Mandarin floating at top

leon.1980 · Dec 18, 2022

Ok guys. So I have a mandarin goby that today started floating around the top. He swims a bit mostly just floats. Doesn’t seem at all stressed but I was still worried. Flipped the lights off and like on cue he swam down the the bottom. I have read they are known to do this at night but does it mean anything during the day? I’m worried about the little guy. He’s my favorite.
oh, also he is in qt. Hypo and prazipro for flukes from the other two on qt. He is Ora and eating frozen. Getting fed multiple
Times a day.

blaxsun · Dec 18, 2022

Every now and then I'll find mine cruising around the sides or exploring the open areas of the tank. He's probably just curious. I gather he/she has a steady supply of food?

leon.1980 · Dec 18, 2022

blaxsun said:
Every now and then I'll find mine cruising around the sides or exploring the open areas of the tank. He's probably just curious. I gather he/she has a steady supply of food?

the dt has pods a million. I feed him 4 to 6 times a day in the qt though. He is Ora and love frozen.

leon.1980 · Dec 18, 2022

blaxsun said:
Every now and then I'll find mine cruising around the sides or exploring the open areas of the tank. He's probably just curious. I gather he/she has a steady supply of food?

What really freaked me out is hell even be upside down sometimes! And he is high enough to be classified as floating at the top. It’s really worrisome except for the fact that when the lights go out he swims to bottom and settles down. Lol.

OrionN · Dec 28, 2022

They should not be floating, or else they will get caught by the PH. Mine swim, never just float with the current. The only time mine Mandarins are off the floor or rock significantly is when they spawn.

leon.1980 · Dec 29, 2022

OrionN said:
They should not be floating, or else they will get caught by the PH. Mine swim, never just float with the current. The only time mine Mandarins are off the floor or rock significantly is when they spawn.

I figured it out. The heater was unplugged somehow and it was only 67 degrees. It seems this slowed its metabolism enough to make it oxygen deprived. Luckily I figured it out in time to raise the temp and take no losses.