming no problem

09/19/2013, 07:03 AM	#8
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	My bristletooth is a big wus too. If you get to close to the tank to quickly, he hides under the live rock.