Manderin is discolored

dnelson24 · Mar 19, 2015

I have a manderine goby, and he has been great since I got him. He is starting to look discolored tonight. I'm worried he is starving or something. I do not have a pod settup because the previous owner never did. He seemed to be eating the brine shrimp fairly well. Any ideas?

kacrocorals581 · Mar 19, 2015

more than likely he is malnourished I ordered pods from reefs2go and have my own culture now

Humblefish · Mar 19, 2015

kacrocorals581 said:
more than likely he is malnourished I ordered pods from reefs2go and have my own culture now

+1 How big is your tank?

dnelson24 · Mar 19, 2015

Biocube 29. He looks better this morning, but was white last night.

Up2no6ood · Mar 19, 2015

No he is not doing that because he is starving.....many fish change their colors at night.... He is just blending in with his surroundings. Mine goes almost ghost white at night and he is as fat as a cow.

Humblefish · Mar 19, 2015

Up2no6ood said:
No he is not doing that because he is starving.....many fish change their colors at night.... He is just blending in with his surroundings. Mine goes almost ghost white at night and he is as fat as a cow.

Agreed (forgot about that with mandarins.) They secrete a lot of mucous at night, which is why they look white. However, that being said, I don't see how you can supply enough ample pods for a mandarin (long-term) in just a 29 gal. Supplemental feeding of brine/mysis is great, but they still need a steady supply of pods.

SeahorseKeeper · Mar 19, 2015

Humblefish said:
Agreed (forgot about that with mandarins.) They secrete a lot of mucous at night, which is why they look white. However, that being said, I don't see how you can supply enough ample pods for a mandarin (long-term) in just a 29 gal. Supplemental feeding of brine/mysis is great, but they still need a steady supply of pods.

+1. I used to think my mandarin was dying when I would see it in the morning. It would have a cloudy look to it. I would also look to supplementing its diet with pods periodically. They have voracious appetites.