Keeping Mandarins in Nano's.

well they pretty much lost any hope of biz from me anyways form this and other threads I've read. But I'm pretty loyal to my 2 go to places and reef cleaners.org, salt critters and LA and DD.

 

Not so fast Cosmo first of all saltwaterfish.com andI have been communicating wonderfully. They've even gone as far as saying Quote: " that fish should never have left our facility in that condition". Should anything happen we will replace it at no charge and send a picture of replacement fish for you to approve before shipping. End Quote.

With this said I'd like to report that this tough lil bugger is still swimming around and for the first time today I saw her picking at the substrate still will not take frozen anything though
I've ordered some Nutramar Ova. After speaking with ORA about their fishes and what they ( not SWF) are feeding their Mandarins.

She has passed the 24hr mark in my tank

 

It's a new day for *Pickles* She's made it through another night! I've made some minor changes for her. First being I've turned off the Koralia 240 that's placed on the back wall. No sooner was it off and she was swimming like a the lil champ she is. I think I can do with just the Mp10 for a while.

Yesterday I ordered some Nutramar Ova from DF&S and it's already here! So having gotten advice from ORA, here's how I've set it up for her. I've taken a small glass jelly jar, placed a nice size chunk of Ova in and have placed it in the tank where she hangs out most, (Just so happens it's right in front) where I can watch her all the time.

So at this very moment as I'm writing this I'm sitting her watching her. She is face to face with the jar. I'm just waiting for her to go in........come on baby!!! Goooooo! She's got to be smelling it right? Can she see it? Noooo don't go around the jar go in!! Please!!! Should I give her a little nudge? Well here comes a snail out with a nice lil chunk, UGH!!!

Buying this lil fish in the manner in which I have. Has opened up a whole new world of fish keeping for me. Never before have I bought a captive bread aquacultured fish. Having spoken with ORA like I have ( a lot ) I've come to the conclusion that.....these lil fish come about as close to HELL as a fish can get without getting killed. That it's only when they enter our tanks that their lives truly become jeopardized!

Here's why I say this. These fish are born into a world without coral, rock, substrate of any kind and no other fish outside of their own kind. Raised for 6 months on 2 types of food. In the case of an ORA fish they are fed, New Life Spectrum Pellets and Nutramar Ova. (damn she almost when in)
Then these fish are sold to a local (or more so not so local) seller. Who then decides that it's cheaper to feed them frozen. But they don't eat! Oh they may take a nip out of desperation but not enough to sustain them.
Then someone such as myself comes along having wanted such a fish for so very long. Does what she thinks is right by buying a CB instead of a wild caught. Trusting the seller wholeheartedly. (dang darlin quit looking and go in) I buy the fish!

The fish arrives looking like a concentration camp survivor! How can she still be alive? She's so freaking skinny!! UGH! So I acclimate the fish for 3 hours. I am target feeding the fish what the seller says to feed the fish. Frozen baby brine shrimp and frozen chopped blood worms. But she's not eating!

So now I panic! I get on email to the seller a.s.a.p. asking why would you send me a fish in this condition? It's all their fault!!! (go go go in to the jar SHE'S IN THE JAR!! But not touching the Ova) We've talked and they'll replace the fish if she dies. No problem!

But I can't stop thinking about how and why she came to be in this condition in the first place. I am racked with guilt. My heart hurts for it's suffering. Am I to blame? All I can do now is try and make her the best home possible. Keeping in mind where she's come from. What it must be like to be thrown into a tank with things she's never encountered!

I don't regret getting her!!! She's a tough lil bugger this *Pickles*. She's once again in the jar and I can only pray she eats. I figure if it wasn't me, maybe someone else not so caring would have gotten her and not tried as hard as I am, at giving her a chance to live. I know in my heart she would surely have perished at the Pet Store.

 

Your doing all you can..another day..another milestone....keep it up. ; )

 

I have my fingers crossed for him.

 

Good luck, try dipping the OVA in ranch, works wonders with my son Hope she figures it out.

 

Ranch dressing?!?!

 

JJ mattias, but doesn't everything taste better with ranch.lol

Nana, did the lil bugger eat yet?

 

She died Found her a few minutes ago floating upside down under a ledge...I'm so freaking mad, sad and I know I can't do this again. These last couple of days have been hell. But I'm sure more so on her then on me... UGH!!!!

 

Oh man I'm so sorry.:-/ you did all you could.