Mandarin QT Help

Brandon Rush · Feb 4, 2019

So I'm getting my setup ready to start QT my mandarin, however I need some advice on keeping him fed. My plan is to use the tank transfer method and to feed the Mandarin only live pods (no frozen/pellets). I'm trying to get some advice on how to keep him fed throughout the process. Should I grab a few bag of pods and seed the inital QT tank? Should I feed him everyday with pods? Any advice would be great.

Big G · Feb 4, 2019

#reeefsquad

any mandarin QT help?

reef lover · Feb 4, 2019

I would suggest culturing pods separately so you can dose the tank as needed.
Is this a new acquisition or an existing mandy with a disease?
Edit...heres a link
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2K.../breeder/RK=2/RS=zTpjSPU4Ex3JGAbkQY8vFZh.gqc-

Brandon Rush · Feb 4, 2019

reef lover said:
I would suggest culturing pods separately so you can dose the tank as needed.
Is this a new acquisition or an existing mandy with a disease?
Edit...heres a link
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2KLfSlo01hcrtUAo2Rx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTBybGY3bmpvBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1549353960/RO=10/RU=https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/2/breeder/RK=2/RS=zTpjSPU4Ex3JGAbkQY8vFZh.gqc-

That may be the most economical route, this will be a new addition. I'm trying to do the tank transfer method to prevent ich since I've finally got my DT ich free.

Algaebarn said I'd need about 20,000 pods for 15 days worth. That would cost more than I'm willing to spend

reef lover · Feb 5, 2019

If u get your culture going a week b4 you get him theyll be ready to harvest. I also do 2 cultures by dividing the 10 gal into 2 chambers...than i can harvest from each culture every few days.

ngoodermuth · Feb 5, 2019

I got my mandarin through two rounds of QT using nutrimar ova. She was in a 20g QT tank for at least 4-5 months due to the initial failed fallow period and came out fat and happy. I treated with CP for the last 14 days and then scooted her off to the display and haven’t had any problems

Had her for almost two years now:

Brandon Rush · Feb 5, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
I got my mandarin through two rounds of QT using nutrimar ova. She was in a 20g QT tank for at least 4-5 months due to the initial failed fallow period and came out fat and happy. I treated with CP for the last 14 days and then scooted her off to the display and haven’t had any problems Had her for almost two years now:

It seems pretty hard to find Nutrimar Ova and I was slightly concerned not feeding him pods.

Brandon Rush · Feb 5, 2019

reef lover said:
If u get your culture going a week b4 you get him theyll be ready to harvest. I also do 2 cultures by dividing the 10 gal into 2 chambers...than i can harvest from each culture every few days.

That sounds like a great idea. What pods did you use for your culture? Also do you think I could just shake out my Chaeto and use those pods?

reef lover · Feb 5, 2019

Brandon Rush said:
That sounds like a great idea. What pods did you use for your culture? Also do you think I could just shake out my Chaeto and use those pods?

If you got them that would be fine.i used tisbe and 2 other species of small.copepods i cant pronounce...lol.

ngoodermuth · Feb 5, 2019

Brandon Rush said:
It seems pretty hard to find Nutrimar Ova and I was slightly concerned not feeding him pods.

I’ve noticed that myself :/ I wish I’d bought and extra pack to keep on hand for picky eaters.

In the spring though, fish roe becomes available at our local seafood place which might be a good alternative. That’s what I’d used to catch all my fish, perfect bait every fish I have went crazy for it. But, the mandarin was already in her QT eating nutrimar by then so I can’t remember if I’d tried it with her.

I used pods too, I kept rock in the tank up until I needed to dose CP. I think I seeded it twice with a bottle of tiger pods, but other than that I just fed the ova. But my situation was a little different because she was there for so long. I wouldn’t not feed pods, but I do think having a back-up food source is a good idea.

Baby brine shrimp would be another option but you have to be careful about how much you add to a small tank-transfer tank. I fed some to a couple of wrasses in a 10g during tank transfer and accidentally added too much...and it caused an ammonia spike the next morning. Had to do an extra, emergency transfer [emoji15]

Claus84 · Feb 6, 2019

You could scrap the pods and make a couple of baby brine feeders ala Paul B. Sterilise and dry the feeders between transfers and replace the mesh. Culture the brine in a separate room to avoid aerosol transmission.
I think this would work for TTM but hopefully someone will correct me if not.

It would also be a good opportunity to get it feeding on prepared foods but you might find it's too stressed to try them during TTM.