tank raised ORA Mandarin not eating.

[Eienna]

Usually an LFS can order things like that if you ask.

This wasn't the method I used, but if/when I decide to get another one, I'm going to put rubble rock and macroalgae in the sump, and seed it with pods, then let them multiply and some will enter the main tank via the return pump. You need to culture them more quickly, though, so putting a bottle or two in a large container with aeration and feeding them with phytoplankton is probably your best bet. You can get some pretty big bottles of phyto off Ebay, btw. Maybe put some rubble rock in that container to move pods with. I'm a little iffy about dosing phyto in my main tank, 1 because it's so big (150g - it would require an awful lot for any kind of concentration) and 2 I've caused a nasty greenwater bloom in the past (though I think that was caused by high nitrate and phosphate in the change water...long story.)

When Spike was in my 20g, I used a bottle per month, though every month that I could spare the cash I'd dump in three or so. I just released them all from the bottle at night while he was sleeping, and they moved into the rocks and such. He was a little less than half their max size, though, I believe. Just a young guy.

 

[squillaempusa]

Usually an LFS can order things like that if you ask.

This wasn't the method I used, but if/when I decide to get another one, I'm going to put rubble rock and macroalgae in the sump, and seed it with pods, then let them multiply and some will enter the main tank via the return pump. You need to culture them more quickly, though, so putting a bottle or two in a large container with aeration and feeding them with phytoplankton is probably your best bet. You can get some pretty big bottles of phyto off Ebay, btw. Maybe put some rubble rock in that container to move pods with. I'm a little iffy about dosing phyto in my main tank, 1 because it's so big (150g - it would require an awful lot for any kind of concentration) and 2 I've caused a nasty greenwater bloom in the past (though I think that was caused by high nitrate and phosphate in the change water...long story.)

When Spike was in my 20g, I used a bottle per month, though every month that I could spare the cash I'd dump in three or so. I just released them all from the bottle at night while he was sleeping, and they moved into the rocks and such. He was a little less than half their max size, though, I believe. Just a young guy.

got him eating live brine shrimp, and now he'll take frozen brine shrimp and spirulina gut-loaded brine shrimp. also got the pods and set up a fuge in the sump. dumped half the pods in the tank, the rest in the fuge. the pods didn't seem to be enough, so that's why i went back and got the live brine shrimp. so hopefully he'll fatten up a bit, and then eventually accept one of the varieties of pellet food we have. of course he's eating the cheapest food that there is, after i spent $50 on pods, chaeto, phytoplankton, etc. then the $20 i spent on additional pellet foods. lol. figures. thanks again for the help and advice.

 

[manny mandarin]

I had alot of success with frozen lobster eggs they go mad for them i strained mine after defrost a bit in aquarium water as the watef they're frozen in is probably high in nitrates

 

[squillaempusa]

I had alot of success with frozen lobster eggs they go mad for them i strained mine after defrost a bit in aquarium water as the watef they're frozen in is probably high in nitrates

thanks. i have never seen them around here. i'll keep an eye out though, and continue to try to find the perfect affordable food that the mandarin likes. right now he's eating the enriched frozen brine, but he spits the shell and legs out, which is going to make a mess. so i believe i need something smaller and meatier.

 

[Eienna]

Good job!! Keep it up n____n

 

[manny mandarin]

thanks. i have never seen them around here. i'll keep an eye out though, and continue to try to find the perfect affordable food that the mandarin likes. right now he's eating the enriched frozen brine, but he spits the shell and legs out, which is going to make a mess. so i believe i need something smaller and meatier.

Try frozen mysis its softer so any left overs hermits hoover up