Medicate a Mandarin?

[PWalnuts81]

Just started quarantining fish. I have a 120 gallon display that will be fallow for 90 days.
I have an aquacultured mandarin goby that is very young. He is healthy and eating frozen food regularly. My current protocol/strategy is zero risk and all other fish are being treated with prophylactic meds. What should I do with this Mandarin?

 

[Rocks reef]

If it is aquacultured you should be good. Where did you purchase the Mandarin?

 

[Rocks reef]

https://www.reefhacks.com/mandarin-goby-fish-care/
Is this article, the author mentions that Mandarins are pretty disease resilient and quarantining isn't really necassary.

 

[PWalnuts81]

If it is aquacultured you should be good. Where did you purchase the Mandarin?

Barrier reef aquariums online

 

[Fish Fan]

#fishmedic
@vetteguy53081
@Jay Hemdal
@MnFish1

 

[W31Olds]

Search the forums. I don't think they tolerate Copper well and they won't do well in a QT Tank with Competition because of the fact that they are slow eaters.

 

[MnFish1]

Just started quarantining fish. I have a 120 gallon display that will be fallow for 90 days.
I have an aquacultured mandarin goby that is very young. He is healthy and eating frozen food regularly. My current protocol/strategy is zero risk and all other fish are being treated with prophylactic meds. What should I do with this Mandarin?

If your other fish are already through quarantine - and whatever medication period you put them through - You could consider adding the fish to their tank. However, even with an aquacultured fish - I would observe for at least 6 weeks without medication - the good news being that the fish is eating.

There are many reports of mandarins tolerating chelated copper (for example copper safe) at proper levels. The issue is mainly when they are not eating (I,e. only live foods - which are killed with copper). Since yours is eating - I would consider using your regular protocol.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Just started quarantining fish. I have a 120 gallon display that will be fallow for 90 days.
I have an aquacultured mandarin goby that is very young. He is healthy and eating frozen food regularly. My current protocol/strategy is zero risk and all other fish are being treated with prophylactic meds. What should I do with this Mandarin?

Mandarins handle coppersafe or copper power just fine. What they often don’t handle are bare quarantine tanks (lack of good to browse on). If yours is eating frozen foods well, that is less of an issue.

 

[PWalnuts81]

Mandarins handle coppersafe or copper power just fine. What they often don’t handle are bare quarantine tanks (lack of good to browse on). If yours is eating frozen foods well, that is less of an issue.

Okay thanks. That is crucial info. Does my red scooter blenny dragonette fall into the same category as the mandarin when it comes to copper?

 

[bradreef]

Mandarin is the only fish I don't run through copper. That being said, I've added pods into a qt tank for wrasses.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Okay thanks. That is crucial info. Does my red scooter blenny dragonette fall into the same category as the mandarin when it comes to copper?

Yes, but the same issues of feeding apply. And, just to be clear, never use ionic copper on these fish, just amine-chelated ones.

 

[PWalnuts81]

Mandarins handle coppersafe or copper power just fine. What they often don’t handle are bare quarantine tanks (lack of good to browse on). If yours is eating frozen foods well, that is less of an issue.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to the thread. Honestly, im torn. I know you are highly respected, but I can’t find any other sources to support using copper on mandarins or scooter dragonettes. Is there any data to support this that I’m just not finding?
What I read that was most disturbing was that copper can effect their liver function long term and will affect their appetite to the point they may not eat anymore during treatment.
All my fish are just finishing formalin treatment this weekend and I’m trying to plan the next step in their quarantine protocol.

 

[MnFish1]

There are numerous posts and threads mentioning the risks and successes with chelated copper and mandarins. The key (as already mentioned) is that the fish may have problems if they are not eating for 30 days. (due to copper killing copepods). If the fish is eating other foods well - it is low risk - but watch for symptoms or issues.

 

[PWalnuts81]

There are numerous posts and threads mentioning the risks and successes with chelated copper and mandarins. The key (as already mentioned) is that the fish may have problems if they are not eating for 30 days. (due to copper killing copepods). If the fish is eating other foods well - it is low risk - but watch for symptoms or issues.

Thanks for the response. I guess I will stick with my plan to treat all the fish including the mandarin and red scooter dragonette.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to the thread. Honestly, im torn. I know you are highly respected, but I can’t find any other sources to support using copper on mandarins or scooter dragonettes. Is there any data to support this that I’m just not finding?
What I read that was most disturbing was that copper can effect their liver function long term and will affect their appetite to the point they may not eat anymore during treatment.
All my fish are just finishing formalin treatment this weekend and I’m trying to plan the next step in their quarantine protocol.

When you hear about "liver function" from a hobbyist source, I can guarantee you that they are just speculating, they did NOT send the fish out for histopathology, and that is the only way to truly know if the liver was damaged....and then, as I think I mentioned, if that were even to happen, it was from using ionic copper. However, don't forget, the vast majority of wild mandarins are collected with cyanide, and THAT does cause internal organ damage.

My preferred method for quarantining wild mandarins and dragonettes is to house them solo, in a coral prop system with no other fish, but lots of things for them to browse on. If they hang in there for 40 to 60 days, I move them into their display. However, the converse of that is, if they do contract a protozoan disease, they are pretty much goners....

 

[MnFish1]

When you hear about "liver function" from a hobbyist source, I can guarantee you that they are just speculating, they did NOT send the fish out for histopathology, and that is the only way to truly know if the liver was damaged....and then, as I think I mentioned, if that were even to happen, it was from using ionic copper. However, don't forget, the vast majority of wild mandarins are collected with cyanide, and THAT does cause internal organ damage.

My preferred method for quarantining wild mandarins and dragonettes is to house them solo, in a coral prop system with no other fish, but lots of things for them to browse on. If they hang in there for 40 to 60 days, I move them into their display. However, the converse of that is, if they do contract a protozoan disease, they are pretty much goners....

Thanks - I think this helps a lot of people with these fish