Possibly starving Green Mandarin Dragonet

[IE Reefer]

Hi everyone,
I have been owning a Green Mandarin Dragonet for about a month and a half after realizing that my pod population is high. Today I've noticed that his color vibrance is off (shown in pictures below) and my first thought was that he isn't eating enough, but I've seen plenty of pods in the tank just today. What I'll prob do tomorrow is "replenishing" my tank with more pods. What do you guys think? Thank you all in advance.

 

[fishguy242]

hi,yes replenish,they tend to eat all day..

 

[Suohhen]

What other fish do you have? Have you tried getting it to eat prepared food?

 

[IE Reefer]

What other fish do you have? Have you tried getting it to eat prepared food?

I have a Yellow Watchman Goby, 2x Green Chromis, and Carmel Clown. I tried (by spreading frozen mysis around him) but didn't give in. I would assume within 2-3 months in, he would start to eat the frozen.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

What time of day was this picture taken?

 

[IE Reefer]

What time of day was this picture taken?

Late 10pm

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Also are you feeding the pods? A good way to keep up a population is have a safe place for them to reproduce and dosing phyto to the tank

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Late 10pm

He was trying to sleep then. Their colors become lighter at night. There’s a word for it, but essentially he was camouflaging himself. My little girl did that in the beginning and scared the poop out of me.

 

[IE Reefer]

Also are you feeding the pods? A good way to keep up a population is have a safe place for them to reproduce and dosing phyto to the tank

I've never dosed anything into the tank yet (I'm planning to dose NeoNitro bc of low nitrates)

 

[Reefing_addiction]

How big is your tank? Do you have a refugium?

 

[IE Reefer]

He was trying to sleep then. Their colors become lighter at night. There’s a word for it, but essentially he was camouflaging himself. My little girl did that in the beginning and scared the poop out of me.

Oh ok, I never knew that happened with Mandarins. I've noticed that with my YWG and the Chromis but not with the Mando yet. Well, I learn something new every day. Thank you!

 

[IE Reefer]

How big is your tank? Do you have a refugium?

29g DT ~8 sump, refuge filled with pods

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I've never dosed anything into the tank yet (I'm planning to dose NeoNitro bc of low nitrates)

Get some phytoplankton from algae barn, Mercer of Montana, or reef nutrient. Pods do eat other things but they love phyto. It’s how they are cultured

 

[IE Reefer]

Get some phytoplankton from algae barn, Mercer of Montana, or reef nutrient. Pods do eat other things but they love phyto. It’s how they are cultured

Huh, ok I'll take a look. Thank you again!

 

[Reefing_addiction]

You have cheato in you fuge?

I would definitely add more pods. After lights out.

Wait one day add phytoplankton from one of those places I mentioned. Also better to dose after lights out.


Instead of trying to raise nutrients with something artificial feed more often.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

You can find Mercer of Montana on Amazon.

Reef nutrients stuff is super concentrated compared to the other guys

 

[Reefing_addiction]

The one in front is my girl and the one in the back is the male. He just got in the tank today. Thank

 

[IE Reefer]

You have cheato in you fuge?

I would definitely add more pods. After lights out.

Wait one day add phytoplankton from one of those places I mentioned. Also better to dose after lights out.


Instead of trying to raise nutrients with something artificial feed more often.

Yes, I do have cheato in the refuge. I would feed more to raise nitrates, but they also raise phosphates in the process.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Yes, I do have cheato in the refuge. I would feed more to raise nitrates, but they also raise phosphates in the process.

Depends on what your feeding. If you feed mostly dry than yes. The phosphates comes from preservatives (reef roids will also raise phosphates. If your feed frozen than you should be fine. And phosphates and nitrates are linked. If one goes up (nitrates) the other goes up (phosphates). You want them balanced.


How do you test you water?

 

[IE Reefer]

The one in front is my girl and the one in the back is the male. He just got in the tank today. Thank

Wow, that's so neat. Man your zoa above them has a ton of heads lol.