Mandarin Question

[Amazon4]

I would like to get some pods to make sure there's tons in there for this guy to eat right now. Since he came to me skinny, I really want him to eat as much as possible.

I've tried ordering pods on line only to get dinged with added fees ($30+) for shiping containers, even it is free shipping. I'm going to check local LFS's, but I haven't seen any around at the stores lately.

I'm not knocking the on-line vendors - but I think $30 for a foam box to ship some pods in is a bit much.

 

[reef_doug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12857723#post12857723 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amazon4
I would like to get some pods to make sure there's tons in there for this guy to eat right now. Since he came to me skinny, I really want him to eat as much as possible.

I've tried ordering pods on line only to get dinged with added fees ($30+) for shiping containers, even it is free shipping. I'm going to check local LFS's, but I haven't seen any around at the stores lately.

I'm not knocking the on-line vendors - but I think $30 for a foam box to ship some pods in is a bit much.

Your tank should already have some pods. I think the most cost effective solution would be to add phytoplankton to feed the pods. They should multiply like crazy.... then add the mandarin.

 

[snorvich]

I tend to agree with above. Even if you train a mandarin to eat prepared or frozen (mine will eat mysis) it will be insufficient to keep them healthy. These fish are grazers and eat all day. You simply cannot feed a tank often enough, especially with other fish, to provide adequate nutrition to a mandarin.

 

[Emc2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12859532#post12859532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
I tend to agree with above. Even if you train a mandarin to eat prepared or frozen (mine will eat mysis) it will be insufficient to keep them healthy. These fish are grazers and eat all day. You simply cannot feed a tank often enough, especially with other fish, to provide adequate nutrition to a mandarin.

That's what they used to say about seahorses.

Maybe you are right but it seems that there are lot of dedicated people keeping fat & happy mandarins in small tanks with a diet of mysis.


Amazon4- if you search net training mandarins you should be able to locate a link. Otherwise, check out the Ornamental Marine Breeder's forum.

 

[Amazon4]

Thanks for all of the input. Since he's all ready in there - and I wasn't worried until I saw how skinny he is - I'll add phyto daily to help boost the pods.

He's shy right now, staying among the rocks and caves. But he's hunting and I've seen him strike at things. Just the sunken belly worries me. I don't know how long the other reefer had him and I'm thinking that for some reason they actually didn't have enough to support him (a 90g).

So I'll just do what I can to make sure there's plenty for him to find and hope for the best.

I will check in to the training to eat mysis, also.

Thanks again!

 

[snorvich]

Most of them will eat mysis without training if they are going to do so at all. The problem with mysis is that these fish eat constantly and you cannot feed constantly.

 

[Amazon4]

He's the only fish in the tank right now. I've thrown in some mysis (soaked in garlic & vita chem) the last two evenings when feeding the other tanks. The cleaner shrimps, cuc, and rtba appreciate it. Maybe he'll decide to take a shot at one rolling by.

On a good note I did see a bunch of live mysis swimming in the corners of the glass today. Just where did those guys come from any way? I'm glad to see more life in there for the mandarin to chow on

 

[block head]

most mandarins can be trained, try live baby brine shrimp or live brine shrimp first. enriching the shrimp helps. once they start eating live, slowly add frozen. i've had good sucess with coral frenzy and frozen cyclopeeze as well