Reef Discussion

[Bite me]

Just about every fish I've ever bought from there has been NQR by the time I've got it home. You'd have thought I'd have learnt my lesson.

Bought a female mandarin today and by the time I got it from Williamstown to hoppers crossing the thing was listless and gasping.

They've told me if I take it in now they will swap it for the other one that was there, but quite honestly I doubt that would fair any better. Not to mention i dont have time for the hour long return trip today.

Apparently if it does die despite having rung them I can't get a credit note (not that I am even keen on ever going back).

Talk about poor service and poor fish care. This is why I don't recommend that aquarium. Not one fish from reeflections or Aqueus was ever so sad when I got it home.

Any ideas on how to save this fish? She swims if I prod her but I'm sure that's stressful. Any chance she will recover overnight?

I'm livid!

 

[Buddy]

I've never had a problem with Williamstown, I've driven these fish back to the south east suburbs and they are still alive now (more than a year later). Something that you are doing between the lfs and getting to your tank seems to be stressing the fish.

 

[TheJordans]

Poor little thing :(

We've bought plenty of fish from Williamstown before and never experienced what you're describing, but in saying that, we've always been VERY selective about the individual animals that we've chosen AND the tanks from which they've come. Their mandarins almost always look like they're at death's door after a few weeks of being at the aquarium - there's nothing there for them to eat. It's the one species of fish that I'm always wanting to take home - just to try and save them :(

But I can't say a bad word about their customer service as they've always been very helpful to us. I'm sorry to hear of your repeated bad experiences :(

As to ideas:
I'd say low light (if any at all), well aerated, low flow, and plenty of food. (Live if possible, ie brine shrimp or rots. [Don't know if it would eat the rots, but in the absence of pods, it's worth a shot.]) I say live over thawed just to save on pollution. If possible, I'd also keep her in some sort of QT in case she has anything contagious for your male/any other fish.

I'm happy to give you a bunch of rots and some green water to prep them with, but you'd have to make the trip to Sunbury.

Good luck Sara. I'm so sorry again :(

 

[TheJordans]

I know I'm probably just listing things that you're already doing, but I'll just throw these out there too as I wondered the same thing as @Buddy:

* Keep the car temp comfortable
* Keep the fish in a dark spot
* Try not to swish them around too much or let the bag slide around in the car
* Keep them in the bag for a minimal amount of time before you can open it for oxygen and float them for temp stability
* Don't place the bags too close to air ducts in the car as that can affect their temp dramatically.

Gasping and listless to me is shock or lack of oxygen which tells me stress from too much movement/water temp wrong/ or not enough air in the bag ie water too hot

Good luck!!

 

[Riaan_Tas]

Sorry to hear that but I must mention that I bought all my fish from there and had no problems as of yet .... even with the almost 3 hour drive home ........

 

[Bite me]

She's looking slightly better after a few hours in the tank- I decided to let her out of the breeding box I had her in so she could hide in the live rock. I've not observed her eating, and she is still breathing a bit weirdly, but she seems to have perked up since seeing the male and has started using her pectoral fins in that little hover motion they do...

The boy is enamoured with her and I caught him doing his sexy flare earlier! If she improves over night I will attempt to isolate her again to feed her.

I bought live brine shrimp, and have a supply of microworms which I thought they *might* eat- I've not been able to find proof of that though. Microworms are usually used to raise freshwater fry.

 

[chimaera]

Good to hear it is doing a bit better, hope she pulls through.

 

[TheJordans]

Yeah, great news, Sara!
My fingers are crossed for you! :-)

 

[aussieant32]

I really suggest you stop with the isolating of these fish. Let it settle in the tank, it wont starve overnight, all you will do is stress the fish even more.

Plus it may be eating prepared food already and you trying to 'force fed it' can often stop them accepting it. I would suggest leaving it for a week or so, see if it is getting any 'fatter' and then make a call. Mandarins dont swim around eating like other fish do, they are grazers. So many people panic cause they dont see them eating, I have not seen mine eat, ever, but it is twice the size it was when I got it

In regards to the actual fish, what was the SG at the shop compared to yours? How did you acclimitise?

 

[Bite me]

I really suggest you stop with the isolating of these fish. Let it settle in the tank, it wont starve overnight, all you will do is stress the fish even more.

Plus it may be eating prepared food already and you trying to 'force fed it' can often stop them accepting it. I would suggest leaving it for a week or so, see if it is getting any 'fatter' and then make a call. Mandarins dont swim around eating like other fish do, they are grazers. So many people panic cause they dont see them eating, I have not seen mine eat, ever, but it is twice the size it was when I got it

In regards to the actual fish, what was the SG at the shop compared to yours? How did you acclimitise?

Please stop with your attitude. I don't appreciate it.

The isolation is for the new fish so I can see it improving, rather than hide under a rock and dying, causing a tank crash. As for getting fatter? I don't have any pods so I HAVE to train it to eat. I am following instructions of a proven mandarin breeder.

The fish is SICK it does not move and it does NOT feed. The other one behaves totally different- he grazes constantly and eats prepared food. She does not. She is behaving abnormally. I know what their normal behaviour is Thankyou very much. She is not currently isolated btw.

She seems a bit pale- sort of has a pale head compared to other parts of her body almost as if its faded.

I don't know the salinity of the shop, I didn't ask.

This morning she is just sitting on a coral and isn't moving, she is still "gasping", once again different to the male.

 

[MTG]

Please stop with your attitude. I don't appreciate it.

The isolation is for the new fish so I can see it improving, rather than hide under a rock and dying, causing a tank crash. As for getting fatter? I don't have any pods so I HAVE to train it to eat. I am following instructions of a proven mandarin breeder.

The fish is SICK it does not move and it does NOT feed. The other one behaves totally different- he grazes constantly and eats prepared food. She does not. She is behaving abnormally. I know what their normal behaviour is Thankyou very much. She is not currently isolated btw.

She seems a bit pale- sort of has a pale head compared to other parts of her body almost as if its faded.

I don't know the salinity of the shop, I didn't ask.

This morning she is just sitting on a coral and isn't moving, she is still "gasping", once again different to the male.

no need to get narky everyone is just trying to help!!!. i backup his post also in saying not needing to isolate. isolation in the tank is only required when there is going to be a fish power struggle. mandarins wont just feed you need to let it out and chase pods.

If you want to make sure you keep nastys out and that its eating an established QT tank is the go.


Best of luck and please don't publicly pick on each other guys if there is any conflict please deal with it in private via the PM system

 

[TheJordans]

"Pale" doesn't sound good :-( I've only seen our 'rins pale when they're sleeping.

Good luck, Sara. I hope she pulls through

 

[macca_75]

Also unless you have a nano (in which case a Mandarin isn't the best choice) if it does die a CUC should be able to take care of it, maybe a water change post noticing it missing.

I have to agree - let it be. Less stressful ad if you ever going to "train" it don't you think copying the male you have is the best chance?

 

[aussieant32]

I was just trying to help you, wish I hadn't bothered now.

No need for a PM @MTG, no conflict from me was just trying to help someone out.

Sincerely apologise for the offence I caused you and hope your fish recovers.

My theory is osmotic shock FWIW

 

[Bite me]

You're "helping" by not helping. Your just telling me things that don't agree with my goals for the female.

If you had read any of my other posts you'd know that I DO have a nano, and that is why it must be trained or it will starve! The male has already eaten all of the pods. The female was bought to begin a breeding program and unless she dies, she is going to require careful attention. I am fully aware of that. So comments regarding feeding are not the issue.

She won't be learning anything from the male if she IS NOT MOVING AND NOT SOCIALISING. Therefore she will starve.

 

[Bite me]

So the goal is to get her healthy so she can begin feeding!

 

[Bite me]

I was just trying to help you, wish I hadn't bothered now.


My theory is osmotic shock FWIW

Is it was osmotic shock then why was she sick before she came out of the bag?

 

[aussieant32]

Could have already had an issue and this has not helped. Of course being that the SG wasn't checked there is no way to tell.

Thanks for disliking just to get even though, at least one of us had a reason to do it :)

 

[MTG]

how did the fish look when it was in their tank before purchase?

 

[Bite me]