heathlindner25
New member
I'm not chastising by saying this I just wanted you to know, brine shrimp is like popcorn... Not very nutritious
New to This All!! Advice is much appreciated!
- Thread starter mfink08
- Start date
I'm not chastising by saying this I just wanted you to know, brine shrimp is like popcorn... Not very nutritious
Have one powerhead on each side wall of the tank. I've spent time making sure that there are no "dead spots."
My daughter is only with me half of the time, and was not around last night. We have a VERY overly protective and territorial female clown who will attack an intruding hand without notice, so since she's a lil scared of getting "bitten" she always asked me to help. lol.
A major water change is being done tonight as well as the setting up of the skimmer and sump. When you said to "run alot of carbon"...what does that mean? Sorry for asking, but I dont know what that means.
Spray paint was recently used in the garage but not in the house or near the room where the tank is. window to room was closed.
Haven't felt voltage. And along with the Mandarin, we also added a few crabs and snails. No other changes besides the additions.
My daughter is only with me half of the time, and was not around last night. We have a VERY overly protective and territorial female clown who will attack an intruding hand without notice, so since she's a lil scared of getting "bitten" she always asked me to help. lol.
A major water change is being done tonight as well as the setting up of the skimmer and sump. When you said to "run alot of carbon"...what does that mean? Sorry for asking, but I dont know what that means.
Spray paint was recently used in the garage but not in the house or near the room where the tank is. window to room was closed.
Haven't felt voltage. And along with the Mandarin, we also added a few crabs and snails. No other changes besides the additions.
Thanks MM. I appreciate the words of advice. This isnt a hobby i ever expected to "jump" into, but it was almost forced upon me and now I care about the fish and am actually super bummed out about losing two of them. I just want to learn and move forward and keep the fish we do still have safe.
heathlindner25
New member
High quality pellets,carnivore blend the smallest you can get....is this a target Mandarin? Or a green Mandarin
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
When I say run carbon, I mean activated carbon. Get yourself some high quality activated charcoal (carbon) from the pet store. Sometimes also called GAC or Granulated Activated Carbon (charcoal).
It is very absorbent and can even suck up many toxins or contaminants. Often used for water filtration. Your Brita filter has some in it.
It is very absorbent and can even suck up many toxins or contaminants. Often used for water filtration. Your Brita filter has some in it.
CStrickland
New member
This is a super fun hobby, and it may turn out that you very much enjoy it, but it's a lot less fun when it consists of cranking in fish after fish and watching them suffer or starve. That outcome is avoided by researching procedures and animals in advance. Many people start without really knowing what they are getting into, nothing to be ashamed of there. It's how you deal moving forward that says something about you. Personally, I'd take a step back and start from the beginning. Just run it with the snails and hermits and read stickies for a few weeks. We'll help with anything that doesn't make sense.
You seem to be asking for ways you can care for the mandarin in your tank as is? No. Take it back. Read up on them, learn about their food and needs, and then when you've really got your head around it, buy another.
There are so many people here that are very knowledgable and happy to help. I'm still a noob, but just speaking for myself I'm not really comfortable helping people figure out ways to take shortcuts on stuff like tank size and diet. A more extreme analogy would be if you bought a greyhound, brought it home to a tiny apartment with once weekly feedings, and started asking advice on what brand of kibble would make the best of the situation (and making comments about how the dog was in a crate at the store so it can prolly live in one 24/7). I know it's just a fish, but it's still a pet that depends on you
You seem to be asking for ways you can care for the mandarin in your tank as is? No. Take it back. Read up on them, learn about their food and needs, and then when you've really got your head around it, buy another.
There are so many people here that are very knowledgable and happy to help. I'm still a noob, but just speaking for myself I'm not really comfortable helping people figure out ways to take shortcuts on stuff like tank size and diet. A more extreme analogy would be if you bought a greyhound, brought it home to a tiny apartment with once weekly feedings, and started asking advice on what brand of kibble would make the best of the situation (and making comments about how the dog was in a crate at the store so it can prolly live in one 24/7). I know it's just a fish, but it's still a pet that depends on you
okay..CS that analogy is in NO WAY EVEN CLOSE to what Im trying to do. Did you not see that I have other fish besides the Mandarin?? So okay, i take the Mandarin back, and what about the pair of clowns and the blenny? I am not saying that the Mandarin will be okay in a bare tank for however long it takes to set up a new tank. I don't agree with that, as new to the hobby as I may be.
I do however, agree with starting over. It's suggestions and advice on the best thing to do for the fish that I am looking for. I care about them and want them to live happy and healthy. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what i was getting myself into when all the equip. and actual fish were brought to my house. Its not like i decided one morning to go out and buy it all in one stop at petco and expect everything to be fine. I understand that alot of work is involved.
I do however, agree with starting over. It's suggestions and advice on the best thing to do for the fish that I am looking for. I care about them and want them to live happy and healthy. I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what i was getting myself into when all the equip. and actual fish were brought to my house. Its not like i decided one morning to go out and buy it all in one stop at petco and expect everything to be fine. I understand that alot of work is involved.
gone fishin
New member
I would suggest one of the three options.
1. Return the mandarin. Once your sump/refugium is set up and an established pod population is achieved get another fish.
2. Buy packs of pods multiple times a week for months while getting the sump/fuge setup. An expensive option.
3. Do nothing. IMO not really an option but thought I would include it.
Just my 2 cents worth.
1. Return the mandarin. Once your sump/refugium is set up and an established pod population is achieved get another fish.
2. Buy packs of pods multiple times a week for months while getting the sump/fuge setup. An expensive option.
3. Do nothing. IMO not really an option but thought I would include it.
Just my 2 cents worth.
CStrickland
New member
If I were you I would ask the store if they'll buy the clowns and blenny for store credit. Many do and you'll have a chance to get set up properly.
If I read this wrong, my bad. It sounded like you decided not to return the mandarin, and the stuff about brine shrimp made me think you were gonna try to keep her.
It's a lot of work that's very rewarding, starting fresh will be easier and funner imo
If I read this wrong, my bad. It sounded like you decided not to return the mandarin, and the stuff about brine shrimp made me think you were gonna try to keep her.
If you're going with this now
Then congrats on making a difficult choice to return a pretty fish that has a very good chance of dying of starvation in your tank.
It's a lot of work that's very rewarding, starting fresh will be easier and funner imo
Martini5788
New member
Everyone will always have a lot of opinions on mandarins. I commend you for making the decision to take it back to the store, good job! As for the other fish( clowns and blenny) I would put them in the qt tank that you have for observation. Watch them very closely for any signs of illness and treat them based on symptoms. There are a variety of parasites that could have been introduced to the tank via the new additions that would first attack the tangs because they are more sensitive. So as soon as you can, remove all fish from your display tank and
Place into a qt. get some carbon and run it in your dt just in case there is a toxic pollutant in the water. Please test the water and post the parameters on here so we can help you further
Place into a qt. get some carbon and run it in your dt just in case there is a toxic pollutant in the water. Please test the water and post the parameters on here so we can help you further
MondoBongo
Obligate Feeder Obsessed
Yes but in bulk. They sell mesh media bags that you out the bulk stuff in to.
In an emergency situation I've run a lot, several cups, in my reef. Not for normal situations, obviously.
Understand that this is a Hail Mary. There are limited options at our disposal as keepers when things go pear shaped. Even less when a root cause cannot be readily identified, so carbon and a water change are the easiest, and often quickest, steps that you can take with limited information. If it is an equipment malfunction issue like a heater stuck on or off, or stray voltage, of course neither of this will have an effect. However they're quick to implement, and in the event it is "something in the water" can have immediate positive effects.
