The Manderin kicked the bucket - ready for round 2

[Otherone]

I noticed the dragonette's head sticking outta a rock with no eyes the other day, not sure why he died. When the blue lights come on the tank is covered in pods and lil' sandbed critters. I've seen him graze for a month and theres still thousands. If I had to guess either internal parasite (but his belly wasn't sunken) or cyanide poisoning - you'll have this with wild caught fish.

Soon time for round 2, I guess - smaller specimen or larger specimen that's the question. I'm leaning towards smaller.

 

[VLDesign]

Those fish usually starve to death because 99% of the Reef tanks at homes do not have enough food to sustain their eating habits.

I wouldn't suggest you get any more.

 

[SkySouza]

The op said above that his tank is full of pods... is this not the best food source for mandarins in captivity? Serious question lol

 

[kasaki89]

yes it is the best choice of food for the fish , but honestly if u can find one thats eating frozen . by all means go for it , maybe you have a predator in your tank if ur saying the eyes were missing

 

[nonstophoops]

Was it eating anything else?

 

[Pazzoman]

The predator that ate his eyes, are probably the hermit crabs... May sound stupid however I've noticed when I used to have a preds tank... and use to give my hermits a meal of slversides, they would alway pick at the eyes first, guess it's softer and less work...

 

[Otherone]

Was it eating anything else?

It looked like it was picking at blow-by that landed in the sandbed during feeding time - hard to really tell. mighta just been sandbed critters.

I wouldn't be suprised 1 bit if the hermits starting eating it after it died - don't see it happening while it was alive.