Mandarin Help!!

[Breakthecycle2]

I know that the need lots of live rock and pods. I just wanted to train her to eat frozen foods so that I wouldn't have to add pods every week. It is easier to train them in a QT tank because there is no other competition for food

Yeah, I know but I dont think that will work at this point. My last one would eat pods only, then one day he started eating the ROE I was feeding the tank. Sometimes you just get lucky. Also, Dr. Tim makes a frozen pod mixture that some mandarins seems to like.

 

[Baby Ray]

I just added some ROE and I saw her try to peck a a little piece but she missed it :( So close!!!

 

[Humblefish]

Its a longshot to find, but some of my mandarins will eat live blackworms.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Keep trying. Any picky fish I have, I start them on that and they usually go for it.

 

[Baby Ray]

Its a longshot to find, but some of my mandarins will eat live blackworms.

A fish store 3 hours from me sells them but that doesn't do me any good :( We may be in that areas soon and if we are, I am going to get some

 

[Baby Ray]

Keep trying. Any picky fish I have, I start them on that and they usually go for it.

Thank you!!

 

[Sabellafella]

Could I add the BBS strait to the tank or would the target feeder be bettrr

Unfortunantly every night for the last 2 years before light out. I feed her with a baster. Sometimes i get lazy and just pour all the frozen food in the tank, dont get me wrong, they still go after/hunt out the food. But their way too slow and cute . Lately ive stuffed the cubes into a snail shell, works great.

 

[Baby Ray]

Unfortunantly every night for the last 2 years before light out. I feed her with a baster. Sometimes i get lazy and just pour all the frozen food in the tank, dont get me wrong, they still go after/hunt out the food. But their way too slow and cute . Lately ive stuffed the cubes into a snail shell, works great.

What do you mean by cubes?

 

[cmcoker]

Maybe try something like Melev's Mandarin diner? With different foods to see if she takes a fancy to one.
http://www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_diner.html
Just really watch your ammonia, with all the different food stuffs going in you don't want a spike!

 

[Chrisfish]

Do you have any bait or tackle shops close by that might sell live black worms or blood worms you could try?

 

[Baby Ray]

Do you have any bait or tackle shops close by that might sell live black worms or blood worms you could try?

I am not sure. I will check. Thank you!!

 

[Baby Ray]

Should I do a water change? I have been feeding the tank 2 0r 3 times a day for the past 2 days now. Should I do a 2.5 gallon water change? It is a 15 gallon QT tank. Also, should I add a hermit crab and some snails to help clean up? I am not going to be using any medications on the tank.

 

[cmcoker]

Should I do a water change? I have been feeding the tank 2 0r 3 times a day for the past 2 days now. Should I do a 2.5 gallon water change? It is a 15 gallon QT tank. Also, should I add a hermit crab and some snails to help clean up? I am not going to be using any medications on the tank.

It wouldn't hurt. Have you checked your ammonia level?
I would siphon out old food several times a day with airline tubing, rather than the crab or snail. I usually just end up siphoning out a couple cups of water when using the airline tubing in my qt.

 

[Baby Ray]

It wouldn't hurt. Have you checked your ammonia level?
I would siphon out old food several times a day with airline tubing, rather than the crab or snail. I usually just end up siphoning out a couple cups of water when using the airline tubing in my qt.

I just siphoned out a ton of old food and I ended up doing a 1/2 gallon water change. After that I put some more ROE in. I might do another water change tonight

 

[Baby Ray]

I am still worried because I haven't seen her eat anything and she looks skinny!! I am wondering if just putting her in my DT would be better for her because there are a lot of pods there!! I am also going to order a bbs hatchery and start feeding her those. I am going to gut load the bbs with selcon to make they healthier. Should I just put her in my DT?

 

[sa6hir]

You see messing about with it/tank will be causing that amount of extra stress to the fish! A fish will normally dart at the sight of human! So maybe it will help putting it in the DP, maybe it won't! If it dies in your DP then you might have to start moving rock around to get to which could lead to problems in your set up! In the past when I've ended up with non eating fish they only lasted about 5-7 days, like I've said before it's a hit and miss.

Wish you the best and hope the fish makes it. Beautiful little creatures they are.

 

[Baby Ray]

You see messing about with it/tank will be causing that amount of extra stress to the fish! A fish will normally dart at the sight of human! So maybe it will help putting it in the DP, maybe it won't! If it dies in your DP then you might have to start moving rock around to get to which could lead to problems in your set up! In the past when I've ended up with non eating fish they only lasted about 5-7 days, like I've said before it's a hit and miss.

Wish you the best and hope the fish makes it. Beautiful little creatures they are.

Thank you!!
I am ordering a BBS hatchery and I will start feeding those to here and see if she takes them

 

[Baby Ray]

What does everyone else think? Should I put the mandarin in my DT or leave her be?

 

[Baby Ray]

I just ordered everything and it should be here in 3 0r 4 days!! I hope she is still alive then :(

 

[Eva Rose]

You may already being doing this but...when I get a new fish used to a turkey baster:

• I get a small amount of food in baster
• Slowly pull in a bit of water from QT tank into baster tip
• Slowly depress batter tip so food floats down to fish
• Just try to avoid air pockets that cause 'bursts' from baster with the already skittish fish. . Let food float down .

I hope your mandarin will eat soon. You are doing your best, so try not to stress. Good luck.