Mandarin dragonette question

[monarchckey88]

I recently got a mandarin dragonet and I am really afraid it's going to starve. Just because of all the horror stories.

I'm attaching a few photos. What do you think of the weight and overall health so far?

This is my first time having this particular fish. Thanks!

 

[KrisReef]

I don't see a "fat" fish, and the abdomen doesn't look excessively skinny or pinched, but images from one day compared to next week might better show a trend in girth?

When I kept these kinds of hunt and peck predators, I would shut the flow off and use a baster to put them in a cloud of thawed copepods or baby brine shrimp, or similar tiny live (or live frozen foods). I did this once or twice each day until they learned to hunt for frozen. I also added lots of live pods at first, and kept a close eye until I was convinced that they were eating enough and growing.

 

[dedragon]

tank size and age are important as well as if you are adding copepods

 

[monarchckey88]

tank size and age are important as well as if you are adding copepods

I have it in quarantine right now. Observation only, 10 gallon that's running for 12 years straight.

My DT is 75gallons, running for a year. I've been dosing pods although this is a captive raised and eats frozen spirulina brine shrimp.

 

[dedragon]

you should be fine in the 75 esp for 1 captive raised lil guy. if u have a sump system with refugium you should be fine. just make sure to monitor the fish and check on the copepods every now and then to make sure they didnt deplete. seems u are doing ur due diligence

 

[bradreef]

I have it in quarantine right now. Observation only, 10 gallon that's running for 12 years straight.

My DT is 75gallons, running for a year. I've been dosing pods although this is a captive raised and eats frozen spirulina brine shrimp.

You will be fine. 75 is plenty big especially when seeded with pods

 

[monarchckey88]

You will be fine. 75 is plenty big especially when seeded with pods

I do not currently have a refugium though. I may just need to dose every month or two. Thoughts?

 

[dedragon]

with enough rocks you will probably be fine. you are obv being a good fish keeper, so just monitor overtime. you may need to dose as it is a bit new but monitoring will be best. it looks fine rn but can be more full (prob just the small qt tank)

 

[W31Olds]

I would say slightly underweight but good overall for a new acquisition. Mine was thinner when I got her. If she's hunting for pods you should be fine. Try to supplement with TDO Chomaboost x-small or small slightly crushed.

 

[bradreef]

You don't need a refugium in a 75 to have enough pods. If it was like 30 gallons or so, ide say you need a safe haven for pods. If you really worry, buy a pod hotel and stick it behind rocks.

 

[Bucrob]

He should be fine, especially if hes eating frozen. He doesn't seem to be fat or thin so not much to worry about, he should fatten up within a month or so just depending on how much you feed him. I wouldn't be concerned though especially if he's going into a 75g thats been running for a year, unless that 75g already has a mandarin species in it then there may be some pod competition

 

[dedragon]

You don't need a refugium in a 75 to have enough pods. If it was like 30 gallons or so, ide say you need a safe haven for pods. If you really worry, buy a pod hotel and stick it behind rocks.

only 1 year tank though. i said monitor just in case. sometimes it is that 2.5 year to 3 year point where all life explodes uk

 

[dedragon]

He should be fine, especially if hes eating frozen

my biota one barely ate prepared foods (downsized so i gave him away). just want to make sure and this person is clearly trying to do their best for their fishies

 

[Reef By Steele]

I do not currently have a refugium though. I may just need to dose every month or two. Thoughts?

Being tank raised I assume brought up on prepared foods so probably will be fine. As for pods and how frequently, our mandarin is territorial and always hunting the rocks. When I see him away from the structure especially if high in the water, it is a sign to me that he is looking so we add more pods. Even with tank raised I would recommend making sure you have pods, although they will eat frozen/prepared, mandarins spend their entire day “fairy floating” amongst the rocks with that “fat” body and tiny “wings”. They burn a lot of calories so they feed all day long.

As for no refugium, I a 75 there should be enough space and rock that the mandarin will have its territory and the pods in other parts of the tank will reproduce, replenishing his territory as well. Be sure to get benthic (crawling) pods when you add as they are what he picks from the rock.

Mandarins are one of my favorite fish.

 

[afboundguy]

I have it in quarantine right now. Observation only, 10 gallon that's running for 12 years straight.

My DT is 75gallons, running for a year. I've been dosing pods although this is a captive raised and eats frozen spirulina brine shrimp.

I would put the mandarin in the main system as mandarins typically don't need QT for many reasons. Even though your QT system has been up for a long time, a mandarin will decimate what pods have built up in that small of a QT system.

The other reason is mandarins are almost "immune" from ich due to the slime/coat they have.