New Biota Mandarins

JAM-MAN · Feb 26, 2019

Just received a new Biota mariculture raised Mandarin from algae barn along with live pods. Placed in a 10 gal quarantine tank for spot feeding and observation. Not in apparent distress, passing feces but not interested in PE Cylo during first 8 hrs. Just resting on bottom and not moving. Ammonia is non-detectable. Salinity same as received in (0.026). I'm hoping this is just adjusting to new water and environment. Any suggestions appreciated.

mikenestle · Feb 26, 2019

My first Mandarin did this and lasted about 3 days. The second one I tried has never stopped swimming except to sleep. I have had him for awhile now.

I wouldn't QT a mandarin. I am not recommending that to you. I am sure many people have. I just think they need to graze constantly and pretty disease resistant.

If he isn't acting normal do not put him in the DT.

JAM-MAN · Feb 26, 2019

mikenestle said:
My first Mandarin did this and lasted about 3 days. The second one I tried has never stopped swimming except to sleep. I have had him for awhile now.

I wouldn't QT a mandarin. I am not recommending that to you. I am sure many people have. I just think they need to graze constantly and pretty disease resistant.

If he isn't acting normal do not put him in the DT.

Were yours wild caught?

mikenestle · Feb 26, 2019

Yes both.

ech0o · Feb 26, 2019

Have plenty of experience with Biota Mandarins, though receiving directly for my business. I imagine they received it and reshipped it, and it may just need a few days to settle in before it starts feeding normally. You say the salinity is 0.026, I assume you probably mean 1.026, and if that is the case, and the ammonia and nitrite are low, then it is probably just stressed from its travel.

JAM-MAN · Feb 27, 2019

ech0o said:
Have plenty of experience with Biota Mandarins, though receiving directly for my business. I imagine they received it and reshipped it, and it may just need a few days to settle in before it starts feeding normally. You say the salinity is 0.026, I assume you probably mean 1.026, and if that is the case, and the ammonia and nitrite are low, then it is probably just stressed from its travel.

Yes, 1.026. Thanks for information.

501Reefer · Feb 27, 2019

With mine I trained it on frozen using a baby food jar. Now I just squirt a little in the jar after I feed the rest of the tank and he's in there eating within seconds.

RegalMark · Feb 27, 2019

If they were wild caught id worm them but mandarins have a slime coat so they cant get those parasitic diseases as the other fish species.

JAM-MAN · Feb 27, 2019

Swimming about and eating frozen today!

JAM-MAN · Feb 27, 2019

Another question: If ammonia (Siefert) and nitrite (Red Sea) are not detectable in quarantine tank should I still do a partial water change? I'm not treating, and using filter sponge and Marine Pure balls previously dosed with Fritz Turbo start as well as a small amount of carbon. This is in a Waterbox 10 gal cube AIO.

mikenestle · Feb 27, 2019

JAM-MAN said:
Swimming about and eating frozen today!

That's great. I wasn't sure when you said it wasn't moving much. Algae Barn is your friend. Always dose Pods and Phyto. While a little easier, the captive bred ones need to eat a ton as well.

SKYHIGGh · Mar 6, 2019

How’s this fish doing? Been really considering getting one?

DHill6 · Mar 6, 2019

I ordered two Biota mandarins, a couple weeks apart, the female was very skinny and tiny when she arrived. She never ate much and eventually she passed. The male always went after TDO Chroma Boost, it's what they're raised on. I've also ordered LRS fish eggs and mix that with LRS reef and the TDO pellets. All inhabitants seem to like the mix.

linkedsilas · Mar 11, 2019

DHill6 said:
I ordered two Biota mandarins, a couple weeks apart, the female was very skinny and tiny when she arrived. She never ate much and eventually she passed. The male always went after TDO Chroma Boost, it's what they're raised on. I've also ordered LRS fish eggs and mix that with LRS reef and the TDO pellets. All inhabitants seem to like the mix.

Did you get a refund?

Kal93 · Mar 12, 2019

My Biota mandarin has zero interest in the cyclops (I've had him for 2 months), but will occasionally nibble on crushed pellets or reef roid paste. I would pour a bag of pods into that tank. I don't know about yours, but mine looked fairly thin when I first got him.

DHill6 · Mar 15, 2019

linkedsilas said:
Did you get a refund?

No, I didn’t persue it. I think she lasted approximately 5-6 weeks, so I figured it was too late to push it.

DHill6 · Mar 15, 2019

Kal93 said:
My Biota mandarin has zero interest in the cyclops (I've had him for 2 months), but will occasionally nibble on crushed pellets or reef roid paste. I would pour a bag of pods into that tank. I don't know about yours, but mine looked fairly thin when I first got him.

I also tried cyclops, they didn’t have any interest in it either.

AlgaeBarn · Mar 19, 2019

DHill6 said:
I also tried cyclops, they didn’t have any interest in it either.

Was this the can o cyclops? Or another product?

AlgaeBarn · Mar 19, 2019

JAM-MAN said:
Just received a new Biota mariculture raised Mandarin from algae barn along with live pods. Placed in a 10 gal quarantine tank for spot feeding and observation. Not in apparent distress, passing feces but not interested in PE Cylo during first 8 hrs. Just resting on bottom and not moving. Ammonia is non-detectable. Salinity same as received in (0.026). I'm hoping this is just adjusting to new water and environment. Any suggestions appreciated.

Hey @JAM-MAN , we primarily feed TDO pellets (B2), and can o cyclops. We open the can o cyclops, put in a plastic bag, flatten it out and freeze it. Then we break off pieces and feed it (and TDO pellets) 3x a day. The PE cyclops works, but can sometimes be a bit too big.