I really like these little guys, could you get more than one with a newly setup tank? I know they eat microfauna, is there anyway you can purchace microfauna and load your sump with it? THe tank is a 125 gallon that ill eventually put in as much live rock as i can afford. I plan on adding it gradually, but how much should i shoot for as a final amount? Thankyou.
Mandarin dragonet
- Thread starter Tlove324
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jmann762000
New member
rule of thumb for live rock is 2lbs per gallon. I woulndt get a mandarin just yet, wait until your tank is a little more established.
bigfruits
New member
the more rock the better. a good idea is to add chaeto algae to your refugium to get a larger pod population going. feeding phytoplankton (DT's or make your own) to the refugium is also a good idea to get them breeding. flake food crumbs can also be fed to the pods...
sometimes people have luck feeding mandarins frozen food. ive heard small blood worms sometimes works. i dont have a mandarin but ive been researching them for a while. i suggest you do the same. good luck to you.
sometimes people have luck feeding mandarins frozen food. ive heard small blood worms sometimes works. i dont have a mandarin but ive been researching them for a while. i suggest you do the same. good luck to you.
kjmst29
New member
i think 1.5 lbs of rock per gallon is high, 2 lbs is super-high and reduces swimming room greatly. Not that the mandarin cares, but other fish do. I have 50 lbs in a 90 gallon. (Will increase in the future).
I also recommend waiting at least 6 months after the cured live rock has been introduced to the display tank. Be picky at the fish store. Take you time in choosing one. You don't want one too small, or too thin. A fat mandarin is a healthy manadarin.
I also recommend waiting at least 6 months after the cured live rock has been introduced to the display tank. Be picky at the fish store. Take you time in choosing one. You don't want one too small, or too thin. A fat mandarin is a healthy manadarin.
AngelReefer
In Memoriam
You need alot of rock and IMO a refugium.
blstravler
Member
Ditto- Lot' s of rock a refugium and wait at least 6 months, and I would not give him any competition for food from a 6 line or other small wrasses until the tank is very well established.
Otherwise a great fish. I just lost mine after 6 years. I moved my tank and the drop in pod population cut his food supply to far down.
Very sad day
Otherwise a great fish. I just lost mine after 6 years. I moved my tank and the drop in pod population cut his food supply to far down.
Very sad day
redboxer13
New member
Agree with all the above. I don't know if its common or not but Mandarin LOVES red blood worms. I use a turkey baster and placed the worms around the area he is at, he gobbles it all up. Great Fish!!!
waterman78
Active member
Having recently purchased a male mandarin goby I would have to agree to the others above: refugium with pods to supply your display tank with plenty of food and try feeding your mandarin bloodowrms...(which I just tried and it works great).
In addition to the above suggestions, I would add that I purchased a 4 fl.oz of Ocean Pods - copepods to help supply a more natural food source for my tank. Needless to say, I have a sixline wrasse (bully of the bunch) which is larger in size and eats a majority of the food giving during feeding time. So far, the mandarin has its own spot in the tank...So far the relationship between the two are working out. Good luck with your new mandarin goby.
In addition to the above suggestions, I would add that I purchased a 4 fl.oz of Ocean Pods - copepods to help supply a more natural food source for my tank. Needless to say, I have a sixline wrasse (bully of the bunch) which is larger in size and eats a majority of the food giving during feeding time. So far, the mandarin has its own spot in the tank...So far the relationship between the two are working out. Good luck with your new mandarin goby.
