Mandarin died

[W1ngz]

I think this might be a cone snail. It may be too small, so couldn't finish the job...

This is what cone snails do:

 

[GThompson]

Ok, so what im getting from this and other sites im reading is basically... no fish in a tank smaller than 100g... or i get extremely tiny fish that ill never enjoy because they will be hiding.... am i on track here?

Don’t put a lot into people saying your tank is too small. Something went bad and it’s really hard sometimes to figure out what it was. I hate that you lost your mandarin. Armt350 May be on to something. Do you have good aeration and suitable water flow ? Lack of O2 can do fish in fairly quickly

 

[JFleur]

I think this might be a cone snail. It may be too small, so couldn't finish the job...

This is what cone snails do:

The pics i looked up look similar but different from what i have, they only come out from the sand when i drop in algae pellets

 

[JFleur]

Don’t put a lot into people saying your tank is too small. Something went bad and it’s really hard sometimes to figure out what it was. I hate that you lost your mandarin. Armt350 May be on to something. Do you have good aeration and suitable water flow ? Lack of O2 can do fish in fairly quickly

Yes, i have a 315gph coralbox return pump and a qp5 plus powerhead

 

[W1ngz]

The pics i looked up look similar but different from what i have, they only come out from the sand when i drop in algae pellets

That looks like a cone snail to me. The pointed back, smooth and shiny shell.
I'd love another opinion on this, but I seriously think your snails murdered your mandarin.

 

[JFleur]

That looks like a cone snail to me. The pointed back, smooth and shiny shell.

Ive never seen them do that and i had 2 clowns in the tank for a couple months... the lfs that sold them to me said they where part of my cuc and would stay burried to clean substrate

 

[W1ngz]

Can you turn on the white lights and get a clear picture of that snail and the other that looks like it? Maybe someone on the #reefsquad is a snail expert.

 

[Paul Sands]

I'm looking at the position of that fish. Is it just an illusion or is it stuck upright with it's tail down in the sand? That's a big clue there if so. Fish don't stand on their tails. What are the chances something in the sand grabbed it and pulled it down?

Also - don't have a mandarin in that little tank.

Mandarins often sleep buried in the sand. His position doesn’t really surprise me too much. Looks like he was sleeping and probably passed away.

A mandarin in a 32 gallon tank is doable, it’s just probably more work than most people are willing to invest.

 

[W1ngz]

Mandarins often sleep buried in the sand. His position doesn’t really surprise me too much. Looks like he was sleeping and probably passed away.

Maybe, I hope so, but as much as it would suck to have snails murdering fish, also would be really cool.

 

[JFleur]

Can you turn on the white lights and get a clear picture of that snail and the other that looks like it? Maybe someone on the #reefsquad is a snail expert.

I just found the receipt... its labels an olive snail

 

[Armt350]

Im really not sure what algae is what, i know i have a few different kinds but from what Im being told, its all good algae

The large green stemmed one is potentially one that could cause a carbon dioxide spike.

 

[Paul Sands]

I just found the receipt... its labels an olive snail

That’s what it looks like. Not sure why you’d have them though. They don’t eat fish, but they eat mollusks (which you probably don’t have) and other snails. I’d take them back.

 

[Paul Sands]

The large green stemmed one is potentially one that could cause a carbon dioxide spike.

What do you think it is?

 

[Terry Mattson]

Sorry for the loss and tough start. I take it you do not have a skimmer. This can help o2. I have a read sea 350. 73 gallon with 18 gallon sump. Refugium. Lots of rock, fish, corals. I do have a mandarin and pods are still keeping up. Tank is 8 months old. The refugium helps and I dose phytoplankton twice a week. I check pod population every night. Mandarin is fat and growing. Once you figure out what happened and solve it, perhaps add a skimmer and easier fish to keep then if you still want a mandarin then check out the Posiedon Reef System. You can grow phytoplankton and copods using their system. $160. Really, mandarin needs a large tank and a good mature reef to hunt down pods most of the day. Good luck.

 

[Armt350]

Hard to say without more photos. I'm just seeing a base of one. Could be any number of macros.

 

[sfin52]

the important thing is that it wasn't due to starvation. Mandy can be be done. Paul b has a great mandy and pipe fish feeder. I wonder if something in your tank took it out.

 

[S&SReef]

Of you get a captive bred Mandarin, you'll pay more but they will take supplemental feedings of frozen cyclops shrimp and even tiny pellets. They cost more, come in super small but are a better bet.

 

[JFleur]

Sorry for the loss and tough start. I take it you do not have a skimmer. This can help o2. I have a read sea 350. 73 gallon with 18 gallon sump. Refugium. Lots of rock, fish, corals. I do have a mandarin and pods are still keeping up. Tank is 8 months old. The refugium helps and I dose phytoplankton twice a week. I check pod population every night. Mandarin is fat and growing. Once you figure out what happened and solve it, perhaps add a skimmer and easier fish to keep then if you still want a mandarin then check out the Posiedon Reef System. You can grow phytoplankton and copods using their system. $160. Really, mandarin needs a large tank and a good mature reef to hunt down pods most of the day. Good luck.

I do have a skimmer

 

[JFleur]

The large green stemmed one is potentially one that could cause a carbon dioxide spike.

I really dont know, its growing like a weed and ive had a reef specialist out to my apt several times and hasnt said anything about it, i know he would have told me if it was bad

 

[JFleur]

Hard to say without more photos. I'm just seeing a base of one. Could be any number of macros.

It looks like a fern with big feathers, all green.. ill try and post a better pic when lights are on tomorrow