QTing Tamarin Wrasse

[WLachnit]

I'm considering picking up a Red Tail Tamarin Wrasse. How do folks QT a Tamarin Wrasse without sand since they need sand to burrow at night? I know they are delicate but am concerned if they spend a few weeks in a QT tank with no sand and nothing to graze on. What do people feed them while in QT?

[Slakker]

The sand thing is easy...fill up a tupperware container with some sand and put it in the tank.

[WLachnit]

Sand doesn't work well with copper though, right?

Also, should I freshwater dip the Tamarin, or is Prazipro preferable?

[JHemdal]

I would use Prazipro over a FW dip. Also, you should be able to find a more inert silica sand to use as opposed to carbonate reef sand that will just suck the copper out of the water. I wonder though, if you might want to use a more heavily chelated copper (I use CopperSafe). Although I use copper extensively, I'm not happy with the track record that Anampses wrasses have during copper quarantine (or afterwards for that matter!).

Jay

[AuroraDrvr]

Like Jay said, use a silica based sand. It will not absorb the copper.

I'm a huge advocate of Cupramine. I've put tons of different fish through it (even puffers), and it has worked flawlessly.

[LisaD]

If a fish looks healthy, I put it in a fully cycled 29 with a sand bed. I don't prophylactically treat with copper. This requires having yet another tank for treatment, but it's worth it, IMO, to avoid further stressing a fish if it may not need treatment.

[WLachnit]

Thx for feedback.
So, if a Tamarin is eating live brine, is that any indication that he will eat and survivability longer term?

[AuroraDrvr]

Live Brine (IMO) is only a "transition" food. It should really only be used to get the fish onto other foods. Though eating live brine is a good step in the right direction.

[WLachnit]

Thx, I should have clarified my question:
If they are eating live brine shrimp, is that indication that they will eat other nutritional foods.

Anyway, I did more homework on WWM, and I may pass on attempting a Tamarin for now. It seems that most of them starve even when they do eat. I have a 300g DT with a 40g refugium and DSB which should increase survivability but it's a community tank. I'd rather not go through all of the efforts of QT only to have her perish within 6 months. Although, I would be very interested in success stories and how they have gone about their success.

[ginger7286]

Look at it this way, (I don't mean to sound like I do not care...I do that's why I am writing to you). You probably have more knowledge and skill to care for your tank and this fish than the other person who may but this fish and attempt to keep her. You obviously care about your hobby and educate yourself. Would you rather give this little beauty a try yourself knowing she'll get the very best shot at life off the reef or let some less competent tyr their hand at it? Just another way to view it I guess. Many people in this hobby purchase with research or education, that's how Tangs end up in nano tanks. Good Luck.

[WLachnit]

Originally posted by ginger7286
Look at it this way, (I don't mean to sound like I do not care...I do that's why I am writing to you). You probably have more knowledge and skill to care for your tank and this fish than the other person who may but this fish and attempt to keep her. You obviously care about your hobby and educate yourself. Would you rather give this little beauty a try yourself knowing she'll get the very best shot at life off the reef or let some less competent tyr their hand at it? Just another way to view it I guess. Many people in this hobby purchase with research or education, that's how Tangs end up in nano tanks. Good Luck.

Those thoughts did cross my mind. I would love to give it a shot. Although, now I realize that timing isn't good due to my being away for a week at the end of the month. So, I won't be able to babysit her.

[nickiwit]

I bought a yellow tailed tamarin about 4 months ago. I put it in a QT with sand and live rock. It took about 4 days for it to start eating mysis. It is in my main tank now and eats like a champ however it is getting skinnier and skinnier. I am feeding several times a day but I know that it isn't going to make it. Its a shame it is a cool fish but I won't be trying another one.

[WLachnit]

nickiwit,
thx for sharing your experience. That is what I have read typically happens. Does he eat spectrum pellets?

[LargeAngels]

IME they need lots of feedings and feed extra. They continually search through the rocks for food and will find the extra food. After a typical feeding and all my fish are full the tamarins still are swimming around searching in the rocks for food. Even if I don't see them eating I can hear that distinctive clicking sound the make when they eat.

[nickiwit]

I feed hikari pellets once a day. The Tamarin won't eat them but I will try some smaller pellets and see if maybe it is the size of the pellets stopping him.

[LargeAngels]

I have some tamarins that do eat pellets and others that won't eat anything but mysis (large and small.)

[JokerGirl]

I've had my New Guinea Tamarin wrasse for 1.5 years now, and it's done fabulous. It came in at about .75" long, is now almost 3", and will eat just about anything that is put in the tank ie. flake, mysis, brine... even nori. Just be prepared, though, as they do constantly graze. I feed once a day. I had to take my mandarin out because it wasn't finding enough food in my large tank due to the wrasse.

This photo is about 6 months old, but it's the best one I have of it.

[WLachnit]

Wow, that's great.

Do they compete with sand-sifting Gobies for food in the sand ?

[JokerGirl]

They shouldn't. I've never seen mine pick up anything off the sand. It just goes for what's in the rockwork.