Mandarin update

[lcs]

I want to share my early success with my first mandarin. I've had him for almost five months and he's doing well. He was thin but willing to eat frozen when I got him and I knew I had a good pod population going - the tank was a year and a half old with a thriving 'fuge - but I was still really nervous about getting one! I'm absolutely sure that things wouldn't be going so well if it weren't for EllieSuz introducing me to Nutramar Ova and being so generous with her supply until I could get some of my own (also possible thanks to her pushing John at Marine Oasis into ordering some!) :thumbsup::beer:

I have been feeding the 'fuge with phytoplankton about every other day and swishing things around in there to help move some goodies into the DT (it's a hang on 'fuge). Right now the mandarin gets target fed twice a day, but for about two months I was feeding him three to four times a day. He goes right to the same rock when he sees me at the tank and especially when I turne the powerheads off. He picked that up the first couple of times I did it. Thank goodness I'm a stay at home mom for now! The only annoyance about this is that while he's eating I have to beat off my coral beauty and wrasse :crazy1:

I managed to dig up a picture I posted when I first put him in the tank in April

And here he is now . . . he's put on weight, but unfortunately he lost is first dorsal fin early on. I have no idea how, but I hope it grows back! The ponape is on the rock where I feed him.

Isn't he awesome?!

 

[boosted chemist]

Try blood worms, my manderine LOVES them more than mysis or brine.

 

[Henry Colf]

Excellent job!!! A very trying species to keep, he looks nice and fat!!!!

 

[getzvillereefer]

Absolutely gorgeous. I applaud your guts to give one a shot. I have always found them stunning, but am far too inexperienced and chicken to try and keep one myself...

 

[rjmayes34]

hes looking great now!!!!!
I remember when you posted the first pic and everyone said good luck, but be ready because he is so skinny!
Glad to see he has recouped and is doing great now!! I have a nice fat spotted one and they really are sweet additions to any tank!
Thats weird about his one fin, never seen that or have read of that happening. Especially since he had it when you got him. Maybe another fish went after him and nipped it off, but the whole thing.....im not sure

 

[lcs]

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I can't believe I forgot to mention one of the most exciting things . . . he's eating mysis!! Well . . . not all the time . . . about 50/50 spitting/eating, but yay!! I add them with the prawn eggs at every feeding. I just recently started adding Spectrum pellets.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Very nice! This is one of my all time favorite fish and it's great to see people have success with them.

 

[EllieSuz]

Congratulations, Lisa. If anyone could bring him around, it's you. Holy Cats, what a difference in the before and after shots. Oh, one more thing...how about taking some pictures of my tank sometime? Your photos are excellent.

 

[rjn82291]

mandarins are incredible...love the one i have as well

 

[lcs]

Congratulations, Lisa. If anyone could bring him around, it's you. Holy Cats, what a difference in the before and after shots. Oh, one more thing...how about taking some pictures of my tank sometime? Your photos are excellent.

Can you believe it?! There's no way I could have done it if you hadn't helped so a huge thanks for that! Thanks for the compliment on the photos; I'm sure there are folks here who are way better than me, but I'd be more than happy to try to get some good shots of your tank. You really do need to share them here - it's a great tank! We also need to set up a time soon for you to come over to my place now that we're all settled into the school routine.

I also really think my success (so far, knock on wood) has to do with him as well. He's a good eater, picked up on the target feeding quickly, and just seemed to want to do well, if you know what I mean.

 

[lcs]

Try blood worms, my manderine LOVES them more than mysis or brine.

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I bought some yesterday and have been adding it to the ova. He took it first try! He is now eating three things - the Nutramar Ova, mysis, and now the bloodworms. Whoo and hoo!

 

[toddmh]

he sure looks fat now..great job nursing back to health

 

[lcs]

He ate two Spectrum pellets tonight!! :celeb1::bounce2::spin1::bounce3:

He spit back out some dust, but I'm pretty sure he actually ingested some!

Whoo-hoo!!!