Maintaing Copepods With Wrasse

[tazdvl]

Would like to read up about this and how to make one. Do you have a link where you found this information?

http://www.melevsreef.com/node/1614

and

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c90/raising-live-rotifers-copepods-c199.html

are good starts

 

[heathlindner25]

Obese mandy in my 40 breeder,no sump,loves pellets.

 

[Squidmotron]

When I set up my first tank in 2002 I dreamed of the day I could have a Mandarin. Fourteen years later and a 180 I still don't have a Mandarin. I just have come to believe that they are much better off roaming the wild and feasting on all the pods they can find.

Mine has lived for years and is literally the easiest fish I've ever owned. He doesn't even require me feeding anything directly.

 

[heathlindner25]

Better shot of his obesity. ...again, no sump, 40 breeder

 

[Vadafallon]

I have a 60 cube and 24 sump and have a wrasse, madarin and scooter. They all eat pods and all are healthy for a long time now. I dose phytoplankton every day in my sump and that seems to keep the pods rocking.

 

[BigEZ77]

http://www.melevsreef.com/node/1614

and

http://www.brineshrimpdirect.com/c90/raising-live-rotifers-copepods-c199.html

are good starts

Great, thanks

 

[heathlindner25]

In the same 40 breeder, I also house a dusky, blackspot,blue star and a twistii wrasse.

 

[BigEZ77]

Obese mandy in my 40 breeder,no sump,loves pellets.

Heath, how often do you feed?

 

[heathlindner25]

I feed pellets about 3 or 4 times in the evening, and a cube of mysis each day. Food doesn't start going into my tank until after 5, but I feed heavily all night

 

[heathlindner25]

In the video you can watch him eat the pellets, and for all those who say it will die in a small tank without a fuge...... I respectfully disagree

 

[heathlindner25]

My spotted mandarin eats anything i feed the tank with, frozen, pellets, flake and reef paste (it swims halfway up the glass to be first in line for that).

Just for the record, this Mandy is emaciated

 

[heathlindner25]

The target Mandarin and scooter blenny ,imo have no problem going on any type of food

 

[heathlindner25]

My spotted mandarin eats anything i feed the tank with, frozen, pellets, flake and reef paste (it swims halfway up the glass to be first in line for that).

But let me also say, every Mandy I have rescued , was emaciated. As long as he's eating he should be fine.

 

[BigEZ77]

Do you target feed that many times in the evening or just drop them in?

 

[heathlindner25]

Just dropped them in.... all the wrasse and the Mandy take them off the sand bed. Either there's a lot of bad hype on the Mandy's, or I have been extremely lucky..... but don't let people discourage you from trying. I would suggest a Target or a scooter

 

[BigEZ77]

Great, thanks. My LFS said the same thing about the target one...that many eat prepared foods.

 

[mgreenough]

But let me also say, every Mandy I have rescued , was emaciated. As long as he's eating he should be fine.

I have had him for three years so must be doing something right. I supplement the pods in the tank every two months with 5 packs of pods, and it gets its fair share of food four times a day (3 from the auto feeder). There are also an abundance of copedpods/isopods naturally in the DT when you look using a red torch at night. So not really sure how you can fatten him up more as food availability is certainly not an issue.