Mandarins in Nano Reefs?

Only if you're willing to spend up to 60.00 a month to feed them. Their appetite is enormous.
 
I wouldn't ever want to try again. I kept a mandring going for two years in my 29gal, but it was the biggest pain in the but. I had two 10gal tanks running a pod breeding stations to try and keep up, and in the end it still wasn't enough. If you can get some that have been eating prepared foods for a while you stand a chance, but it's so hit and miss with them that I wouldn't want to chance it.
 
It is possible but expensive. I have a 40 gallon with 10 gallon sump and 90 lbs of rock and still had problems keeping mine fed. They are beautiful fish but until we can get captive bred consistantly I would leave them out of all but the largest tanks.

Good Luck
Ariel
 
I have a buddy with one in a 20g and is very successful with gut loaded brine. Using pods will cost you a fortune, but brine and gutload is cheap.
 
If you can get one that will eat a food called Artic pods (alot of them will actualy) you have a chance. I have a green spotted Manderin that i have had for a long time now. He has had many upgrades of tanks from my first 5 gal nano to a 10 to a 20 to the current 40 gal reef tank. All the while doing ok with feeding pods and other items untill Artic pods came out after that it has been cheap and easy to keep him.

Look into it they eat it up and alot of the fish in the tank like it so nothing goes to waste.

Shaun
 
Hifiguy, do you have a link to Arctic pods? I've wanted a mandarin for so long, but I just know better since they can be so difficult. But if this is the "holy grail" that everyone who wants a mandarin has been looking for, I'd love to know what it is.
 
I need this info too. I really like the mandarins and even though I saw the recommended parameters that they lived in etc...I never knew about how hard they were to keep because of their diet.

Just the other day I bought one (AFTER I asked if they were esy to keep, could co-exist with a clownfish and live in a nano.!) Yes to all according to him. He never mentioned the feeding issue!
Ticks me off big time as this LFS does not allow returns or exchanges on salt water fish.

So now, waiting for the link for the Arctic pods! I had put some copepods in my tank a few months back so maybe there are some still in there as I see him foraging throught the sand apparently eating.
He is a cool looking dude and I would hat to have to give him up or have him starve to death.:mad2:
 
If the mandarin is eating frozen, then you can have them in small tanks. I have mine in a 10g, he's still fat and healthy and loves mysis.

Keep in mind that culturing pods etc isn't exactly a stroll in the park. It takes time and dedication, so what happens when circumstances change or you lose interest or dedication?
 
Mine is pushing 3" so I would suspect that he has been eating rather well before I got him. I don't notice a sunk in belly. The LFS didn't state what it's diet was. He only told me that he could go in a nano with my clownfish and that he would be fine.

I have seen him pick up some pellet food and flake but not sure if he is eating it or not? I have also put frozen mysis in there but he still hides alot and I cannot tell if he's eating. I just got mine 2 days ago.

He's a shy one though.
 
I had a spotted mandarin in my 24g nano with my seahorses and she did fine in there. That tank had been set up for about a year and a half so there was a lot of food for her to eat. But she was happy as can be!
 
But if this is the "holy grail" that everyone who wants a mandarin has been looking for, I'd love to know what it is.
Click to expand...

Please remember that this is not an exact science and not all manderines will love this food. I think they say that they have about an 80% success rate so that is pretty good but dont always assume. Some LFS may let you try the food with the particular fish to make sure its ok with the artic pods. The good thing is that it should provide all that they need dietaraly where as the mysis shrimp may not depending on each individual. I know a few others who have had luck with this food but i dont want to portray it as the food that will solve all problems with all manderins.

as long as they have an ample belly they are doin fine. unless they have a beer belly then cut back some lol

Ohh and thank you cheeseboy for getting the link up there. I bought it at my LFS but that is the website. Ohh and its not the cheapest stuff but hey what can you do.

Shaun
 
Last edited:
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7998901#post7998901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hifiguy
Please remember that this is not an exact science and not all manderines will love this food. I think they say that they have about an 80% success rate so that is pretty good but dont always assume. Some LFS may let you try the food with the particular fish to make sure its ok with the artic pods. The good thing is that it should provide all that they need dietaraly where as the mysis shrimp may not depending on each individual. I know a few others who have had luck with this food but i dont want to portray it as the food that will solve all problems with all manderins.

as long as they have an ample belly they are doin fine. unless they have a beer belly then cut back some lol

Ohh and thank you cheeseboy for getting the link up there. I bought it at my LFS but that is the website. Ohh and its not the cheapest stuff but hey what can you do.

Shaun
Click to expand...

Excellent post :D There's no single truths in this hobby, other then our water is too salty to drink :lol:
 
The arcti-pods are awesome. My LFS sells them so I am looking for a mandarin that will eat them. They only had 1 mandarin and one psychodelic last time I was there. The mandarin didn't show any interest (he came in 2 hours before me) but the psychodelic goby was all over them.
 
I am not sure what it is about Australian mandarin fish, I have found 4 mandarins (both splendidus and picturatus) at one single LFS and everytime they are eating frozen.
 
Mandarins are a little more difficult than you might expect. Start with a goby like the sand sifter Orange diamond goby or yellow watchman goby. Easier than a mandarin and lots of fun to watch. Gobies rule!
 
08/22/2006 06:36 AM

Hifiguy
Registered Member

Registered: Jan 2006
Location:
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Posts: 38


If you can get one that will eat a food called Artic pods (alot of them will actualy) you have a chance. I have a green spotted Manderin that i have had for a long time now. He has had many upgrades of tanks from my first 5 gal nano to a 10 to a 20 to the current 40 gal reef tank. All the while doing ok with feeding pods and other items untill Artic pods came out after that it has been cheap and easy to keep him.

Look into it they eat it up and alot of the fish in the tank like it so nothing goes to waste.




Artic Pods have a web site?
 
mandarins are so beautiful but they are hard to keep. i had one that almost died in my tank a 90 gallon and i put it in my nano tank hoping to save him. he actually came back and for some reason he finds food on my rock. i didn't have to feed him live brine anymore after i put him in my nano.
 
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