mandarin?

[johnnydaz]

I am planning to get a mandarin for my reef aquarium. I know they are difficult to keep because of the eatting habits. I know they eat copepods and I want some to establish a colony before I get a mandarin. Does anyone have any advice for me or know where I can get some?

 

[cant think of a name]

uncured live rock is one of the best sources

 

[plaz]

Premium Aquatics and several places have SeaPods. They are copepods and are cheaper than Reed. Put them in your refugium and feed Phytoplankton regularly (copepods need phyto and will multiply when they have it). You can culture Phyto cheaply and easily too (see breeders forum for good threads on it).

Good luck!

 

[Teremei]

I highly reccomend www.oceanpods.com but only if you put them in your fuge and feed them phyto and flakes to keep them breeding. Then you can take some algae or rocks from your fuge put it into your tank on a rotating basis to keep the tank stocked.

Also, see if you can get the fish store to feed the mandarin frozen, if he eagerly eats it then GET HIM. You've got a keeper. I have one and he eats frozen. (you need a small jar layed on the sand to put the food in because his eating habbits are to pick off of surfaces, not in mid water)

 

[johnnydaz]

Thanks for the advice fellow reefers. If anyone else has any more good advice, please let me know.