Mandarin Dragonet Feeding Routine

[djryan2000]

I saw a post on a forum by Biota advertising their captive bred mandarins and claiming they can subsist without pod populations. They uploaded a video of the babies eating frozen foods as evidence they will eat them. After seeing many replies of success stories I decided to purchase one. I purchased some foods as well.

Ive had mine for a week, here's what she looks like

My current feeding regime (3x / day) is to mix BRS freeze fried copepods, Can O' Clops, and newly hatched live baby brine shrimp. I'll add a couple drops of a vitamin enhancement assistive I found. I turn off all the pumps and the skimmer so there's no water movement and squirt the mix at her and the cleaner shrimp to keep them from harassing her. I believe she is eating the mix, but I'm not entirely sure. She seems to be picking at pods as well on her own so I plan on adding some weekly as I only have a 45 gal AIO tank with a yellow wrasse (and a pink streaked that I haven't seen since adding him from QT in 2 months).

right now she seems healthy - I don't see her ribs and it looks like her stomach is plump. Any advice for improving my care is appreciated.


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[MondoBongo]

the best tips i can offer is keep a close eye on the weight, if it starts to drop, step up your feeding.

also, a feeding station can be really helpful, i've used this design in the past:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2166449&highlight=mandarin+feeding+station

it helps let the food slowly creep out at a pace where they can sit around and gobble it up.

 

[Sk8r]

They naturally eat so long as there's any light. Bite,count to three, bite, etc, eternally.

 

[djryan2000]

They naturally eat so long as there's any light. Bite,count to three, bite, etc, eternally.

Thank you! Today for the first time I noticed the widest part of her is the stomach so feeding her is going well so far.


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[djryan2000]

the best tips i can offer is keep a close eye on the weight, if it starts to drop, step up your feeding.

also, a feeding station can be really helpful, i've used this design in the past:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2166449&highlight=mandarin+feeding+station

it helps let the food slowly creep out at a pace where they can sit around and gobble it up.

Thank you! I'll look into the feeding station. So far she's eating well!


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