Help, strange behavior from my mandarin

[Reefing_addiction]

Not sure what’s her deal. She is just swing at the top of the tank? Earlier she was doing her normal. Picking at the rocks and what not.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not typical behavior. How does skin look? Any dots or white film on skin. Fish generally do this looking for relief from being irritated. Also, look at ammonia and nitrate levels as it may be seeking oxygen.
One thing to note, theyve been known to sleep at top of tank although lights are still on.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Not typical behavior. How does skin look? Any dots or white film on skin. Fish generally do this looking for relief from being irritated. Also, look at ammonia and nitrate levels as it may be seeking oxygen.
One thing to note, theyve been known to sleep at top of tank although lights are still on.

She looks great. She did go back to the bottom. no ammonia. Nitrates between 5-12 dkh was at 8.8 yesterday salinity 1.026

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I should add that i just added a fuge (Saturday) This increased my total wAter volume by 2.5 g and I just recently (Sunday) did a 2.5g water change. I set my fuge up with sand from my dt tank sand bed.

I also switched to Red Sea coral pro salt vs whatever my LFS was using. Before switching my dkh was low and so was my salinity

 

[btackerman]

My pair do the same thing. I have only assumed they where eating the fish eggs or pods from the water column.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

My pair do the same thing. I have only assumed they where eating the fish eggs or pods from the water column.

That would make sense she was swimming in front of where the gravity feed from my fuge is. Darn fish acting all weird before I go to bed got me all worried!

 

[Reefing_addiction]

My pair do the same thing. I have only assumed they where eating the fish eggs or pods from the water column.

I want to get a male! Be awesome to have a pair!

 

[btackerman]

I want to get a male! Be awesome to have a pair!

Be sure yours is a female and what you get is a male. I went through 4 mandarins before I got a pair and it is true that you do need a larger system. Mine did not pair successfully until they where in my 180 and after that no issues and I am going on year 7 with them now

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Be sure yours is a female and what you get is a male. I went through 4 mandarins before I got a pair and it is true that you do need a larger system. Mine did not pair successfully until they where in my 180 and after that no issues and I am going on year 7 with them now

Well than it will just be her ( she definitely has a rounded dorsal fin) I only feed her live pods. Haven’t ried to get her to eat frozen but I feel she will be better off if i just keep stocking the tank with pods.

 

[btackerman]

Well than it will just be her ( she definitely has a rounded dorsal fin) I only feed her live pods. Haven’t ried to get her to eat frozen but I feel she will be better off if i just keep stocking the tank with pods.

Yes it is very difficult to do live food. Mine just did it on its own