verojeremy
Member
OK yeah.
So how do you think I should try to get my mandarin to eat frozen and pellets?
So how do you think I should try to get my mandarin to eat frozen and pellets?
Mandarin Dragonet
- Thread starter verojeremy
- Start date
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Well, I've only tried this on the one rescue fish, with poor results. That particular mandarin was really too far gone to respond to anything.
BUT, the theory is sound, and there was a big spread in the December issue of CORAL that details this procedure as well. If you're serious about weaning a Mandarin onto frozen or pellet, you start with a healthy specimen. Look for one who is exhibiting the hunting reflex in the store. If he's eyeing live brine already, so much the better.
Take the mandarin and house him in a net breeder, thereby seperating him from the rest of the tank for a while, and allowing him to feed unhindered by the other fish. Put it in an area of moderate flow, so (a) wastes can be flushed, and (b) food will be trapped against a side. More on this later.
When the fish is in the breeder, start tempting him with live brine shrimp. The wriggling motion of the brine will act as an attractant. The FLOW we just mentioned will push the live brine against the side of the net breeder, which helps stimulate the mandarin further -- their natural inclination is to pick their food off a substrate - in this case the net wall. Now you have a wiggly food in a position to be picked off in a manner that's most natural to the fishes instinctual way of hunting.
Be patient. Again, I HAVE NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, but I can imagine this is going to take some time before the fish decides to try a brine shrimp. Eventually, though the fish should start taking live brine in this manner.
Once your fish is used to taking the live brine, start switching him over to frozen. Some people in the seahorse world recommend you start slow by chilling live brine down to where they're almost non-moving, but still alive, and using these near-death shrimp as an interim between live and frozen. Regardless, the dead frozen shrimp will ALSO be forced up against the side of the net breeder -- just like the live ones -- which is partly why the recommendation to keep the net breeder in some flow makes so much sense. To the mandarin, the food is in the same place it always is, so the desire to eat should overcome the possible aversion to dead food.
As a final move, AS SOON as your mandarin is eating frozen brine, switch him over to frozen mysis. I would probably use the mini-mysis frozen variety first, since the size is comparable to brine shrimp.
As a final note, many mandarin keepers have mentioned that live tubifex worms or live black worms are also a great mandarin appetite stimulator. You may be able to use this procedure with those foods (live, then frozen, etc) in place of the brine shrimp...depending on what you can most easily get your hands on.
BUT, the theory is sound, and there was a big spread in the December issue of CORAL that details this procedure as well. If you're serious about weaning a Mandarin onto frozen or pellet, you start with a healthy specimen. Look for one who is exhibiting the hunting reflex in the store. If he's eyeing live brine already, so much the better.
Take the mandarin and house him in a net breeder, thereby seperating him from the rest of the tank for a while, and allowing him to feed unhindered by the other fish. Put it in an area of moderate flow, so (a) wastes can be flushed, and (b) food will be trapped against a side. More on this later.
When the fish is in the breeder, start tempting him with live brine shrimp. The wriggling motion of the brine will act as an attractant. The FLOW we just mentioned will push the live brine against the side of the net breeder, which helps stimulate the mandarin further -- their natural inclination is to pick their food off a substrate - in this case the net wall. Now you have a wiggly food in a position to be picked off in a manner that's most natural to the fishes instinctual way of hunting.
Be patient. Again, I HAVE NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, but I can imagine this is going to take some time before the fish decides to try a brine shrimp. Eventually, though the fish should start taking live brine in this manner.
Once your fish is used to taking the live brine, start switching him over to frozen. Some people in the seahorse world recommend you start slow by chilling live brine down to where they're almost non-moving, but still alive, and using these near-death shrimp as an interim between live and frozen. Regardless, the dead frozen shrimp will ALSO be forced up against the side of the net breeder -- just like the live ones -- which is partly why the recommendation to keep the net breeder in some flow makes so much sense. To the mandarin, the food is in the same place it always is, so the desire to eat should overcome the possible aversion to dead food.
As a final move, AS SOON as your mandarin is eating frozen brine, switch him over to frozen mysis. I would probably use the mini-mysis frozen variety first, since the size is comparable to brine shrimp.
As a final note, many mandarin keepers have mentioned that live tubifex worms or live black worms are also a great mandarin appetite stimulator. You may be able to use this procedure with those foods (live, then frozen, etc) in place of the brine shrimp...depending on what you can most easily get your hands on.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/389956/mandarin-dragonet/40#post_3450489
Well, I've only tried this on the one rescue fish, with poor results. That particular mandarin was really too far gone to respond to anything.
BUT, the theory is sound, and there was a big spread in the December issue of CORAL that details this procedure as well. If you're serious about weaning a Mandarin onto frozen or pellet, you start with a healthy specimen. Look for one who is exhibiting the hunting reflex in the store. If he's eyeing live brine already, so much the better.
Take the mandarin and house him in a net breeder, thereby seperating him from the rest of the tank for a while, and allowing him to feed unhindered by the other fish. Put it in an area of moderate flow, so (a) wastes can be flushed, and (b) food will be trapped against a side. More on this later.
When the fish is in the breeder, start tempting him with live brine shrimp. The wriggling motion of the brine will act as an attractant. The FLOW we just mentioned will push the live brine against the side of the net breeder, which helps stimulate the mandarin further -- their natural inclination is to pick their food off a substrate - in this case the net wall. Now you have a wiggly food in a position to be picked off in a manner that's most natural to the fishes instinctual way of hunting.
Be patient. Again, I HAVE NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, but I can imagine this is going to take some time before the fish decides to try a brine shrimp. Eventually, though the fish should start taking live brine in this manner.
Once your fish is used to taking the live brine, start switching him over to frozen. Some people in the seahorse world recommend you start slow by chilling live brine down to where they're almost non-moving, but still alive, and using these near-death shrimp as an interim between live and frozen. Regardless, the dead frozen shrimp will ALSO be forced up against the side of the net breeder -- just like the live ones -- which is partly why the recommendation to keep the net breeder in some flow makes so much sense. To the mandarin, the food is in the same place it always is, so the desire to eat should overcome the possible aversion to dead food.
As a final move, AS SOON as your mandarin is eating frozen brine, switch him over to frozen mysis. I would probably use the mini-mysis frozen variety first, since the size is comparable to brine shrimp.
As a final note, many mandarin keepers have mentioned that live tubifex worms or live black worms are also a great mandarin appetite stimulator. You may be able to use this procedure with those foods (live, then frozen, etc) in place of the brine shrimp...depending on what you can most easily get your hands on.
Awesome info!!!
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/389956/mandarin-dragonet/40#post_3450489
Well, I've only tried this on the one rescue fish, with poor results. That particular mandarin was really too far gone to respond to anything.
BUT, the theory is sound, and there was a big spread in the December issue of CORAL that details this procedure as well. If you're serious about weaning a Mandarin onto frozen or pellet, you start with a healthy specimen. Look for one who is exhibiting the hunting reflex in the store. If he's eyeing live brine already, so much the better.
Take the mandarin and house him in a net breeder, thereby seperating him from the rest of the tank for a while, and allowing him to feed unhindered by the other fish. Put it in an area of moderate flow, so (a) wastes can be flushed, and (b) food will be trapped against a side. More on this later.
When the fish is in the breeder, start tempting him with live brine shrimp. The wriggling motion of the brine will act as an attractant. The FLOW we just mentioned will push the live brine against the side of the net breeder, which helps stimulate the mandarin further -- their natural inclination is to pick their food off a substrate - in this case the net wall. Now you have a wiggly food in a position to be picked off in a manner that's most natural to the fishes instinctual way of hunting.
Be patient. Again, I HAVE NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, but I can imagine this is going to take some time before the fish decides to try a brine shrimp. Eventually, though the fish should start taking live brine in this manner.
Once your fish is used to taking the live brine, start switching him over to frozen. Some people in the seahorse world recommend you start slow by chilling live brine down to where they're almost non-moving, but still alive, and using these near-death shrimp as an interim between live and frozen. Regardless, the dead frozen shrimp will ALSO be forced up against the side of the net breeder -- just like the live ones -- which is partly why the recommendation to keep the net breeder in some flow makes so much sense. To the mandarin, the food is in the same place it always is, so the desire to eat should overcome the possible aversion to dead food.
As a final move, AS SOON as your mandarin is eating frozen brine, switch him over to frozen mysis. I would probably use the mini-mysis frozen variety first, since the size is comparable to brine shrimp.
As a final note, many mandarin keepers have mentioned that live tubifex worms or live black worms are also a great mandarin appetite stimulator. You may be able to use this procedure with those foods (live, then frozen, etc) in place of the brine shrimp...depending on what you can most easily get your hands on.
Awesome info!!!
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
I strongly suggest you try and fine the last 2011 issue of CORAL....it's full of great info on the mandarinfish. What I posted above is the short version of what I remember from the articles...not gonna take the credit!
verojeremy
Member
OK but also to get more copeopods could I get like a 2 liter bottle and wash it out and stuff then fill it with zooplankton and put copeopods in there. Also I will cut a small hole and put airline tube through it with an air pump. Now if it is good i have a couple of questions: do I put some sand in there?, do I put chaeto in there?, and do I put some little rock in there?
Also thank you guys so much for answering my questions.
Also thank you guys so much for answering my questions.
C
childress5tyler
Guest
try this website for reference..this guy has some good feeding ideas for mandarins
http://www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_diner.html
http://www.melevsreef.com/mandarin_diner.html
verojeremy
Member
OK great I found it so if anyone wants to see it I am going to post the link.
here it is:
http://coralmagazine.coverleaf.com/coral/20111112#pg61
here it is:
http://coralmagazine.coverleaf.com/coral/20111112#pg61
verojeremy
Member
Would this net thing be good?
http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Net-Trap-Fine-Mesh/dp/B0002AQH2I/ref=pd_bxgy_petsupplies_img_c
http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Net-Trap-Fine-Mesh/dp/B0002AQH2I/ref=pd_bxgy_petsupplies_img_c
verojeremy
Member
Where could I get enriched live adult brine shrimp and what is super selcon. Also another question is how do I add garlic to my food like fresh garlic to artic pods.
verojeremy
Member
OK so I have to get live brine, enriched frozen brine and mysis shrimp or can i just do artic pods and rods; like which one is more nutritional or couldn't I do all three?
Also it says 3 to 6 months for pellet like can it be done sooner?
Also it says 3 to 6 months for pellet like can it be done sooner?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Yes, that net is good. But please don't post links to competitor sites here.....SWF.Com doesn't allow them, and I'm sure a mod will be along shortly to delete them.
I truly have no idea how long it takes to switch to pellets. Methinks that this is really dependent on the individual fish in question more than anything else!
I truly have no idea how long it takes to switch to pellets. Methinks that this is really dependent on the individual fish in question more than anything else!
verojeremy
Member
OH I didn't know you couldn't , and I wouldn't think as amazon as being a huge competitor but OK. I will see if I can find a net like that tomorrow as long as those food.
Also if he starts to eat the frozen mysis and stuff will she eat it without being in the net?
Also if he starts to eat the frozen mysis and stuff will she eat it without being in the net?
verojeremy
Member
So my lsit tommorow is: hang on the tank breeder net box, live brine, enriched frozen adult brine shrimp, frozen mysis, and super selcon.
verojeremy
Member
Wait do I get American Marine selcon, or slecon vitamin supplement?
verojeremy
Member
Before the lights wnet out.
verojeremy
Member
Thank you and is there any difference between the two silcons?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
I think its just two names for the same thing. American marine is the brand. Keep it in a cool dry place and it will last a while.
verojeremy
Member
cold and dry so a refrigerator?
Also my dragonet like goes in the sand a little bit and gets sand all over her it's like she is in camouflage with the sand and dots, does this show signs of anything or just normal/funny.
Also my dragonet like goes in the sand a little bit and gets sand all over her it's like she is in camouflage with the sand and dots, does this show signs of anything or just normal/funny.
verojeremy
Member
My dragonet was also eating live mysis in the pet store so could I start with that instead of live brine? and it was going after it like the mysis was swimming around and it was chasing it.