Mandarin Missing

[JHOV2324]

My mandarin has gone missing, i've checked the floor to see if he jumped could he have died and became a snack for my clean up crew, he had ick and wasn't looking very healthy. And now I haven't seen him for a couple of days, and the way my rockwork is set up you can pretty much see all of the tank.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

yeah he's probably a goner. you should have seen him by now since they are always swimming around looking for food.

 

[madhouse]

that sucks since those fish are so purdy....
my sabae clown jumped outta the tank last week.... i wish some of the other fish woulda tried to talk him down off the ledge since i liked him

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

They may bury themselves as well.

 

[masterswimmer]

Mandarins are not very prone to ich. They have a protective slime coating that is a natural deterent to the parasite. Many times people see the slime coating (a bit sticky) with a grain or two of sand stuck to him. It can look like ich but obviously isn't.

What size tank, how many lbs of LR, how old is the tank, and is it barebottom? Also, how long did you have him in there?

swimmer

 

[inkblue]

i never see mY mandarin... maYbe once every 3 daYs :wink1::splitspin:bigeyes2::flirt:

 

[scarf_ace1981]

Many times people see the slime coating (a bit sticky) with a grain or two of sand stuck to him. It can look like ich but obviously isn't.
swimmer

good point russ.

 

[masterswimmer]

Mandarin Dragonet info

Hardiness: Very hardy under the right conditions when starting with a healthy specimen which is feeding. They seem to be very resistant to parasitic diseases such as Ick, apparently due to their thick slime coating. Unfortunately, most Mandarins are kept under conditions in pet stores that cause them to slowly starve.

 

[JHOV2324]

Believe it or not i thought the same thing about mandarins not getting ick, but mine had alot of it on its body, and then it started to develop some white film on its back, i took him out and put him in my hang on back fuge so he could have more pods to eat and to my surprise he swam back into the tank, the next day he was gone, :banghead: :Yikes: :sad2: DAMN YOU ICK AND HIPPO TANG, its my second fish sent to the blue ocean in the sky.

 

[masterswimmer]

FYI, a mandarin can wipe out a pod population in a small HOB fuge in a matter of hours. I've got a small fuge also (only 15g) and I would never consider putting a mandarin in there. I'd be 'podless' in no time.

swimmer

 

[reefman]

i agree, 1 small mandrian needs at least 75lbs of good established LR to even have a chance of surviving for the long term.

 

[JHOV2324]

Well my mandarin found his way back to the main tank from the HOB, and lastnight i was checking out the hob and there is like Pods, worms, shrimp, etc... looks crazy like there's nothing but insects in there, i only have like 3 small pieces of LR and like 1 1/2 inch sand bed and a ball of cheato that hasn't grown since i got it, then again, i'm only using flourescent lighting,

 

[bigbris1]

Well my mandarin found his way back to the main tank from the HOB, and lastnight i was checking out the hob and there is like Pods, worms, shrimp, etc... looks crazy like there's nothing but insects in there, i only have like 3 small pieces of LR and like 1 1/2 inch sand bed and a ball of cheato that hasn't grown since i got it, then again, i'm only using flourescent lighting,

J, OT but can I have some of your pods to seed my tank? I'll pay

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

J, OT but can I have some of your pods to seed my tank? I'll pay

Should wait a bit just in case there are ick as well. I don't want diease spreading.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Well my mandarin found his way back to the main tank from the HOB, and lastnight i was checking out the hob and there is like Pods, worms, shrimp, etc... looks crazy like there's nothing but insects in there, i only have like 3 small pieces of LR and like 1 1/2 inch sand bed and a ball of cheato that hasn't grown since i got it, then again, i'm only using flourescent lighting,

Sorry to say, but from all the info you have provided, it looks like he is not well at all. If he is really dead, remove his body quick. His skin/slime is sightly toxic. If his skin covers a coral, the coral may die too.