Mandarin and Ich

[JTL]

Has anyone ever found ich on their mandarin? I am trying to decide whether to quarantine or not, but I cannot afford to get ich in my DT.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

My understanding is they have such a heavy slimecoat, ich cannot attach.

 

[cas]

It is possible for a mandarin to get ich as it usually attacks the gills first.

 

[Robka]

Has anyone ever found ich on their mandarin? I am trying to decide whether to quarantine or not, but I cannot afford to get ich in my DT.

I asked this same question awhile back and the consensus was that a Mandarin would have a tough time making it through the QT time, but putting him or her directly into your DT brings a risk of ich introduction. I decided not to chance it and stayed away from this fish.

Good luck,

Robka

 

[JTL]

I asked this same question awhile back and the consensus was that a Mandarin would have a tough time making it through the QT time, but putting him or her directly into your DT brings a risk of ich introduction. I decided not to chance it and stayed away from this fish.

Good luck,

Robka

I have read quite a bit about this fish and the difficulties of keeping one and my conclusion is that they can get ich or at least carry ich to a DT, but who has actually witnessed this. I actually have a complete smaller tank set up in addition to my DT that I could use as a QT. This only problem is that I have a 6 line in there and the competition for pods would likely be a problem. I could move the six line, but the more I read I'm not sure I want the six line in my DT causing problems. Getting a mandarin really does complicate things and then you have the fact that rarely do they exist long term in aquaria.

 

[snorvich]

Getting a mandarin really does complicate things and then you have the fact that rarely do they exist long term in aquaria.

What is long term to you? Mine have no problem but they are in a larger tank and are over 5 years old. I do not feel that QT a mandarin will work for several reasons, not the least of which is food supply.

On a separate note, I would never add a sixline to any of my tanks.

 

[JTL]

What is long term to you? Mine have no problem but they are in a larger tank and are over 5 years old. I do not feel that QT a mandarin will work for several reasons, not the least of which is food supply.

On a separate note, I would never add a sixline to any of my tanks.

Congrats on having a mandarin for 5 years, but me thinks you are probably an exception based on what I have read. You know better than most what can and often does happpen with mandarins. Actually, my QT is really a completely seperate tank complete with sump, refugium and pods, so were it not for the sixline I would have no problem putting one in there.

Like your experience with mandarins, some people have good success with sixlines not causing problems. I have one in a 35g with an orchid dottyback and two clowns and it is not a problem. I am however reluctant to transfer it to my DT that includes some other fish that may change its behavior.