Mandarin Question

[jaybk5211]

I love manderin's, however have been told they don't get along with one another unless it's a pair.

My question would be can I have a red mandarin and a Green mandarin in the same tank if they are opposite sexes? I plan on having a 180 gallon tank.

Also I was told don't get them until the tank is established because they have to have copepods to eat. That being the case, how do you QT them since bare bottom tanks have no copepods?

 

[bialy]

Yes, i keep a red male and green female and they are perfect. In the QT you can feed them Ocean Nutrition instant brine shrimp (i use that for my seahorses and mandarins if the pod population is low). Just make sure they are opposite sex because the first time I was sent two males who killed each other in 3 days. Good luck these are awesome fish!

 

[mkoop]

Also I was told don't get them until the tank is established because they have to have copepods to eat. That being the case, how do you QT them since bare bottom tanks have no copepods?

I do not QT my mandarins. Mandarins have a very thick slime coat and very minimal chance of getting sick. Far more likely to die of starvation.