Lethargic mandarin

[nanofordad]

Our juvenile mandarin has been in tank for 3 weeks. Eating pods constantly and supplemented nightly with frozen brine which she eats while coming for the pipette. So a good eater.

Today she has been weirdly lethargic since this afternoon. Sitting on sand barely moving. Slightly pale. But not breathing heavy or looking stressed otherwise. Occasionally swims around and then back to lying on sand barely moving. Everything else in tank is great. Other fish swimming and eating. Corals open and happy.

ChatGPT suggests that mandarins sometimes go through rest periods between hunting. But it’s new behavior for ours. Any recs or thoughts from those w more experience?

Thx

 

[PharmrJohn]

Bump

While I cannot help you with your issue, I can say that ChatGPT should not even be the last place you look. Shouldn't look at it at all. I've seen some pretty horrific inaccuracies. Maybe in 20 years!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would suggest to post some pictures in white light, a short video would be even better.

 

[Marine Betta]

Our juvenile mandarin has been in tank for 3 weeks. Eating pods constantly and supplemented nightly with frozen brine which she eats while coming for the pipette. So a good eater.

Today she has been weirdly lethargic since this afternoon. Sitting on sand barely moving. Slightly pale. But not breathing heavy or looking stressed otherwise. Occasionally swims around and then back to lying on sand barely moving. Everything else in tank is great. Other fish swimming and eating. Corals open and happy.

ChatGPT suggests that mandarins sometimes go through rest periods between hunting. But it’s new behavior for ours. Any recs or thoughts from those w more experience?

Thx

What are the water parameters? And pictures please. That’s normal behavior at night time, but they’re normally active during the day unless they are starving, aggression, or there is a water quality issue. Disease is a possibility, but mandarins are pretty resistant to most because of their thick slime coat. What’s the age of the tank and do you have a refugium? Any aggressive tank mates?

 

[Mebbid]

Does it look skinny? Some pics would help.

 

[nanofordad]

Sorry. Nothing to really show in pics. But I can post some later. She’s been eating consistently- is not skinny at all.

Haven’t tested parameters but everything else in tank happy happy. I’m doing water change every weekend.

No aggression - my other fish are a small gramma and a tiny yellow clown goby.

No refugium as tanks about 3 months old.

And before anyone asks I’ve been culturing and dosing pods from day 1. Adding large amounts weekly w water changes. She has been visibly grazing pods all day plus eating brine nightly so I don’t think it’s malnourishment.

I’ll keep an eye out and post pics later. Just wondering if it’s common for them to go a little dormant for a day?

 

[W31Olds]

Sorry. Nothing to really show in pics. But I can post some later. She’s been eating consistently- is not skinny at all.

Haven’t tested parameters but everything else in tank happy happy. I’m doing water change every weekend.

No aggression - my other fish are a small gramma and a tiny yellow clown goby.

No refugium as tanks about 3 months old.

And before anyone asks I’ve been culturing and dosing pods from day 1. Adding large amounts weekly w water changes. She has been visibly grazing pods all day plus eating brine nightly so I don’t think it’s malnourishment.

I’ll keep an eye out and post pics later. Just wondering if it’s common for them to go a little dormant for a day?

Your Mandarin sounds just like mine. Well-fed and lazy. Mine will often rest in the same location in a bottom corner of my Tank for an hour or so. I was concerned about it but during close inspection with a Flashlight she is always fat so I don't worry. I chalk it up to the Food. My Pod population is low, so she eats Pellets, Brine, and Mysis. I have Pods as verified with a Microscope, but Pods are very tiny, so eating a couple of pellets or Brine Shrimp multiple times a day probably equals thousands of Pods. Mine does not get any dull coloration so there could be something wrong or maybe she is just napping.

 

[nanofordad]

Your Mandarin sounds just like mine. Well-fed and lazy. Mine will often rest in the same location in a bottom corner of my Tank for an hour or so. I was concerned about it but during close inspection with a Flashlight she is always fat so I don't worry. I chalk it up to the Food. My Pod population is low, so she eats Pellets, Brine, and Mysis. I have Pods as verified with a Microscope, but Pods are very tiny, so eating a couple of pellets or Brine Shrimp multiple times a day probably equals thousands of Pods. Mine does not get any dull coloration so there could be something wrong or maybe she is just napping.

I hope that’s the case. She’s been very active since we got her so hoping she’s just full…