Mandarine?

[akbuuur]

Hey guys i was thinking about getting a mandarine in a couple months or so but was wondering if you all thought a fuge would be needed. i have a 92 gallon main tank with a 20 gal sump. About a month or so ago, i saw my pods were ALL over! but then it seems my carpenters fairy wrasse has started getting a taste for them, and i dont see them at night time anymore. i have about 80-90 pounds of lr with about a 1-2 inch sand bed. anythoughts are welcome btw my tanks been set up for about 6 months now, and before that it was all in a 55, all the rock and sand
thanks
Akbar

 

[tangerine]

IMO,if you have a competing fish in the tank,the mandarin would not fare well. mandarins are very slow feeders.

 

[dc]

A fuge certainly won't hurt. I turned my sump into one for a mandarin. I would search for one that will eat prepared foods before you buy one. With the wrass there probably won't be enough pods for both. Also I'd do several pod piles (piles of rubble) And also reseed the pods.

 

[kass03]

I agree with the wrasse I don't think it will work. Might not even if you have a fuge.

If you did'nt have the wrasse I'd say try one but if your not seeing any pods now thats not good.

kass

 

[Shekki]

I have a spotted mandarin and he eats frozen food. Loves bloodworms. He is an extremely slow eater and would only survive in a tank where he could take his time to eat. Mine is in a 24g nano with 30 pounds of rock and no fuge and has been doing well.

Robb

 

[Jamie2337]

I would not reccomend one with the wrasse.

 

[REV]

Some mandarins have been known to take prepared foods... ask in the store, if they have one that will ask them to let you see... If not I wouldn't risk the competition. I have one with no competition, and I wonder like every other day, "is he skinny?" All you need for a fuge is a clamp on light with a ball of chaeto. Another thing I have done... in the corner of my display I have one of those freshwater breeding nets with babies in it. I put a little chaeto in it and feed cyclopeze... it is FULL of pods. Every other day or so I grab the chaeto, put it in the display and shake it around to get more pods into the display. I think it works perfectly - more volume intorduced than just the occassional pod sucked up by my return pump. I guess I have a fuge + supplement.