The new Mandarin is in hiding

New additions instead of mandarin hiding

I can see it's back end under some rocks if I'm looking from the side of my tank. It's been sitting there all night. Do I need to make it come out into the open? It's breathing very hard too. He got stuck on the net in the lfs and the guy had a time getting him unstuck. I have him in the 55 with his own rock all by himself and the lfs guy said he was eating frozen brine, so I got that too and tried to feed it with a turkey baster, but he didn't go for any of it. what now? how long can he go without food? the part that I can see is still nice and plump. The rocks I put into the 55 have plenty of pods on them, I can see them crawling around. what now??

params are as follows in the 55

pH 8.3
temp 79
sg 1.025
ca 440
mg 1480
kh 11

everything looks good I haven't seen the urchin either, it's in hiding too.:-/

 

I just bought my first Damsel. I put him in the tank last night and he went behind the rocks. Haven't seen him since.

 

Funny, right after I typed this I walked over... and he came out.
My First fish ! hehe

 

damsels are a little shy at first but he should be fine, when he gets hungry he'll come out and eat, but Mandarins are a little different, in the fact that they are picky eaters, so this is why I'm worried about him.

 

If it had a battle at the LFS i wouldnt worry too much. I had a hippo that had a rough LFS capture that didnt come out of its hidey-hole for 3 days straight.
What type of pod's are on the rocks? I think the mandarins will ONLY eat the cope's.
And congrats gras! I always wanted one but was worried about it's diet too. AND WHERE ARE THE PICS?!?!?

 

Yeah, I would love to have on of those too. It'll have to wait until I'm more experienced.

 

i had a manderin once it lived in the rocks hardly ever saw it, i never managed to get it to eat brine or any frozen foods

 

hard fish to keep. looks awesome though. i wouldnt have one unless my tank was at least a year old and with tons of live rock. you have to see the food (pods) on the rocks in a healthy pop. a fish breathing heavly and on the bottom is never a good sign. all the best.

 

Pics LOL you want pics of the rocks that it's hiding behind?? LOL I posted a pic last night when I got it and put it into the 55, before it went into hiding.

I have harpacticoids and amphipods. they are large and small one, so two different types. I'm looking into stocking them too, to make sure the Mandarin gets enough to eat. I've read they eat roti's too anyone have any luck with that?

here's a good site on pods and different types
Ocean Pods: FAQ

 

yeah I know...not a good sign, I think he's really stressed. My 135 was set up using the water from the 55 plus new water and all the rock. Yes I see pods all over the rocks and the glass and also the standpipes of the 135. The 3 good sized rocks I took out of the 135 and put back into the 55, have pods all over them and they are on the glass in the 55 too. I used some of the water from the 135 and new water to make up the rest(made new water for the 135, they're all happy in there!). I believe I have plenty, now the thing is to get it to start eating and moving.