[monkey]

Originally Posted by mistermikev

"Eventhough its only a fish, it a living thing that i took responsibility for and i would feel bad taking it back to the LFS where I know for sure it will die."
You took it now its on your head. Don't encourage them by getting another. dont put it through the shock of another move. What size tank is this? Most will tell ya you don't do one of these unless you have a 75g or better and a fuge. He will eat pods to extinction and then die w/o refuge. Go check rc for many resources about feeding him.
I would...
brew up some baby brine shrimp. You can even make yer own but I like the box with cup best. add some phyto to the cup for good measure. This one wants live so give him live... baby brine is better for him than pods. Once you got him waiting at the tank for more babies start trying frozen baby brine. Once you have him on frozen try adding crushed spirulina flakes.
If this one dies don't get another. At least then you won't be the one responsible. If you turn this one around I dought you will be able to keep the next one and it is not worth finding out at the cost of another guy.
Don't get me wrong... I love em too. Kept one alive in my 29 for almost two years(actually a scooter blenny). My sand went a little bad and poof. He was the biggest scooter I ever saw. Got him as a tiny little baby. I did the same thing - won't do it again.

see the problem with this is that the mandarin was not taking the brine or PODS that he was providing. i personaly dont believe in the "if it dies ill just buy another" statement. you should do your research and if you feel you are ready for the fish then try your hand at it. but my views aside, i think that this fish may have been starved for weeks before you bought it.

did the lfs have it in a tank with live rock? if not then that is the first indication that it was not being properly taken care of.