Rescued this little guy today

[anchor10]

You might also try feeding the little fish eggs that come on sushi like california roll. They sell them at Asian markets and Fresh market. I have read reports of people keeping mandarins alive for years even in nano tanks using these eggs. I had some success a year ago with it -- but the fish I "saved" was too far gone. Be sure to target feed the fish with a turkey baster if necessary.

Tigger pods are a good solution, but they cost $20 a bottle and a healthy mandarin will eat the whole population in less than two weeks. Once they start re-populating -- it's a different story.

Best of luck. jc

 

[ktnjer]

Hey thanks jc....where can I find a good asian market around the Roanoke area? I may have to give that a try because both orders from different places on the net cancelled...said they were out of stock and won't get any more in for another 2 months or so.

 

[anchor10]

There's an asian market on Brambleton... Near the coffepot.

I got mine at Fresh market. I asked the guy at the sushi stand for some and he gave me a little cup like you get salad dressing in. it was like a month's supply. It's the tiny fish eggs they sprinkle on sushi.

jc

 

[ktnjer]

Thanks jc!

 

[ktnjer]

So the reef nutrition Tigger pods i poured into my fuge has ran out it seems. I can't see an inkling of a pod in sight. I believe i will go to the asian fish market and pick up some roe. I was also eyeballing this and I may get it:

Nutramar Ova

 

[anchor10]

If you get them Let me know if they work. If they do I may add them to the fridge at UA.

 

[Sk8r]

Absolute best thing with this guy is a 20g fuge with a basketball sized cheato ball and NO filter socks/sponges. They can get fat off that.

 

[ktnjer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13097342#post13097342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anchor10
If you get them Let me know if they work. If they do I may add them to the fridge at UA.

I surely will!

 

[ktnjer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13097365#post13097365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Absolute best thing with this guy is a 20g fuge with a basketball sized cheato ball and NO filter socks/sponges. They can get fat off that.

I gotta 30G with a basketball size chaeto and no filter socks...

 

[pammy]

I know it's an expensive option, but would Mandarins eat Caviar, or is that bad because of what it might be soaked in? I have an unopened jar of Caviar that I received as a gift, and don't eat the stuff. Thanks! Pam

 

[ktnjer]

Ok I have searched all morning for asian markets and oriental markets and i only found one that was actually still in operation. The down side is they had no roe. At first the guy looked at me like I was stupid when I asked for roe. Then I said the fish eggs in sushi rolls and he said no no...we don't have them. I ordered the prawn eggs for 2 day air delivery so they will be here on Friday.

 

[ktnjer]

Roe works! Picked some up from Szechuan's Restaurant a while ago and dropped some in the tank and the mandarin is going around picking them up pretty heavily. I gotta small cup full for $2 that should feed him for at least a week. My shipment of Nutrimar Ova comes in either Friday or Saturday so I'll post what comes of that. Thanks John for the tip!

 

[pammy]

Hi ktnjer. Does the roe sink easily to the bottom of the tank? Are other fish or inverts eating most of it before the Mandarin gets to it, or is he the only one eating the roe? Do you have to shut off your powerheads to keep the roe relatively still on the sandbed so that the Mandarin can get it?
Thanks!
Pam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13103115#post13103115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ktnjer
Roe works! Picked some up from Szechuan's Restaurant a while ago and dropped some in the tank and the mandarin is going around picking them up pretty heavily. I gotta small cup full for $2 that should feed him for at least a week. My shipment of Nutrimar Ova comes in either Friday or Saturday so I'll post what comes of that. Thanks John for the tip!

 

[ktnjer]

Actually it sinks pretty quickly! The other fish like the Blenny, Damsel, Gramma, and Clowns don't touch it. I didn't notice the hermits eating it neither. It will stir up pretty easily with the powerhead on. I notice the Mandarin does pick the eggs up and chews on them sometimes and spits them out. I put a bunch in there last night so he would have some to graze on throughout the night with the actinics on.

 

[anchor10]

I'm surprised the other fish and inverts aren't eating them. They did in my tank. Not sure if you can find it, but Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine had a nice piece on this in 2007 ( I think) The author even had a diy system for his mandarin that only allowed the mandarin to get to the eggs. Might be wortha Google search.

 

[ktnjer]

Hmm... may hafta check that out.

 

[pammy]

There's the Mandarin "Diner" that Melev came up with. You can see videos of his Mandarin's eating Pellets in it at the following link. I'm sure you could use it for Roe too.
http://www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_diner.html

Pam

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13105962#post13105962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anchor10
I'm surprised the other fish and inverts aren't eating them. They did in my tank. Not sure if you can find it, but Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine had a nice piece on this in 2007 ( I think) The author even had a diy system for his mandarin that only allowed the mandarin to get to the eggs. Might be wortha Google search.

 

[ade]

That is too funny to see the tangs trying to get to the food. Great idea.

 

[ktnjer]

I tried the Mandarin diner, but as you notice in his write up, he mentions the MAndartin was eating pellet food before he put the jar in the tank. So the biggest thing is getting them to eat something different.

 

[ktnjer]

Success! The Mandarin loves the Nutrimar Ova