Mandarin troubles, calling all cars...S.O.S....

[cdeakle]

I have a mandarin thats not getting enough to eat. My pod population was extinct. I keep buying pod kits from inland aquatics to seed my tank but to no avail.

I recently got a new sump/refugium combo installed and got some more pods from a local reefer to seed the fuge but since the mandarin was looking so bad I didn't give the fuge enough time to mature and I had to throw the mandarin in the fuge so she would at least get something to eat right away. Unfortunatley she will not eat any prepared foods, I have tried them all.

So she went to town and I think she already ate what pods I had. I have another shipment coming from inland aquatics soon. I already removed all possible food competitors but one, my six-line who is extremly hard to catch.

Not sure what else I can do. I have never lost a buddy due to my neglect or lack of expertise but this is a tough situation. I have even built mini pod havens "rock piles" I have a huge fuge for a 55 gallon tank, 30 gallons. I keep stocking pods as best as I can but orders from inland aquatics can add up quickly. I have removed all possible food competitors but the six-line. Any suggestions?

Also, anyone willing to donate pods to help my cause? I don't have any rock to spare but I can pay you for your populated rocks if possible? I get paid this Wednesday. Or if you have a sump with tons o pods in the sand would you be willing to scoop some out for me? Im in a tough spot so any help would be much appreciated. I will post a pic of her tonight when I get home from work. I have some chaeto I could trade for pods. Also looking to buy some reef rubble...

 

[NaH2O]

I'm sorry for your stress over this. It seems like you are doing the best you can in trying to establish a new pod population.

Here is a bump for you. The only other thing I can think of is getting a fellow reefer to take the mandarin to their established mature tank (preferably at least 100 gallons with tons of live rock). How many pounds of live rock do you have in your 55 gal?

Let us know how things go....

 

[Wink]

I could come up with some copepods and amphipods, but not enough to solve the problem (I'm expecting a delivery of seahorse fry that will need the copepods).... but it might keep your fish alive until you can figure it out

I don't know if the mandarin will eat mysis shrimp or not.... my mysis are tiny.. 1/4 inch - if it will eat those, that would be a better long term solution and I could give you enough of those to start a culture. Pods breed so slowly... it's really hard to culture enough of them. Mysis are a little bigger so you need less of them and they reproduce faster.

I'll send a PM with my contact info.

Vicky

 

[cdeakle]

Nikki,

I think I have more than enough rock, I have roughly 70-75 pounds of LR in my 55 gallon and roughly 5-10 pounds of LR in my refugium. I would pack more in there if I could but then I would probably have water circulation problems.

I would love to be able to find a mandarin sitter, that is if I can find one and then find one that would be willing to give her back. =) If anyone local has a tank teaming with pods and alot of LR that would be willing to mandy sit I'm game!

Vicky, got the pm's. I will respond and try to call on my next break. She will eat pods, mysis, amphipods as long as there smaller. I would love to get those cultures from you!

 

[cdeakle]

=(

 

[MCSInc]

???

Will she eat new hatched brine shrimp? If so that is something you could do in quantity and the corals and everyone else in there should love it.

I have an abundance of small rubble in my 100 gal and if you want to come scoop some out I am sure a few pods would be along for the ride.

Also I could set you up with some brine shrimp eggs if you want to give it a try. I was feeding my scooter frozen daphinia to start and now he will eat all frozen foods. The thing with the daphinia is that it is small enough to push around in the breeze and look like a tempting snack.

Let me know...

 

[cdeakle]

She will not eat live brine, that is the first thing I tried. I just don't get her.... I would love some reef rubble, where are you located? I could give you some chaeto in return, let me know...

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Not to be the Mandarin nazi here, but it is generally recommended that a 100 gallon tank with lots of LR and in excess of a year old be the minmum for a Dragonette for the purpose of avoiding the situation you are in. I hope you are able to find a good solution for those absolutely beautiful fish.

I saw two Mandarins in a 20 gallon tank at the LFS today, suffice to say, very sad indeed.

 

[cdeakle]

I have found many references that the minimum tank size is 30 gallons or larger. My tank was established for close to 3 years before I added this mandarin. I am at my limit for rock in this tank. If I add any more I will end up with no water circulation. I have also spent more money on pods kits and critter packs then 20 mandarins combined.

Thanks for your input anyway....

 

[cdeakle]

Not to be the Mandarin nazi here

Bank robber statement before he robs a bank: "Not to be a bank robber but..."

but it is generally recommended that a 100 gallon tank with lots of LR

Lots of LR is essential to success for a captive mandarin but can you please provide references that a 100 gallon tank is recommended for green mandarins?

and in excess of a year old be the minmum

As I previously stated, my tank is around three times more mature then your stated recommendation. Please ask questions before you make statements without all the facts.

for the purpose of avoiding the situation you are in.

I could be wrong but I think that you are implying that I am in this situation because of my own neglect and ignorance. Again, you need to check your facts before you attempt to slam someone.

I'm not trying to start a fight here but when I am attacked I will defend myself. I have merely just responded to your statements with actual fact. I hope that I can nurse her back to her former glory. If you have actual suggestions then offer them up, flaming does not help friend....

 

[Curtswearing]

I think that everyone's goal here is to end up with a fat and sassy mandarin so lets focus on the task at hand.

I know someone whose mandarin eats Cyclop-eeze. Has this been tried? Do you have a friend who is willing to babysit your fish in their tank while your pod population builds back up?

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[NaH2O]

Thanks to everyone for their input on this situation. Thanks, also, to those that are offering pods and cultures!

cdeakle, I did not read anything in Craig's post that could be considered attacking, slamming or flaming. He is simply stating what he knows for mandarin care. Not everyone will agree that keeping a mandarin in a tank smaller than 100 gallons is good practice, but like everything in this hobby there are exceptions. It is obvious that you care for your fish and are doing the best by them....no one is faulting you for that. What matters at this moment is to get your fish eating and repopulating your pods. I would give cyclopeeze a try, too.

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Thanks Nikki, and my apologies cdeakle if you felt attacked. Please don't shoot the messanger.

Mandarins patrol a pretty large territory in the wild and graze continually on amphipods and copepods. A fully mature reef tank of 100 gallons does not approximate the natural reef, but will provide the necesary food to keep a Mandarin healthy.

I admire your concern for the fish, just sharing some information.

 

[cdeakle]

Thanks for all the help, I must of had a bad day. my appologies to Craig....

 

[cdeakle]

I'm getting another shipment this morning for inland aquatics and Wink will be donating some live mysis to the cause later this week. I will keep everyone updated. I'm still willing to accept any and all pod offers.

I don;t have a babysitter but If I can find one I am game!

 

[DLONG]

Have had mine for a number of years. Mine will eat both mysis shrimp and finely cut scallop. Scallop is my "secrete" fish food. It's cheap in the grocery store, and ALL fish eat it....or so it seems. Just cut it into as small pieces as you can.

 

[DonW]

The LFS Indoor Reef has pod infested caulerpa very cheap. You can add it to your tank and fuge. If you net it it wont spread to bad.

Don

 

[Craig Manoukian]

Hang in there and good luck cdeakle, no worries!

 

[cdeakle]

That sounds like a good idea but I dont want the caulpera, I'm strictly chaetomorpha. Don't want the troubles of the macro going sexual and destroying my tank. Are there prices on macro competitive? I could put a small amount in and remove the caulpera later after the pods expand there territory.

Anyone have an established tank with tons of pods thats willing to mandarin-sit for a little while till I can boost my pod supply back up? I can compensate for your efforts or work out some kind of arrangement....

 

[cdeakle]

DLONG, I have tried scallops and even scallops with GarlicX to help entice but no go.....