Need copepods

[cee]

I just point out the cyanide collection techniques as I've lost fish that were collected that way. Although they survive awhile, they generally refuse to eat or eat vigorously and eventually waste away. This is not the hobbyist's fault and QTing a mandarin can be can be worse then getting them into an established tank IMO. Just keep an eye on him and if he starts to look emaciated it is time for intervention.

 

[Fishboy42]

Since they are so difficult to collect, many of them are now speared with mini spearguns, no-joke! These guys are good enough not only to hit them, but to get them in the fleshy part of the tail. The wounds generally heal before they reach retail, but you can sometimes find the scars.

Try to keep offering the prepared diets alongside doing what you can with live feeds. Sometimes they seem to eventually "try" it.

 

[cee]

Since they are so difficult to collect, many of them are now speared with mini spearguns, no-joke! These guys are good enough not only to hit them, but to get them in the fleshy part of the tail. The wounds generally heal before they reach retail, but you can sometimes find the scars.

Interesting, I did not know that. I was told by a collector in Hawaii that some of the deepwater fish had a syringe needle inserted into their swim bladder to allow them to be brought to the surface much quicker. Otherwise it would take a very long time to collect some of them. This may explain the higher prices.