mandarin

[Abynum1]

I spotted a Mandarin at the lfs today that is eating frozen brine shrimp.
The guy there said he is eating small flakes as well.
He wouldn't eat any flakes while I was watching him as they had just fed about an hour before I got there.
I did watch him eat (and not spit out) the brine shrimp.
My question is should I get him with my tank only being 2 months old?
I know I normally would need to wait a year before buying one so that my pods are up to par,but if this one is eating frozen (and possibly flake) then is it ok?
I would hate to pass up an opportunity to get a Mandarin that will eat non live food,but then I don't want him to stop and starve either.
I told the employee there that I was going to come back to check on him the next couple of days to see if he is still eating and to also see him eat flakes as well.
I've got about 100# of lr,give or take.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[reeftanker04]

I wouldn't go for it unless you physically watch him eat flakes or brine. Although you've certainly got enough LR to sustain it plus you have a fuge so pod population should explode. Tough call IMO.

 

[skeeter_ca]

From what i here Mandarins like to take there time. They just cruise around pickin here, pickin there. He may indeed take frozen brine or flake, but does that mean it will be there when he gets there. If you have aggressive fish they just might eat everything before he has a chance to get to it.

 

[blackheart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9793617#post9793617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by skeeter_ca
From what i here Mandarins like to take there time. They just cruise around pickin here, pickin there. He may indeed take frozen brine or flake, but does that mean it will be there when he gets there. If you have aggressive fish they just might eat everything before he has a chance to get to it.

This is true about him being out competed for food but in a perfict wold if he can get to the food then he sould survive and be fine in you relatively new tank. That being said I myself wated a year. Hope that helped.


PS: if you have a fuge where pod population can take off then you wont have to worry about the manderine killing of the colinies before they have a chance to take hold

 

[papagimp]

fwiw, the brine isn't going to neccessarily be the best food for him. Newly hatched artemia are great for juvinile and newly hatched fry but for adult fish, not as good. and adult brine are only as nutritous as what they are gutloaded in. And feeding him only the frozen brine is going to leave out other nutrients he would need. If you could see him eating a variety of frozen foods than yeah, I'd say get him. But if only the frozen brine, I'd wait until the pod population could support him. They do prefer to take there time hunting slowly throughout the entire day, they are not going to stuff themselves once a day and wait until the next feeding. Also, if the local store claims he'll eat flake food, I wouldnot purchase until you witnessed this for yourself. The whole "I just fed him thing" doesn't do much for me, escpecially if you saw him eating brine but not the flakes....seems iffy to me. If you want a healthy mandarin that will thrive in your system, best to be patient about adding one. Rushining it just for a "good deal" may prove a waste of money if he dies soon from starvation.

 

[kurtg]

I'd worry about competition from other fish. He may eat brine shrimp, but just about any fish worth it's salt will beat him to it. It's heart breaking to watch a fish starve. I'd hold off unless you're positive you have a sufficient food supply that you can get to him reliably.

Mine will also eat brine shrimp, but I've been working on getting him out of my 110 gallon to see if I can feed him better in a hospital tank. I've been able to catch him once, but he's surprising quick now that he knows what a net looks like.

 

[killagoby]

I'll post it here too...

100 LBS of LR is good but I would also have a fuge to help supplement the tank with fresh pods. Go here Ocean Pods to get some pods in your tank. Wait about 6 months, then get the fish.

 

[alexb518]

sounds like your setup is good to facilitate a mandarin, but the only thing is that your tank is a bit immature--wait at least a few more months. just like everyone else said about it being out comepeted for food. but, i feel you...you kinda don't want to pass up on a mandarin that eats brine and flake. this may sound kinda cruel, but you can always put him in one of those little plastic containers (don't know what they're called but you'll generally see sea horses in them) and leave him in there for a few months. that way, you'll be sure he gets food, and also, you wont have to worry about him killing off your pod population.

 

[Abynum1]

I really didnt think of him having to compete for the food. I've got two yellow tail damsels that eat like it's their last meal everytime I feed.
I think I'm gonna wait and just let my display and fuge get right 1st.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[Rockhead21564]

You could always "grow your own pods, lots of people do. Very easy.