Mandarin Question

Amazon4

Amazon4

Premium Member
We have a 180 that's been up for 5 months now. It is currently fishless (fallow). The fallow period has been completed. The fish are coming out of hypo soon. (we had an ich outbreak)

A friend is breaking down her tank and we would like to adopt her blue mandarin, which eats only live food.

The 180 has lots of live rock, the 150g sump also has lots of live rock and a refugium. I see swarms of different kinds of pods in the tank.

Do mandarins also eat amphipods? Or only the small varieties of copepods? I've searched and can't seem to find that answer. I'm hoping they eat amphipods too since we have a million of 'em.

FYI - Once we're done moving our fish to this tank there will be no one competing with the mandarin for the pods.

Our intent was to some day add a mandarin. I don't want to rush things by taking on this fish. But it looks to me like the tank is capable of supporting this fish. Any thoughts?
 
Thanks gjh289. I did find that in my earlier search. It's a good reference :)

I think I'm just being a little over cautious.
 
When it comes to this hobby you can never be too cautious. One mistake could cost thousands of dollars and hundreds of sea creature lives.
 
I have a 75 which after I tried the "lets put everything at once" approach, which failed, I let it sit for about 4 months and the tank became "infested" with amphipods. I added a mandarin and watched the amphipod population drop. He was the only thing in there that would eat them and that he did. I now have to look close to find any, but the mandarin is still healthy and eating plenty of live food. My mandarin has been in there for about 9 months now. Sounds like your tank is ready, and I am sure it could support a pair of them as long as you are careful about sexing them. Good luck.
 
Well we picked up the mandarin yesterday. Acclimated him slowly and released him in to the 180. He hid in the rocks (where I could see him) for the evening. This morning I saw him out in a more open area. But the lights weren't on and I couldn't tell if he was hunting (yet).

I'm a little concerned because he's a bit skinny. Not super skinny, just not exactly a plump fish. I may add some tigger pods this week to make extra sure he's got lots available.

My next question is about a yellow canary wrasse. I have one that will eventually go in the 180. Are these guys pod eaters, too? I see him hunting but 99% of the time it's in the sand. So I figured he's more likely looking for snails.

I just want to know if the yellow canary wrasse is competition for the mandarin. Any one know?

Thanks!
 
Any wrasse will compete with and win over a mandarin{one is fast and calculated, the other slow and methodical} You can add pods, but I don't recommend tigger pods. They are cannibalistic and get hung up in pumps due to their size. Get the small copepods, like the type here~
http://www.oceanpods.com/

Add a container every few months to be sure, and feed them with live phytoplankton{be careful how much you use, if you get a green outbreak on the glass, slow down on phyto and just scrape the glass}
 
Not what I wanted to hear. Looks like the wrasse may be finding a new home :-(

I didn't know that about the tigger pods.

I looked in to the oceanpods recently and due to the summer temps they are only shipping via over night. ~ $60 for one bottle is too rich for me. But I'm sure I'll be adding some when the weather is cooler.

They're in separate tanks, so no worries. I'll really have to ponder whether the wrasse stays when we consolidate.
 
Perhaps some of the LFS have some other types of pods? We have some that are packaged here by someone local that makes phytoplankton too. Why 60.? Overnight from anywhere should be no more than $24 or so. I believe she has a deal if you get{don't quote me on the amount} say six bottles, then shipping is free. Or at least she used to. Maybe you could find some hobbyists in your area to go in and make it worth it. There are other companies too. If you google live copepods or live feeders you might find some more affordable or closer to your area. Good luck.edit: I see you are in MA, maybe try Inland Aquatics.
here's another
http://www.aquaculturestore.com/index.html
 
waterfaller1 you are quite the pod-hound!

The O/N shipping was $32. Hence, I passed ;)

I look in to the others - thanks!!
 
That last one was rotifers too..I fixed it. He sells both...hope you find some. I like to see mandarins fat & happy.:)
One thing you can do is set up a small tank, say 5-10 gal, add chaeto or someother macros, lots of phyto, pods, and walla...pod production. All you have to do is add more phyto once it starts to clear. You can make that too. Run a brine shrimp net through to catch them. It doesn't even need filtration, just some light would work.
 
i have a 125 with a refugium and 2 mandarins 4 over a year now and they are both fat and happy, after a while they decided they like frozen brine shrimp 2.
 
I'd say with a single wrasse, and a mandarin in a 180g you will have absolutely no problems. Especially with the large sump and refugium. You could prob house a pair of mandarins and the wrasse with no issues in that size :)
 
Well I must confess that the ultimate goal would to be to have a pair of mandarins. I'd love to add a female at some point (not now).

But if all wrasses are pod eaters, then I would have to rule out a fairy or flasher wrasse - which was on the "some day" list.

I'm just trying to plan my trade-offs down the road. With the exception of the mandarin, every fish is going through qt/hypo before it gets in the 180. So it's going to take a while before I have to make a decision.
 
You can also use a breeders net to train them to eat prepared foods. It takes some patience but its worth the effort to see them fat and happy.
 
I would get some NutraMar OVA (frozen prawn eggs). Mandarins seem to really like those. Very nutritious also.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12852426#post12852426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Emc2
You can also use a breeders net to train them to eat prepared foods. It takes some patience but its worth the effort to see them fat and happy.
Click to expand...

Hi - I'm not familiar with this. I've seen it mentioned before. Can you explain what to do?

TIA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Mandarin acting strange
Replies
4
Views
1K
OrionN
OrionN
S
200 Gallon Mixed Reef - Rock Questions
2
Replies
20
Views
556
wvned
wvned
Niven
Am I allowed to bring live sand/live rock home from Mexico?
Replies
12
Views
269
Uncle99
Uncle99
R
Sandbed depth question
Replies
9
Views
302
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
AZBigJohn
Thinking of culturing some pods...
Replies
7
Views
791
jrill
J
Back
Top