New mandarin sick after two weeks? Need help identifying asap!

[DannyGT]

As the title said. New fish. Got him from my LFS where Ive picked them all up from. I got there on delivery day actually. He was still in his arrival bag. He was perfect.

Got home, acclimated him for about 30min, and made sure not to mix any of that water back in the tank. Same thing I've done for all of mine, and I've had no real issues.

Couple of days ago I noticed that his left front fin and rear fin, looked like they had a random pattern of faded patches. Then I couldn't notice as heavy of an amount yesterday,but still present, and today it's the worst ... The little guy is moving all around as he normally does and always nitpicking around, so I think he's eating. My tank is fairly new, about 5months old. Levels are all within normal range and I have 9 other fish in this 40 g tank, no issues at all. My royal Gramma can be a little territorial but he's oddly nice to the mandarin so no issues there. I snapped some pics in hopes you can help me identify. All other fish are behaving and acting normal.

 

[bluemon]

Did you see it eat prepared foods in the LFS?

If you put a mandarin in a 5 month old 40g with 9 other fish, it will 100% starve to death unless they actively eat frozen (which it doesn’t seem like it does)

 

[Elira_6301]

Mine ate live copepods.

He looks to have tail and fin rot possible or flukes.

 

[DannyGT]

I mean he's all over the rocks and sand picking at it the way I see other mandarins eat. I stocked my tank early with copepods and when I feed I do a mix of frozen, crushed pellets and a pinch of frozen copepods and they all go to town.

It's true, I can't say he goes after it at all, but then again he never stops moving around grazing off the rocks etc.

Does the fading look like it's from starvation or and illness?

 

[vetteguy53081]

As the title said. New fish. Got him from my LFS where Ive picked them all up from. I got there on delivery day actually. He was still in his arrival bag. He was perfect.

Got home, acclimated him for about 30min, and made sure not to mix any of that water back in the tank. Same thing I've done for all of mine, and I've had no real issues.

Couple of days ago I noticed that his left front fin and rear fin, looked like they had a random pattern of faded patches. Then I couldn't notice as heavy of an amount yesterday,but still present, and today it's the worst ... The little guy is moving all around as he normally does and always nitpicking around, so I think he's eating. My tank is fairly new, about 5months old. Levels are all within normal range and I have 9 other fish in this 40 g tank, no issues at all. My royal Gramma can be a little territorial but he's oddly nice to the mandarin so no issues there. I snapped some pics in hopes you can help me identify. All other fish are behaving and acting normal.

What other fish are in with it? I see signs of aggression and fish a little thin suggesting insufficient amount of pods/food or fish being outcompeted for food. 30 mins is a low amount of time for acclimation as you want to flat bag 15-20 mins alone and then equalize salinity, however i dont think acclimation plays a role here
The fading looks to be injury from aggression or biting from another occupant

 

[Elira_6301]

That looks like illness to me. Keep an eye out for his eyes turning gray and bubbly. Can you separate him and feed him in a hospital tank? Any other fish housed with him?

 

[bluemon]

I mean he's all over the rocks and sand picking at it the way I see other mandarins eat. I stocked my tank early with copepods and when I feed I do a mix of frozen, crushed pellets and a pinch of frozen copepods and they all go to town.

It's true, I can't say he goes after it at all, but then again he never stops moving around grazing off the rocks etc.

Does the fading look like it's from starvation or and illness?

Still probably isn’t enough food for him.

What else is the fish going to do in the face of a barren tank? It can try its best to peck at rocks or just sit and starve.

At this point, I don’t think there is a realistic way to save the fish from starvation with the current bioload. Maybe bar dumping copepod cultures daily

 

[DannyGT]

2 clowns, firefish, royal Gramma, two PJs, springer damsel, yellow watch man/pistol, this mandarin.

An emerald, peppermint, and a decent sized CUC

They all live in harmony, I don't know how but it's been a solid tank and a joy. I'd know if they were picking on him, and they're not.

I'll try to grab some live pods tomorrow to see if his behavior changes. The more I look at this the more I'm starting to wonder if he has brook...

 

[Elira_6301]

2 clowns, firefish, royal Gramma, two PJs, springer damsel, yellow watch man/pistol, this mandarin.

An emerald, peppermint, and a decent sized CUC

They all live in harmony, I don't know how but it's been a solid tank and a joy. I'd know if they were picking on him, and they're not.

I'll try to grab some live pods tomorrow to see if his behavior changes. The more I look at this the more I'm starting to wonder if he has brook...

I wouldn't doubt that one bit. I'd try Rally. You can treat the entire tank with that. If not you could separate him and treat him with an empty tank and make sure you can watch him eating. But it definitely looks more like a disease IMO.

 

[KyleW22]

I'm not a mandarin expert but I will say even if you added copepods a while ago and haven't restocked, they're likely gone or at least very depleted. My clownfish go to town on any copepods I put in the tank. Can you see the pods on the glass at night? If not, they may be depleted below what it needs to thrive

 

[Elira_6301]

2 clowns, firefish, royal Gramma, two PJs, springer damsel, yellow watch man/pistol, this mandarin.

An emerald, peppermint, and a decent sized CUC

They all live in harmony, I don't know how but it's been a solid tank and a joy. I'd know if they were picking on him, and they're not.

I'll try to grab some live pods tomorrow to see if his behavior changes. The more I look at this the more I'm starting to wonder if he has brook...

Also hun, you could always put him in a special separation box with food till you get him fattened up. I dont think even a high dose of copepods in a large tank will help to get him fat quickly. Do look for any similar body damage forming on your other fish.

 

[vetteguy53081]

2 clowns, firefish, royal Gramma, two PJs, springer damsel, yellow watch man/pistol, this mandarin.

An emerald, peppermint, and a decent sized CUC

They all live in harmony, I don't know how but it's been a solid tank and a joy. I'd know if they were picking on him, and they're not.

I'll try to grab some live pods tomorrow to see if his behavior changes. The more I look at this the more I'm starting to wonder if he has brook...

They are vulnerable to attack from certain tankmates. Ruby rally pro will not address ich and pods will run thru the holes of an acclimation makes allowing mandarin to starve. Gramma and/or damsel my suspects

 

[DannyGT]

They are vulnerable to attack from certain tankmates. Ruby rally pro will not address ich and pods will run thru the holes of an acclimation makes allowing mandarin to starve. Gramma and/or damsel my suspects

I'd probably agree with you, but my Royal absolutely adored my Red Ruby Dragon—at least until it somehow slipped out of the tank. It was the only fish he would interact with in this fascinating display, opening his mouth wide and tapping, almost as if kissing the dragonette. He never harmed it, not even once. However, with this one, he doesn’t replicate that behavior. In fact, he completely ignores it and shows no interest whatsoever.

I chose the Springer Damsel because it’s one of the most effective pest controllers for a mixed reef. Besides, they look incredible under mixed lighting, and they’re known to be the least aggressive damsels—hence, I avoided the more aggressive varieties. So far, I haven’t observed any aggression or signs of territorial behavior between the two. They will puff up and do that little sideways swim pattern at my PJs every once and a while, and I've seen them try to back up my clowns a couple of times, but hilariously the clowns just look at them and they calm down.

I suspect the discoloration might be due to starvation. I really hope its not Brook or the like...

I plan to stock up on a good supply of live pods today to see if that improves things. Unfortunately, setting up a quarantine tank isn’t feasible for me right now—I lack the space, time, and equipment for it. Fingers crossed this helps

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'd probably agree with you, but my Royal absolutely adored my Red Ruby Dragon—at least until it somehow slipped out of the tank. It was the only fish he would interact with in this fascinating display, opening his mouth wide and tapping, almost as if kissing the dragonette. He never harmed it, not even once. However, with this one, he doesn’t replicate that behavior. In fact, he completely ignores it and shows no interest whatsoever.

I chose the Springer Damsel because it’s one of the most effective pest controllers for a mixed reef. Besides, they look incredible under mixed lighting, and they’re known to be the least aggressive damsels—hence, I avoided the more aggressive varieties. So far, I haven’t observed any aggression or signs of territorial behavior between the two. They will puff up and do that little sideways swim pattern at my PJs every once and a while, and I've seen them try to back up my clowns a couple of times, but hilariously the clowns just look at them and they calm down.

I suspect the discoloration might be due to starvation. I really hope its not Brook or the like...

I plan to stock up on a good supply of live pods today to see if that improves things. Unfortunately, setting up a quarantine tank isn’t feasible for me right now—I lack the space, time, and equipment for it. Fingers crossed this helps

One way to determine is over the next couple of feedings, set your cell phone on video mode for 20-30 mins and walk away. . . YOU MUST WALK AWAY AS THEY KNOW YOU ARE THERE. Come back and review video and see if you see any one annoying the mandarin.

 

[DannyGT]

Mine ate live copepods.

He looks to have tail and fin rot possible or flukes.

So you may be right. Today he is not as pale, but his left fin, where one of the blemishes were, is now a perfect hole. Is that fin rot?

I got two bottles of pods today. Do you think I need meds or focus on the feeding first, then assess?

 

[Lavey29]

I mean he's all over the rocks and sand picking at it the way I see other mandarins eat. I stocked my tank early with copepods and when I feed I do a mix of frozen, crushed pellets and a pinch of frozen copepods and they all go to town.

It's true, I can't say he goes after it at all, but then again he never stops moving around grazing off the rocks etc.

Does the fading look like it's from starvation or and illness?

You need to drop a jar of pods in weekly.

 

[Elira_6301]

So you may be right. Today he is not as pale, but his left fin, where one of the blemishes were, is now a perfect hole. Is that fin rot?

I got two bottles of pods today. Do you think I need meds or focus on the feeding first, then assess?

You need to separate him and get him some API Cure. He can eat at the same time. Id stick him any any kind of small tank with an airstone and maybe a sponge filter. Start treating asap.

 

[DannyGT]

I won't be able to get any QT set up in time, I don't think. Can I broadcast it into the tank without harming anything else?

 

[Elira_6301]

I won't be able to get any QT set up in time, I don't think. Can I broadcast it into the tank without harming anything else?

Rally works in the showcase tanks.

 

[Elira_6301]

I won't be able to get any QT set up in time, I don't think. Can I broadcast it into the tank without harming anything else?

When you can, just run out and get a cheap 10 gallon tank. Put some saltwater, a sponge filter and an airstone. Use it as a quarantine tank.

Just make sure when you treat in main tank to add plenty of extra oxygen. I used my powerhead and make it blow the top of the water to create a lot of oxygen.