Mandarin Dragonette help

[leon.1980]

I purchased an ora mandarin dragonets. I see it get active and peck at stuff when I feed. I know they turn white when sleeping and j thought maybe it was just stress but it’s been in my qt for a week now and it still hasn’t started coloring back up. The orange is still pretty mottled all day. My dt has copepods a plenty for him when he goes in there. Until then I dump a jar In. And he seems to be eating frozen. I am not running copper in my qt. Is he just stressed still

or is it probably some sort of infection?

 

[Lavey29]

Are you using copper in QT?

 

[nereefpat]

That's a tough fish to quarantine.
Did the fish come direct from ORA? If so, there isn't a need to QT.

 

[Thor2j]

Put it in your dt

 

[leon.1980]

Are you using copper in QT?

No copper. I do 2 weeks observational for the big nasties then 6 week hypo treatment for parasites. I know. Not a lot of people would agree with this for many reasons but I don’t like copper.

 

[leon.1980]

That's a tough fish to quarantine.
Did the fish come direct from ORA? If so, there isn't a need to QT.

No they did not come directly from ora.
I’d it starts looking that bad I will put him in early but not unless absolutetly necessary. He doesn’t look at all skinny or starving. I feed him at least 3 times a day and there is a rock from my dt in there that is covered in pods. Or at least was. Lol.

 

[leon.1980]

Put it in your dt

While rare they can still be carriers and since it didn’t come directly from Ora it’s not a risk I’m willing to take unless it starts looking real bad.

 

[Lavey29]

While rare they can still be carriers and since it didn’t come directly from Ora it’s not a risk I’m willing to take unless it starts looking real bad.

By the time Mandy start to look bad it's to late. You are correct they are very low risk due to their mucus coating.

 

[i cant think]

While rare they can still be carriers and since it didn’t come directly from Ora it’s not a risk I’m willing to take unless it starts looking real bad.

If I’m honest, he already looks skinny to me.
As mentioned above this species is a pain to get through QT. When you notice the bad signs, that’s when you’re too late. Once bad signs appear its very rare to get that specimen back to being healthy again.

 

[leon.1980]

If I’m honest, he already looks skinny to me.
As mentioned above this species is a pain to get through QT. When you notice the bad signs, that’s when you’re too late. Once bad signs appear its very rare to get that specimen back to being healthy again.

So he’s been in qt with 2 other fish. One of them commonly have parasites. I’m torn on what to do!

 

[i cant think]

, So he’s been in qt with 2 other fish. One of them commonly have parasites. I’m torn on what to do!

Take this with a pinch of salt.
I have never QTed anything, sand, coral, fish, rocks, inverts ect… I have owned some fish that are dangerous with parasites such as Paracanthurus hepatus, Zebrasoma scopas and Ctenochaetus binotatus, Chelmon rostratum ect. In all of my years of reefing (12 give or take) I have never faced a disease that wiped out the tank. The way I prevent this is by keeping healthy, well fed fish. I still keep my fish on heavily nutritious foods such as muscle, cockle, and various pellets among the regular (Artemia and Mysis). I also keep ontop of my live foods with weekly dosing of pods. All of my fish remain healthy, vibrant and fat.