How to QT a Mandarin with Copper/Hypo?

[SkullV]

Just curious as to how everyone is putting their Mandarins through QT with prophylactic treatment for Cryptocaryon irritans? Mostly concerned with what they would eat while they are in a bare tank being treated?

Please do not tell me they are immune to Ich (they are not) or that prophylactic treatment is not needed.

Thanks!

 

[hvacman250]

From the 4 million hours of research I have done on this subject, I think the best woudl be tank transfer method and dose the tank(s) with pods.

I used to be a never quarantine person, to now a quarantine freak. I actually have 2 Q tanks. One 29 for fish/copper. One 29 for corals/inverts/fish that wont see copper (mandarins, angels, etc.)

Currently I am not even considering a mandarin for the very reasons you stae, but if I do, it will be with the tank transfer method (12 days) and pod supplimenting as long as possible.

 

[jannima]

Don't do it. I had a 2 years fat mandarin, ate prepared food. When my tank had ick outbreak, all the fishes were treated with hypo, only mandarin didn't make it.

 

[pacislandaqua]

mandarins are sensitive to hypo and meds. Luckily they are very resistant to ICH and other diseases due to their slime coat. I would use a less invasive medication such as Quinine sulfate. Do this for the recommended 7 days and plop him in the DT. keep a close eye though as Quinine is very potent stuff against ICH, but also your best bet IMO/IME.

 

[aquaph8]

Just observation for me, there's a good chance you won't need to do anything more

 

[SkullV]

Just observation for me, there's a good chance you won't need to do anything more

Just a risk I'm not willing to take. If it can't receive a prophylactic treatment it won't go in the tank.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

I don't think a mandarin would be a good fish to have then. It will probably die while you treat it because most don't take to prepared foods very well and ick treatments kill pods which the mandarin needs. They hunt them every moment they are awake. Once they get skinny they are gonners because of something to do with their stomach bacteria and digestion(can't remember at the top of my head at midnight lol).

 

[JaneG]

Just a risk I'm not willing to take. If it can't receive a prophylactic treatment it won't go in the tank.

The solution is to buy an ORA mandarin! I have a pair of them. They are captive bred and, straight from the bag, should have no chance of disease. As an added bonus, they eat prepared foods including pellets so if you did need to treat for something you can still feed them.

 

[frog.pauley]

i have to agree with JaneG here! I also had an ORA Mandarin and it ate everything....the only problem, and this is tru, a green sepant star thought the mandy made a great lunch! Star sure didnt care about the flavor of the ORA fish

 

[small alien]

The solution is to buy an ORA mandarin! I have a pair of them. They are captive bred and, straight from the bag, should have no chance of disease. As an added bonus, they eat prepared foods including pellets so if you did need to treat for something you can still feed them.

This is too optimistic, both the no disease part and the eating part. I'd say skip it. Doesn't sound like the fish for you.

 

[aquaph8]

I agree, Ora's not breeding magical fish.

 

[small alien]

janeg, I don't mean to be a wet blanket on your success. That's great. But be careful of extrapolating too much. In general, people don't buy ORA fish FROM ORA, they buy from a retail vendor who may or may not have disease issues. And we don't KNOW that ORA doesn't have or couldn't at some time have a disease issue. Further, many have had issues with their ORA mandarins not eating prepared foods well and even dying of starvation in the presence of tons of foods that they supposedly were already eating at ORA. So, there you go. Cheers.

 

[small alien]

Hey, Aquaph8, race you to 3,000 posts. Ready....go!

 

[aquaph8]

I had a 5 year head start too

 

[SkullV]

Hm, sounds like a Mandarin is just going to be a no-go in this tank. Thanks for all the info.

 

[JaneG]

This is too optimistic, both the no disease part and the eating part. I'd say skip it. Doesn't sound like the fish for you.

Further, many have had issues with their ORA mandarins not eating prepared foods well and even dying of starvation in the presence of tons of foods that they supposedly were already eating at ORA. So, there you go. Cheers.

I meant from the bag... if your fish store is at least decent, you should be able to get them from the bag. If ORA had an outbreak of disease, everyone would certainly know it - also, their systems are only linked with their other CB fish, so there shouldn't be much (if any) chance of disease. They are still mandarins - I never said they were magic. They warrant special care - spot feeding with no flow when doing so, non-aggressive eaters, etc. This is why I'm sure some have had issues with theirs. I've encountered 3 and all of them ate during acclimation (even pellets with mine).

Additionally, regardless of any other factors, it seems entirely irresponsible to buy a wild caught fish when given the choice to buy CB. JMO though. :beer:

 

[xtlosx]

I must admit, I have had my Mandarin for 2 months now, and he eats pods, mysis, and bloodworms. I know that there will be much flaming here, but he was not QT'd at all, just right into the DT at night.

All is well so far, he is an ORA Spotted Mandarin.... Just my .02.