New Dragonet is Too Small

[Crustaceon]

The best frozen food I’ve found for mandarins that they are pretty much guaranteed to eat is Nutramar Ova. Goodluck finding it though. It might as well be a pouch full of infinity stones.

 

[Ksparadeo]

Alright! I got the QT set up. I took water out of the display to try and get some copepods in there. I also took a few empty large hermit crab shells I had for decoration in my display which will make really good hiding spots because they are huge. I found them years ago kayaking on one of the small islands in the ocean. I cleaned them well and they sat on my desk for years before I decided to add them to my tank. My live rock was way too large to add to the quarantine tank but I have a few small pieces of dead coral that have been sitting in there for months which might have copepods on it as well so I put those in there. They’re full of algae and stuff. When I was at the pet store I picked up a bag of sand because I have to replenish my display tank from vacuuming anyways. I added a very, very, thin layer to the quarantine tank and put the rest in my display to add to my thinning bed. We should be good as of now. I’ll feed him a little later. He’s in the tank just hanging out and it’s slightly cloudy from the new sand. I have to wait for it to settle a little more. The filter is running but doesn’t seem too strong but I’m also used to a 50gallon filter running. Not a 5 gallon filter running. Fingers crossed he gets big!!

 

[NB Reefer]

You can also get an acclimation basket or container to put in your main tank. Add some of those shells, maybe some rubble if you have it to make the mandarin comfortable.

 

[AlgaeBarn Verified Sponsor]

They are sponsors and I'm sure would be interested in addressing this. @AlgaeBarn

Thank you for the TAG!

Sorry to hear that the mandarin was smaller than your expectations. We will get you taken care of! I have a few things on my to-do list today, but Ill reach back out today to get this taken care of. We have a plethora of foods the captive bred mandarins will devour :). I DMed you asking for the order number, please provide it when possible.

 

[AlgaeBarn Verified Sponsor]

You can also get an acclimation basket or container to put in your main tank. Add some of those shells, maybe some rubble if you have it to make the mandarin comfortable.

Rubble would be great (ideally from your display tank) and it will help with any ammonia formation. Since the mandarin is in a small tank, you have to be sure you have enough biomedia in the tank to convert the ammonia away.

We are going to overnight a care package for you, it should help keep the little guy well fed.

Dragon Roe - Awesome Roe that is perfectly sized for the captive bred mandarins.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/frozen/dragon-roe/
Can o Cyclops - Preserved copepods.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/canned/can-o-cyclops/
Simple Brine - Decapsulated hatching brine shrimp cysts
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/brine-shrimp/algaebarn-decapsulated-brine-shrimp-eggs/
EcoPods - Our 4 species blend of copepods :-D
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/copepods/ecopods/

 

[Cell]

I've never seen anything but this fantastic level of customer service out of Algae Barn on R2R. They truly understand how powerful this forum is and how a little top notch customer service can go a long ways.

 

[Eva Rose]

We are going to overnight a care package for you, it should help keep the little guy well fed

As I said earlier in this thread @AlgaeBarn is such a nice group. They treat customers with concern & respond with one-on-one care. I look forward to getting one of their blue mandarins in the future. Superb & dedicated customer service. @Ksparadeo look forward to your pics of your mandarin as it grows. :)

 

[Ksparadeo]

Algae Barn is sending me a care package overnighted. I was also able to order some food on Amazon prime which should come in this weekend. So what they’re going to overnight me should hold me over for now until my prime package gets here. I’m a little weary right now with Amazon prime because I ordered the large bucket of instant ocean and they lost my package in delivery. They’re sending me a new one for free and it should be here soon but now I have to make do with a small bag until it gets here. Hopefully they don’t lose the food too ha ha ha! I know with this tough time things are kind of hectic so I can understand.Thanks so much everyone for answering! I think with a quarantine set up and the care package we should be good to go. Hopefully she stays healthy and gets big and I can put her in my display in a few months!

 

[Ksparadeo]

Here’s our little set up!

 

[Ksparadeo]

Like I said it’s slightly cloudy because I did put a thin layer of new sand in the bottom. It should settle soon. It also doesn’t help that my walls are tan and there’s a lot of reflection right now because the room is bright. It’s pretty sunny out today

 

[Crustaceon]

That is a TINY dragonet. Wow. It looks like you’ve put together a great little setup though (that crushed coral will harbor loads of pods so +1 there) and Algae Barn is really stepping up to the plate. Just keep on top of those qt water changes and I’ll bet the little guy will do just fine.

 

[AnneO]

Wow she is tiny! And hungry by the looks of her belly, I hope she makes it, best of luck! ;Dummy1

 

[Ksparadeo]

Rubble would be great (ideally from your display tank) and it will help with any ammonia formation. Since the mandarin is in a small tank, you have to be sure you have enough biomedia in the tank to convert the ammonia away.

We are going to overnight a care package for you, it should help keep the little guy well fed.

Dragon Roe - Awesome Roe that is perfectly sized for the captive bred mandarins.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/frozen/dragon-roe/
Can o Cyclops - Preserved copepods.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/canned/can-o-cyclops/
Simple Brine - Decapsulated hatching brine shrimp cysts
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/brine-shrimp/algaebarn-decapsulated-brine-shrimp-eggs/
EcoPods - Our 4 species blend of copepods :-D
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/copepods/ecopods/

You guys rock! Thanks so much!!

 

[Ksparadeo]

That is a TINY dragonet. Wow. It looks like you’ve put together a great little setup though (that crushed coral will harbor loads of pods so +1 there) and Algae Barn is really stepping up to the plate. Just keep on top of those qt water changes and I’ll bet the little guy will do just fine.

That’s what I was thinking! I’m happy they’re taking care of me! I want the best for this little baby!

 

[Ksparadeo]

As I said earlier in this thread @AlgaeBarn is such a nice group. They treat customers with concern & respond with one-on-one care. I look forward to getting one of their blue mandarins in the future. Superb & dedicated customer service. @Ksparadeo look forward to your pics of your mandarin as it grows. :)

I agree! I’m glad i found this group! Everyone responded so fast and I needed that because I froze up a little. For the first time I didn’t know what was best for this little girl. My first instinct was QT but I also knew I need the copepods from my display tank which I didn’t know how to fully do.

 

[Eva Rose]

Set up looks great.

 

[kevin_e]

Rubble would be great (ideally from your display tank) and it will help with any ammonia formation. Since the mandarin is in a small tank, you have to be sure you have enough biomedia in the tank to convert the ammonia away.

We are going to overnight a care package for you, it should help keep the little guy well fed.

Dragon Roe - Awesome Roe that is perfectly sized for the captive bred mandarins.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/frozen/dragon-roe/
Can o Cyclops - Preserved copepods.
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/aquarium-supplies/foods/canned/can-o-cyclops/
Simple Brine - Decapsulated hatching brine shrimp cysts
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/brine-shrimp/algaebarn-decapsulated-brine-shrimp-eggs/
EcoPods - Our 4 species blend of copepods :-D
https://www.algaebarn.com/shop/live-foods/copepods/ecopods/

That right there is above and beyond service. Tip of the cap.

 

[kevin_e]

Here’s our little set up!

That may be the cutest fish I've ever seen.

 

[Ksparadeo]

We got our care package and a little girl is already eating like crazy!! So cute!!

 

[Damian reef boi]

Holy ^$&#%@ its sooo cute