Looking for Mandarin Feeding advice

OcReeferr

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#1
Hey guys,

We just got a Mandarin for our 50g cube (4 years established). We already have a pair of OG maroon clowns so in hopes of a smooth transition we kept the Mandarin in a “peacekeeper” for about four days. We do not have enough room under our tank for a refugium. We read several success stories of reefers feeding these little guys mysis so that was our approach. We were feeding him mysis shrimp straight from a turkey baster. However, once we let him loose in the tank he started acting very strange. We turn the power heads off and squirt mysis right next to him the same as when he was in the peacekeeper. He is now completely disinterested in the mysis or in eating anything it seems. He keeps swimming side to side/up and down the tank as if he is having a stand off with his reflection. He will do this for hours. When he is not doing this, he will sit in the back corners of the tank and not move. Is it possible he is just stressed out and will calm down eventually to eat? Has anyone had similar experiences?

Any advice or insight on the matter would be greatly appreciated!
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#2
Sounds like the mandarin is stressed. By what?? Can be several things, from water chemistry, nipping from other tank mates, not taking in prepared food to well & have to also consider that in some parts of the world they are fished out of the water with the use of some type of nerve gas & that will eventually cause havoc in the fishes internal system. Best to always quarantine & medicate the fish to flush any internal & external disease in the fishes system. I would try hatching live baby brine shrimp & see if it will go after live food. Good luck.
 

OcReeferr

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#3
Sounds like the mandarin is stressed. By what?? Can be several things, from water chemistry, nipping from other tank mates, not taking in prepared food to well & have to also consider that in some parts of the world they are fished out of the water with the use of some type of nerve gas & that will eventually cause havoc in the fishes internal system. Best to always quarantine & medicate the fish to flush any internal & external disease in the fishes system. I would try hatching live baby brine shrimp & see if it will go after live food. Good luck.
Oh wow, I did not know about the nerve gas. That is sad! We will look into the baby brine shrimp. Thanks for your response!
 
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#4
Let him chill and see what happens. he might be stressed. If you have cheato shake it up so that way pods end up in your DT n he eats them


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OcReeferr

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#5
We don’t have cheato but could definitely purchase some. They sell live brine shrimp at one of our favorite LFS. We just aren’t sure how to go about that. Do we put them straight into the tank? How much and how often? Will they survive in the tank long?
 

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