Mandarin help!

sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

I just picked up a green mandarin from a lfs and didn't realize how skinny he was. He's acclimated and in my refugium to fatten him up. Is there anything else I can do?

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Reefing Madness · Apr 28, 2013

Just make sure there are plenty of PODs in there for him to munch on.

Mike J. · Apr 28, 2013

I guess you should know that they are jumpers. I learned that the hard way. You'll need a screen top.

sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

Pods are swimming all around him but he's not eating any. He's not moving to much either but he still had a lot of color and isn't really breathing heavy

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Reefing Madness · Apr 28, 2013

Keeping my fingers crossed.

sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

Thanks, there's nothing else I can do or any tricks I can try?

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sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

Is it good or bad if the fish has all of its fins extended?

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KingOfPain86 · Apr 28, 2013

How long have you had him? And it's not a bad thing that his fins are out

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NanaReefer · Apr 28, 2013

Speaking from experience here :( Once these lil guys get to a certain point, having gone to long with poor nutrition they stop eating period. If your fish is refusing food there's not much you can do.
You could try Nutramar Ova. My Scooter Dragonet loves it and ORA weans their captive bread fry on it.
Sorry your going through this, it is heart wrenching I KNOW!

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sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

I've had him for about 10 hours. He didn't look super skinny at the store but when I was acclimating his under belly is like caved in. Its hard to tell if he's not eating because of stress or like you said he's to far gone. I just didn't know if they extend their fins when happy

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kacrocorals581 · Apr 28, 2013

If he has plenty of pods that's all you need he well do the rest I have a sycadelic and a blue manderan. Had one for 2 yr and the blue for 4 yr and no special treatment besides established reef systems and big refugiums. And every once and a while I'll grab a bottle of reef nutrition tiger pods and give the fuge a boost and they love tiger pods!

sredzins · Apr 28, 2013

They'res pods swimming all around him and its just sitting at the bottom of the tank. He's in my refugium right now so pods are everywhere. I've doesed twice with pods and have never kept anything like a mandarin that are so dependant on them. I built my tank with the intentions of getting a mandarin and have waited since September to get one.

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Reefing Madness · Apr 28, 2013

NanaReefer said:
Speaking from experience here :( Once these lil guys get to a certain point, having gone to long with poor nutrition they stop eating period. If your fish is refusing food there's not much you can do.
You could try Nutramar Ova. My Scooter Dragonet loves it and ORA weans their captive bread fry on it.
Sorry your going through this, it is heart wrenching I KNOW!

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I agree. Its hard sometimes telling someone its not looking good.

sredzins · Apr 29, 2013

He seems to be a little more active today. If I leave him in the refugium is he going to wipe out the pods and leave nothing for himself when he's moved to the display?

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KingOfPain86 · Apr 29, 2013

He might but that's ok. You can always get more pods. Better to have no pods and a fish then lots of pods and no fish.

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Reefing Madness · Apr 29, 2013

You've got PODs everywhere, just alittle harder to locate in the DT.

sredzins · Apr 30, 2013

Its day 3 that I have had him and he is finally starting to eat. I set up a little pod pile and he loves it

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