Saving a Mandarin

[thresher]

So I picked up a half dead mandarin dragonette. This large male mandarin is completely emaciated, and was barely moving when the clerk netted it and put it in a specimen container. So I forked over the $20 hoping to save the fish or at least give it somewhat of a chance. My tank is small but loaded with pods at the moment. The fish is moving and looks to be hunting around the tank. I've witnessed it picking at various area of the live rock. I'm hoping he will make it but the chances are slim. At least it has become somewhat active and looks to be feeding. Anyone have some pointers?? If the fish somewhat recovers and I notice him gain some weight, I'll be giving it away to someone who has a tank that may support it. Keeping my fingers crossed

 

[reefes pieces]

Add more live pods. Best of luck with the mandarin!

 

[gr1mm]

Mandarins are very delicate but is a good sign if is feeding, good luck and hope the fish recovers.

 

[Digitalfreq]

You'll definitely need more pods to feed him. He'll eat all your pods in a week or less

 

[thresher]

Who here has purchased pods from reefs2go?? They are a sponsor on this site. I'm thinking of getting some and dumping it in my tank to fatten the goby up.

 

[thedevilscandy]

They definitely blow through pod populations pretty quick. I've tried keeping them adding a bottle of live pods every couple weeks and still couldn't keep one. I would try some frozen mysis and even blood worms. I've read a lot about people training them to frozen food. It's a lot easier in a smaller tank because they have a better chance when there aren't larger fish beating them to it. Even some frozen vitamin enriched brine to start if it will get him to eat. Good luck!!

 

[reefes pieces]

Someone on another forum swears by japanese fish roe Masago that you buy at the market.

 

[thresher]

Someone on another forum swears by japanese fish roe Masago that you buy at the market.

I was at an Asian market yesterday and had a container of masago in my hand. But I read the ingredients and the stuff is processed with salt, sugar, and even soy sauce. This can't be good for the tank????

 

[Six2seven]

I was at an Asian market yesterday and had a container of masago in my hand. But I read the ingredients and the stuff is processed with salt, sugar, and even soy sauce. This can't be good for the tank????

keep looking that sounds like the prepared version. try a different market.

 

[Digitalfreq]

I've had about 5 dragonets total, only 1 ate frozen food. The rest ate pods only. You can buy a bottle of pods from most LFS. When I had one is a 28g. I fed him one a day from the bottle. I turned off all the pumps and just squirted the pods from the bottle. You can keep the bottle in the fridge for a week or more. This way you wont lose all your pods at once. Just make sure to keep the top open on the cap for air.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I've had the same mandarin for almost 2 years. He eats spectrum and pods.

He's super lazy though, so I have to find where he's at in the tank, and then throw a bunch of food in his direction. If it doesn't land close enough for him to stare at it or 30 second and then eat it, he won't even bother. Lol

 

[thresher]

Just a quick update. Well what do you know he's eating frozen mysis!!!!! Still emaciated as hell but its a start. Looks like ill fatten him up and get him a girlfriend once he's fat and healthy. I'm hoping hell teach his girlfriend to eat mysis too.

 

[Igarc009]

I've had about 5 dragonets total, only 1 ate frozen food. The rest ate pods only. You can buy a bottle of pods from most LFS. When I had one is a 28g. I fed him one a day from the bottle. I turned off all the pumps and just squirted the pods from the bottle. You can keep the bottle in the fridge for a week or more. This way you wont lose all your pods at once. Just make sure to keep the top open on the cap for air.

A bottle a day? That would be one expensive fish

 

[jesuses]

Just a quick update. Well what do you know he's eating frozen mysis!!!!! Still emaciated as hell but its a start. Looks like ill fatten him up and get him a girlfriend once he's fat and healthy. I'm hoping hell teach his girlfriend to eat mysis too.

Awesome. Try enriching the mysis to get him healthier quicker. Keep an eye on him and make sure it doesn't die! I had 2 Mandarins that ate frozen, but now one stopped. So good luck!

 

[Digitalfreq]

Oh no. Sorry that was a typo. I fed him once a day. 1 bottle lasted me over a week at least. Also I just saw my mandarin. Take pellets today. I was shocked.

 

[suvuong7]

I can't believe the fish store didn't give you a discount on the fish......I bought a red mandarin today for only $13....and bought 3 bottles of pods for $40....lol

 

[thresher]

Awesome. Try enriching the mysis to get him healthier quicker. Keep an eye on him and make sure it doesn't die! I had 2 Mandarins that ate frozen, but now one stopped. So good luck!

I've been soaking the Mysis in Selcon and Garlic! I just target fed him as I wanted to watch it slurp some more down. He went to town! I think he's been eating it for a while now as every time I turn off the pump (feeding time) he heads straight for the bottom of the tank in search of the Mysis.

 

[thresher]

I can't believe the fish store didn't give you a discount on the fish......I bought a red mandarin today for only $13....and bought 3 bottles of pods for $40....lol

The store had the fish in a frag tank. It was barely moving when I first got him and completely emaciated. I bought him out of pity as my tank was loaded with pods (no longer as he has eaten most in the display but my sump is still has a good amount that I hope is filtering out to the display) At the time, I wanted to take the challenge and extend the life of the mandarin for a brief of time if I could.

 

[Jhuneke]

Great news! I have 2 mandys that eat frozen and pellets.. luckily they are in a nano w no food competion.. But one taught the other to eat pellets ..stoked! Try using Garlic extreme on the mysis .. they love it! Once they are hooked try soaking some pellet w the garlic and throw them a few in with the mysis... seemed to help mine get onto pellet. Which for me is gonna be easier to target feed them in my big DT once they move over. Best of luck!

 

[ReEfErAdDiCt86]

Who here has purchased pods from reefs2go?? They are a sponsor on this site. I'm thinking of getting some and dumping it in my tank to fatten the goby up.

I purchased a small fuge pack from r2g that included pods. I threw the fuge pack algae and pods down in my sump, and now the algae has to be pruned every few weeks. If it wasn't for my mandarin I'd prob have a pod infestation also. She's been in my tank for 6-7 months now and her diet consists strictly of pods that were from that initial pack I purchased from r2g. So if you have a sump I'd definitely recommend you just throw some algae and pods in there. It'll benefit your mandarin and also pull out some nutrients at the same time.