I've got a mandarin that potentially needs a good home - someone with mandarin experience and the capabilities and desire to have another. I did a lot of homework and prep before I got her (approx 10 days ago). She would hunt and eat for about a week then she slowly developed some type of issue where she gulps and has what looks like a cough. I've posted on some forums and the consensus seems to be it's most likely due to the young age of my tank (2 months since cycle - I've had copepods in the tank for 4 weeks prior to introducing the mandarin, which was the first fish. I also restock pods.). Anyway, if you're interested let me know. My main goal is to ensure she survives. Some taken today are below.
Mandarin Goby for good home
- Thread starter TedsReef
- Start date
Depending on where you are / if someone else hasn’t already offered to take her I might be able to give her a home. There are pods everywhere in my tank. Only other fish inhabitants are two Chromis currently due to a very painful fish die-off several months ago.
I’ve added a photo of a shot of my glass and circled the largest of the pods visible.
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I’ve added a photo of a shot of my glass and circled the largest of the pods visible.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
thanks for joining the club. Feel free to ask us questions and join in on the fun. This group will help you grow in the hobby and help avoid mistakes in the future as well. Mandarins need a very well established tank, at least a year with tons of critters to eat on. You can also just try adding pods to your tank. I would go with a tripple dose with a live mandarin already in the tank. Algae Barn sells them and many shops do as well. Don't hesitate to ask if you need guidance
Glad to be here! I read up quite a bit on mandarins before I got her. I stocked my tank with tisbe pods from PodYourReef 1 month before introducing her. They were everywhere before I put her in. When I noticed her started to breathe funny I ran out and got tigger pods from reef nutrition. She doesn't seem interested in those whatsoever so I think they may be a bit big for her mouth at the moment. I had ordered additional tisbe and tigger pods from algae barn this week and they should arrive on Wednesday. I'm thinking it has to do with my tank being so new and not with a food supply. I put a bubbler in the tank today to help with O2 levels incase I had some type of bacteria outbreak that is sucking up all the oxygen. Other than the breathing and not being as active I see no signs of issues on her.
The reasons you were having issues is
1. Tank maturity. A tank should be at least 6 months old before adding a mandarin (exception being tank upgrade using mature rock, but even then you still need at least 3)
2. Food sources for the copepods. You need to have a few fish to create enough nutrients in the tank to support the level of copepod growth required for mandarins even in a pretty large tank.
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1. Tank maturity. A tank should be at least 6 months old before adding a mandarin (exception being tank upgrade using mature rock, but even then you still need at least 3)
2. Food sources for the copepods. You need to have a few fish to create enough nutrients in the tank to support the level of copepod growth required for mandarins even in a pretty large tank.
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Thanks. I read up a lot on mandarins before I got one and thought I was prepared. Unfortunately, I never read anything concerning tank age. I had added two bags of tisbe pods 1 month prior to introducing the mandarin (first fish). I had a tisbe culture going as well to keep adding pods. I'd feed 5-10ml of phyto to the tank nightly as well as spot feed (into copepod dense spots) small amounts of crushed pellets or left over reef roid mixture every 4 days. I added a bottle of reef nutrition tigger pods when I introduced the mandarin and placed an order for more pods with Algae Barn this week. Even if something was wrong with my plan, I thought I was in better shape than to see negative effects in a week. I'm talking with a few people who replied to get her in one of their hands in the next day or two.
Its definately good to be giving her away and try again when you're ready. I would start slowly filling out your stocking list and maybe give it another try in 6 months. You big is your tank?
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That's the problem then. A mandy needs about 50-100lb of rock to keep a self sustaining copepod population. You can't fit that much rock in a 20.
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