Mandarin Help!!

[Baby Ray]

Remember to only use newly hatched BBS. Any over 24 hours old no longer have the nutritional value the fish need. I do not remember where I read that. They should be hatching in about a day.

Shelley

I am going to gut load mine with Selcon do add more nutrition.

 

[Baby Ray]

Has this already been mentioned: http://www.larrysreefservices.com/lrs-fish-eggs.html

I looked for this but none of the stores in my area carried them. That is why I bought the Reef Nutrition ROE

 

[Baby Ray]

Thank you everyone for your support. She is still alive this morning!! I am going to keep trying to get her to eat. I might try pellets today just because I can. I rally hope I can keep her alive long enough for the bbs hatchery to get here

 

[Eva Rose]

Thank you everyone for your support. She is still alive this morning!! I am going to keep trying to get her to eat. I might try pellets today just because I can. I rally hope I can keep her alive long enough for the bbs hatchery to get here

Good luck! It won't hurt but most tend to go for the fish eggs or thawed frozen mysis or frozen brine shrimp first, if they eat prepared. Most instances where I've read where mandarins did eat some pellets, they mixed pellets with something the mandy was already eating.

 

[Baby Ray]

Still no luck :(
Ill try to keep everyone posted. I am so sad because I love these animals and I want the best for them but I am doing everything I can with no positive results :( Sometimes things just work out that way

 

[code4]

You do not need to gut load the BBS if you feed them while the egg sack is still on them. Usually during the first 24 hours. I would feed them live phytoplankton if I was to gut load them.

Keep us posted

Shelley

 

[Eva Rose]

You have certainly given it your best effort! Here is an article for you:
http://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=351
It may not have new info but it describes their approach to feeding mandarins.
The experts like @Humblefish , @melypr1985 etc. have given you advice that you have tried to follow. You've tried many methods to entice it to eat. Like you said sometimes it may not work . But take comfort in the fact you gave it your best effort. Will keeping hoping she will turn around though!!

 

[melypr1985]

Your doing your best sweetie. Just keep up the good work and hopefully she'll start eating for you.

 

[Baby Ray]

She is still alive this morning!!
I REALLY hope my bbs show up today

 

[Baby Ray]

The hatchery just showed up and I got a batch going!!!

 

[code4]

The hatchery just showed up and I got a batch going!!!

I used a hair dryer to slowly, slowly, heat the rigid tubing that goes from the surface of the water down into the small electrical tape type of container. As I heated it I slowly and gentle bent it at an angle so it slid into the side of the plastic container. Worked like a charm! The eggs will be hatching in about 18- 24 hours depending on temperature. Good luck Ray!

Shelley

 

[Baby Ray]

I used a hair dryer to slowly, slowly, heat the rigid tubing that goes from the surface of the water down into the small electrical tape type of container. As I heated it I slowly and gentle bent it at an angle so it slid into the side of the plastic container. Worked like a charm! The eggs will be hatching in about 18- 24 hours depending on temperature. Good luck Ray!

Shelley

Thank you!!! For now I think I will skip the airline tubing down into the feeder and just manually add the shrimp to the feeder. I might add it in the future though. :D
Thanks!!

 

[Baby Ray]

It's red neck but it works :D

 

[code4]

I do not bother with the light until I know they are hatching. The light attracts them to the center, where you can just lift them out in the tiny collection cup. If it is a heat source, beware, that plastic melts quickly! You will want to purchase the rigid tubing in the near future. You will not be wanting to put your hands into the tank daily, possible stressing the fish. The BBS are a bright pinkish red when newly hatched.

Shelley

 

[najer]

Thank you everyone for your support. She is still alive this morning!! I am going to keep trying to get her to eat. I might try pellets today just because I can. I rally hope I can keep her alive long enough for the bbs hatchery to get here

Mine now take pellets, it is worth a try, crushed would be better.
Lobster eggs are good and I would try reef roids powder, it needs to get it's constant pecking feeding triggered, hope the bbs works, fingers crossed for you. :)

 

[Baby Ray]

I do not bother with the light until I know they are hatching. The light attracts them to the center, where you can just lift them out in the tiny collection cup. If it is a heat source, beware, that plastic melts quickly! You will want to purchase the rigid tubing in the near future. You will not be wanting to put your hands into the tank daily, possible stressing the fish. The BBS are a bright pinkish red when newly hatched.

Shelley

Thank you for the advice!! The light shouldn't get hot enough to melt the plastic but it could warm the water to make the bbs hatch faster.

 

[code4]

I just noticed that your "redneck" light source is LED. :D Not hot at all. I have a similar set up. ;) But I used a heat source the first time. Melted a hole in the lid FAST! It now has a small piece of black electrical tape covering it. After a while you will notice that the small net is not draining water like it did when new. I spray a household kitchen cleaner on it and the tray at this point. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse well. My cleaner has bleach in it. I then let them air dry completely. I have to do this every so often to keep them draining like new. I have two dishes so there are new BBS always hatching :p I also feed the BBS to my dendro. I use a brush I bought in the bird feeder section at home depot to clean the tray. It is soft, and has numerous "arms" like material. Reminds me of a baby bottle cleaner, only works better.

I know there are other methods to hatch BBS. But the dish works best for me. Mainly it is the ease that I like. And since my two mandarins eat live black worms, pods and now frozen food, it is enough. I do not feed them frozen food often. I squirt a little to them when I feed the other fish. But I do not believe it is nearly nutritional enough for them.

The above information are only suggestions. ;)

Wishing you luck

 

[Baby Ray]

I just noticed that your "redneck" light source is LED. :D Not hot at all. I have a similar set up. ;) But I used a heat source the first time. Melted a hole in the lid FAST! It now has a small piece of black electrical tape covering it. After a while you will notice that the small net is not draining water like it did when new. I spray a household kitchen cleaner on it and the tray at this point. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse well. My cleaner has bleach in it. I then let them air dry completely. I have to do this every so often to keep them draining like new. I have two dishes so there are new BBS always hatching :p I also feed the BBS to my dendro. I use a brush I bought in the bird feeder section at home depot to clean the tray. It is soft, and has numerous "arms" like material. Reminds me of a baby bottle cleaner, only works better.

I know there are other methods to hatch BBS. But the dish works best for me. Mainly it is the ease that I like. And since my two mandarins eat live black worms, pods and now frozen food, it is enough. I do not feed them frozen food often. I squirt a little to them when I feed the other fish. But I do not believe it is nearly nutritional enough for them.

The above information are only suggestions. ;)

Wishing you luck

Thank you for the cleaning tips!! I hope to get my mandarin on frozen too :D but I am starting with BBS. I actually have baby brine shrimp in the dish this morning that hatched over night!! That was less then 24 hours!! I can't wait to feed her when the lights come one. This is my last chance at getting her to eat so wish me luck.

 

[Baby Ray]

She is chowin down in BBS right now!!! I also through some ROE in there and I saw her eat one or two pieces without spitting them out!! I am making progress!!

 

[Eva Rose]

She is chowin down in BBS right now!!! I also through some ROE in there and I saw her eat one or two pieces without spitting them out!! I am making progress!!

Yay!!!!