Is my mandarin too chubby? (pics)

[izzy_073]

I have had a male and female spotted mandarin for about two months now. They have been growing and improving in condition. They have been following each other around like love birds. I’m hoping that they will spawn.

The female has gotten very fat, (beyond the healthy, chubby mandarin pics I have seen). My question is:

Is she full of eggs or is there something wrong? She looks ready to burst. She has been looking like this for two about two weeks.

Here are some pics from different angles:

 

[m2434]

Maybe, but still I say congrats, many people have trouble getting them to eat at all.

 

[darkcirca]

I don't have an answer, but I do want to say now that is a huge mandarin. I've never seen one that large!

 

[izzy_073]

She is between 2 and 2.5 inches long and definitely ROUND. The male with her is a bit longer (chubby, but not that round). I have seen them a bit longer than mine are.

They follow each other around and eat all day.

I have seen them doing a slow spiral dance...but never any spawning.

I hope her unusual roundness is not due to some illness.

 

[janderson8]

Eggs, If you have a male and a female. Do you ever see them doing the dance???

 

[m2434]

The little white barnacle like things on your glass (forget the name right now) and green hair algae suggest nutrients are a little high. Under these conditions lots of pods usually follow....

 

[izzy_073]

Yup, lots of hair algae. This tank is set up specifically to maintain a large pod population. The system is a 50G display with a 150 G refuguim)

The ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and phosphorus are all undetectable by my tests, probably because the algae is soaking them all up.

This system also has a pair of clown fish that I am feeding heavily to get them to breeding condition (probably my source of nutrients)

 

[izzy_073]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11016716#post11016716 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by janderson8
Eggs, If you have a male and a female. Do you ever see them doing the dance???

When should she spawn? Will she get bigger still?

 

[NewMariner]

Congrats she looks full of eggs...hopefully you will be able to collect and raise the young...

Heres a good read on the subject..

Mandarin Breeding

 

[izzy_073]

New Mariner: I read that thread a little while ago and it was riveting. But, alas there is no ending and I have not been able to find the "new site" where it continues.

Is it against this forums rules to post a URL of another site? Is that the reason there is no redirection?

I would love to see how that story ends.

I'm also relieved that her roundness is due to eggs, I was concerned because it happened rather quickly.

 

[easye123]

I got lucky finding a healthy mandarin a while back..he actuallly eats mysis. Anyways.. he has got reall real fat too over the past 4-5 months. However he is more fat around his head and gills..
Your seems really really fat around the stomach..soo it could be eggs. I have no idea about that stuff though...

 

[dragonette]

eggs

or

parasite

Could be REALLY good or REALLY bad.

Either way, just wait it out.

Good Luck!

Jess

 

[mosthated00]

Females swell up like that before they spawn, if they keep spawning your male mandarin will probly appear to be loosing weight in his rear half, just keep a eye on their belly's.. fat bellys is a good thing for them...

wish i had pics of my two, but i had a male for about 3 months before i got the female, i have only seen them spawn once, but i havent been looking, the above has been my experience.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

Re: Is my mandarin too chubby? (pics)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11016422#post11016422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by izzy_073
I have had a male and female spotted mandarin for about two months now. They have been growing and improving in condition. They have been following each other around like love birds. I’m hoping that they will spawn.

The female has gotten very fat, (beyond the healthy, chubby mandarin pics I have seen). My question is:

Is she full of eggs or is there something wrong? She looks ready to burst. She has been looking like this for two about two weeks.

Here are some pics from different angles:

I wish mine would eat and get that big. Mine wont eat any frozen food.