Ok I Think I Screwed Up!

[rich19020]

I went to the local fish store with my kids to buy a third fish. I have a 14 gallon bio cube set up since May. The store recommended a mandarin dragon, since my kids where attached to it.

I came home and read up on the fish and looks like my tank is too too small for him. I do have isopods which come out at night. The store sold me frozen cyclops also.

Should I attempt to keep him? Will the stores take fish back, especially if they recommended a fish not suited for my tank?

 

[RedStangGA]

Is it eating prepared foods? If so I'd try keeping it. But from what I've read there's no way a 14g can produce enough pods to keep it alive.

Note: I'm no expert! But have researched these little guys heavily as I want one as well.

 

[pkirby]

at 14 gallons, unless you heavily supplement the pod population, I don't think he'll be able to stay fed. There are some which will eat frozen food, and if he will eat the frozen food then you may be able to keep him alive. It's less than ideal considering the size of the tank... but at least he won't starve to death. Most eat pods only though, and unless you're adding pods to the tank on a near daily basis to keep him fed... He'll starve.

 

[rich19020]

This is my second day with the fish. I see it pluck its mouth down a few times a day like it was eating something. Not sure. Today I put some frozen cyclops in the water.

 

[rogermccray]

I read somewhere on here that you may need to do more then just put his food in the water to train him to eat. I am going to see if I can hunt down the instructions I found.

 

[rogermccray]

This seems to be a good thread for a Mandarin.

Mandarin Thread

 

[enjetek]

Going to be quite a challenge. If it were me I'd return it.

 

[Palting]

The usual recommendation is a minimum 75 gal tank that is at least 6 months to a year old to be able to keep a mandarin long term.

Keeping them fed is the challenge. They eat so slow they have to feed all day, and they eat live food. For a 14g, you'll have to provide copepods all day long. If you are one of the lucky one's where it will eat prepared foods, you have to make sure it can get to it before the other fish do.

If I were you, I would return it. I don't believe it will survive long term, but slowly waste away over several months. I would tell the LFS owner to give you your money back for giving you bad advice and selling you the wrong fish for your tank.

 

[rich19020]

I'm going to call the store and see if they will take it back. Is it common for fish stores to take it back?

 

[Palting]

I'm going to call the store and see if they will take it back. Is it common for fish stores to take it back?

It depends on the store, and your relationship with them. I would approach them as an angry, dissatisfied customer, demanding they take the fish and give your money back. A good LFS would NOT have sold a mandarin to someone with a 14 gal tank.

 

[Palting]

Sorry, double post

 

[Ruskin]

Rich, it seems everyone has said it already. Take the fish back. Tell the store what you think about them making such a poor recommendation on a fish for your tank and choose something better.

Kudos to you though for knowing you made a mistake and trying to remedy it. If they don't take the fish back, and don't apologize for their mistake, lesson learned. Don't shop there again.

 

[snorvich]

The usual recommendation is a minimum 75 gal tank that is at least 6 months to a year old to be able to keep a mandarin long term.

Keeping them fed is the challenge. They eat so slow they have to feed all day, and they eat live food. For a 14g, you'll have to provide copepods all day long. If you are one of the lucky one's where it will eat prepared foods, you have to make sure it can get to it before the other fish do.

If I were you, I would return it. I don't believe it will survive long term, but slowly waste away over several months. I would tell the LFS owner to give you your money back for giving you bad advice and selling you the wrong fish for your tank.

Yes, return it. If the LFS does not give you your money back, change LFS. Your odds of success, especially as a new to the hobby with limited time, is slim to none. Sorry, don't want to be the bearer of bad tidings.

 

[snorvich]

Rich, it seems everyone has said it already. Take the fish back. Tell the store what you think about them making such a poor recommendation on a fish for your tank and choose something better.

Kudos to you though for knowing you made a mistake and trying to remedy it. If they don't take the fish back, and don't apologize for their mistake, lesson learned. Don't shop there again.

Absolutely, congrats on recognizing your mistake. And absolutely do not believe advice from that LFS.

 

[rich19020]

I called the store today and they think that since they had the fish eating frozen cyclops I should be ok. They also told me that they do not have a return policy. Really ****ed off about that, since I spent alot of money there.

I think I'm going to keep him for alittle while then find a local reefer in my local area with a bigger tank. If anybody lives near Philadelphia please let me know. Thanks everybody.

 

[mess7777]

Find a local marine aquarium forum with buy and sell classifieds. You will be able to find someone I am sure. Time to find a new LFS! This one doesn't deserve your money.

 

[WetShepherd]

I'm sorry to hear you're having that problem Rich - it's got me PO'd just reading about it. You could always try returning it by threatening your continued business, but I think your plan of finding someone else with a suitable tank is a better idea - it doesn't sound like it's in the fishes best interest to go back to that store.

If they recommend putting a 75g fish in a 14g tank, it makes you wonder what else they've done and how they take care of their fish before sale. Return policy aside, it sounds like you're better off switching to another LFS anyway. Best of luck.

 

[rich19020]

Just got off the phone with another store and they gave me some hope. I can hatch my own cyclopes and buy some pregrown. They think I have a chance raising this fish as long as I keep up with the live food in the tank.

I'm feeling alittle better. Still might find a new home, but will wait until Sept after traveling. Just sucks giving up the fish since the kids picked it out. The last time I had to bring back a turbo snail because it got too big my son cried for 2 hours.

 

[tmz]

Serious challege to keep it fed. Most will starve over a few months in smaller tanks without live pods.

 

[snorvich]

Serious challege to keep it fed. Most will starve over a few months in smaller tanks without live pods.

Unfortunately. I would definitely NOT return to the original LFS, and I would be skeptical of the second LFS who just wants to sell you something.