Kermit the mandarin has lost weight. I need advice

[Gaines69]

ok. First I have had Kermit for April 8 months and he was doing great. Came home from lfs eating frozen (nutramar ova). I also seeded the tank with nutramar tiger pods April 1 a month to keep population in my tank going. He was fat and happy eating constantly. Well I made a terrible mistake and purchased a yellow headed sleeper goby not knowing that he too was a pod eater. Well, my tank is at a friends because I am displaced because of Harvey so I wasn’t able to watch him eat every day. Plus I can no longer get the nutramar ova, not even online. I have tried frozen fish eggs, frozen brine shrimp etc. Kermit refuses. As soon as I noticed that he was under weight I rehomed the sleeper goby and have put three bottles of pods in the tank ( one every other day). I turned all of my live rock hoping that the pods were hiding where fish couldn’t get to them before. I have set up a tiger pod culture, which I sonce learned isn’t the best pods to cultivate. I’m in the process of setting up a tiger pod culture and a brine shrimp hatchery. I did find frozen pods and frozen cyclops that I believe Kermit is picking off of the rocks and sand. I have an empty HOB refugium. ( Aprix. 2 gal) and was wondering if I should set it back up on my tank and put Kermit in there so I can target feed him. Since it circulates the tank water there would be any change in his environment except the size of his home. I could target feed pods and brine daily. I have purchased 6 bottles of pods in the last three days and at $20 a pop I’m about to go crazy. Kermit is still very active and constantly picking at rocks and sand but I need to get my cultures going and I am willing to buy more live pods to fatten him up until I grow enough to harvest. I will also be marking a BBS feeding station tonight and can put it in the refugium with Kermit tomorrow. Sorry this is such a long post. I will be greatful for any and all suggestions. Yes I have read Paul B’s articles on mandarin ‘s but I messed up buying a fish that I thought was super cute and loved his personality. He was just a very aggressive and fast eater. He wiped out my pod population in a couple of weeks.
Thanks
Virginia

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hi Virginia ,

We’ve all been there.

What size tank is it? Do you have a sump or Refugium?
Is sounds like you’re ok on pods. So don’t sweat it.

One of the things my Mandy likes is spirulina brine shrimp , have you trained that? Also frozen Rotifers.

If you have a current pic of Kermit , we can look at his health for you.

 

[Gaines69]

I do have a picture and he’s under weight. I have tried the spirulina Brian shrimp and it’s a no go. None of my fish will eat it. Not even my female clown and she eats a lot. I haven’t seen frozen Rotifers so I’ll go back on the hunt for them. I have brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, cyclops, fish eggs, and frozen pods. I’m starting a brine shrimp hatchery tonight.

 

[savetheocean]

Do you see it pecking at things on the rocks?

 

[Gaines69]

Yes. All the time. But I’m afraid that the yellow headed sleeper goby cleaned the out the pods because he was constantly sifting sand and picking at rocks too. Kermit was nice and fat until about two weeks after getting the goby.

 

[Apotack]

Check out Paul B’s feeder for baby brine shrimp. It’s simle and very effective

 

[Reef of Fillory]

My mandarin [Biota] really liked these:

https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=28132

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Have you ever seen him poop?

 

[Gaines69]

Have you ever seen him poop?

Nope. I have never seen any of my fish poop. Lol

 

[Gaines69]

My version of Paul B’s BBS feeding station

Check out Paul B’s feeder for baby brine shrimp. It’s simle and very effective

 

[Gaines69]

Well I have super bad news. Kermit didnt make it. I am devastated and feel so bad. I definitely learned me lesson on researching fish before I bring them home. I’m going to keep my pod culture going and set up my brine shrimp hatchery and get everything going good before I get another manderian. That will be the last fish I get for this tank. Might think about trying some beginner corals after I get into an apartment. RIP Kermit. You were my favorite fish. So sorry for letting you down.