Mandarin not eating

[Mike628]

My mandarin is not eating what should I do? He is alone in a 4 gallon nano that has been set up for about 4-5 months. He gets fed daily with a mixture of brine shrimp and rotifers that are soaked in garlic guard.

 

[polancoeddie]

He's dead.. He will not survive. Buy live cope pods. Which will last him one day, then return it to a lfs. The tank is to small to have enough cope pods for the mandarin to eat

 

[eatbreakfast]

Unfortunately a mandarin not eating prepared foods is farmore commonthan one that does. Mandarins also have a very small digestive tract, which means they need to eat almost constantly. They subside on pods and mirofauna, but for most tanks need an established tank of 50g or more. A 4g aquarium just is not an adaquet sized tank.

 

[Mike628]

Thank you but I do not trust my LFS because every time I buy a fish or a coral I am never told what to feed to the fish or what to dose my corals with

 

[NanaReefer]

It's actually your responsibility to KNOW your fish BEFORE purchasing. That fish does not belong in a 4g tank period! Take it back! Please research any and all future purchases.

 

[Mike628]

I do research my fish and my corals before purchasing. But in general I know it is my job to know this information but it is also the responsibility of the LFS to provide general information like what the fish or coral EATS and other basics of that kind.

 

[Mike628]

I trust my local Petco more than the store that I bought that fish from.

 

[vic67]

If you're not going to return it then you'll have to feed live copepods on a daily basis. Buy pods online for the feeding and also enough so that you can start raising copepods yourself to feed the mandarin.

 

[Mike628]

Ok thank you. Is it cheaper to buy pods online?

 

[polancoeddie]

Is going to be come very expensive buying cope pods every day. And for the long run he is still going to die in that size tank.

 

[Mike628]

I was told he would be ok in that size tank as long as he gets fed what he needs to be eating. Is that true?

 

[Chris-tico]

if you really like the mandarin you should take it back!

it wont survive.!

 

[polancoeddie]

Try to setup a 20g tank just to breed cope pods. All you need is the tank water and a big air stone. You can also add cheto and a lamp. Add phytoplankton to feed to cope pods. The mandarin is going to be eating the cope pods faster than you can buy them. That's why I said in the long run he is still going to die.

 

[polancoeddie]

Petco is having a sale right now at least over here $1 per tank size. Which means you can get a 20g tank for $20.

 

[NanaReefer]

No it is not true. You were misinformed. Whether out of ignorance or greed wanting to make a sale I don't know.
Contact our local Mandy expert, Paul B.

 

[Mike628]

Ok thank you I noticed the sign but I wasn't sure if that's what that meant.

 

[polancoeddie]

I would take the mandarin back a setup the tank for a month to cycle than another month to breed. Than You can buy the mandarin. After spending all that money you will have a 50/50 chances on keeping a mandarin long term.

 

[Mike628]

Ok thank you for the help

 

[Mike628]

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[NanaReefer]

I would take the mandarin back a setup the tank for a month to cycle than another month to breed. Than You can buy the mandarin. After spending all that money you will have a 50/50 chances on keeping a mandarin long term.

Why would you and anyone else encourage anyone into keeping a Mandarin Dragonet in a 4 gallon tank?! There is NO chance of this fish surviving long term, let alone thrive in that tank. We who know better have a responsibility to discourage these kind of practices. Don't you agree?