Hi...

WE have just gotten a new Hippo Tang about 3 inches long.  We have a clarkie/anemonae, a yellow tang, three damsels, a coral banded shrimp, a 2 inch hermit, and several small hermits.  All fish get along well.

The problem is that our Hippo isn't eating yet, after about 5 days (that I can see... he's eating some algae, but not flake or brine when we feed the other fish) 

He is also hanging out on the bottom of the aquarium, allowing him to get caught by the hermit.  (I had to get the hermit from holding the hippo's tail yesterday... of course, this freaked out the poor thing, and it hid the rest of the night.)  He's come out some today, but is hanging out at the bottom still, and today I noticed that that same crab or shrimp got to his fin that runs along his back.  There is no fin left, and his rear tail has a small cut into it as well.  He also has a small spot near his eye from a claw.

I'm just not sure what to do... He's big, so I don't think he's bullied because of size, but I don't want him to get eaten alive!

HELP!!!

He will eventually find a new spot to hide if he gets irritated enough with the crab, nothing you can do about that.  If he is eating something that is good.  Try soaking some nori and any other food you are feeding with some garlic extract.  Kent garlic extreme is good stuff, or mash some fresh garlic up and use that.  The garlic will entice him to eat.  Also try feeding with the light off, he still may be alittle scared.  As long as he is eating something he should pull through.

i just had this problem last week when i bought one.this is what i did i soaked frozen baby brime shrimp in garlic guard and fed that to him. well after a just a few days mines is eating like a pig now.

kevin

Thanks for the help.. HOpefully He'll pull through

Welcome to TRAC dolphin330!

Hope you are trying the garlic, it works wonders for finicky eaters.  Keep us updated on his condition.