I woke up just in time today. My first job was to check the 280g and make sure the fish were swimming right side up. Current pH is 7.8 (but that could be 7.89 because the pH Controller doesn't show the number in hundredths). Then as I was heading back toward my room, something blue caught my eye. My little Hippo Tang was lying on the carpet!

I picked up Tucker, and he was still soft but dry. I quickly immersed him in the 55g's sump and held him as he started breathing again. I didn't know if he'd pull through, especially since I didn't know how long he was out of the water.

I checked on him again 5 minutes later, and he was swimming too closely to the return pump, so I put him back up in the display. I tried to put him near his favorite coral, and he tucked into a spot, breathing. He's acted like he was blind, but that could just be a temporary side effect from oxygen depravation (hopefully) or maybe because his eyes were dried out.

Later in the day, he was swimming in the current, so I took a few pictures of him. If you look closely, you'll see a few spots where his coloring is missing or white. I'm guessing that happened from the landing and subsequent flopping around. Poor guy!

Taken with a flash

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

If he's swimming tomorrow, I'll feel more optimistic about his survival. Indications are good, but that was a major ordeal.

Oddly enough, last night I noticed a yellow blur in my 29g's refugium and found my yellow Clown Goby in there. So I netted him and put him back in the display. Soon all these fish will have a nice big home and hopefully will stay put. :)