My big, fat and happy Mandarin

[drukkosz]

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my success in having a happy (and fat) Mandarin.

About 9 years ago, I saw a Green Mandarin in a public aquarium and instantly fell in love with it. Thus, began my reef journey.

I started with a 30-gallon tank, and three upgrades later, settled on a 125-gallon mixed reef (upstairs) and a 30-gallon sump and 100-gallon tub full of live rock (basement). But, even with the sheer amount of water volume and hundreds of pounds of live rock, my Mandarins (yes, I tried a few times) never got enough food and subsequently starved.

Then, I decided to tried Paul B's method (live brine shrimp through a small feeder) and now my Mandarin is THRIVING!

I grow brine shrimp daily and feed them to my fish in the morning and sometimes in the evening. Some days, it's the only food I use. All the fish love it--even my Yellow Tang goes crazy for them.

I have many small fish, and have noticed that after incorporating brine shrimp into the tank, they are happier and fatter than ever. I truly believe that live brine shrimp is a big part of my successful reef.

I also believe that Green Mandarins are just terrible hunters. I added pair of Ruby Red Dragonets last year and observed that while it takes them 2-3 seconds to hunt a pod (they are super fat, too), it takes my Mandarin 10-15 seconds. So, having a feeder allows the Mandarin to get one every few seconds, plus, I believe brine shrimp are much more nutritious than pods.

So, if your Mandarin is skinny or you want to add one to your tank, I highly recommend building a little feeder. I customized mine so only a small opening is accessible. That way, pods stay in the feeder for much much longer and the Mandarin can feed on it for hours.

If you have a similar story, I'd love to hear it! Please share and show me your Mandarin.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wcKjdqs6Xac" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[brad]

Conventional thinking is brine shrimp have very little nutritious value. But actual results are worth more.

How are you growing brine shrimp? Are you buying eggs, or running a culture? Are you feeding them anything special?

 

[drukkosz]

Hi Brad,

You are right brine shrimp it's just water but freshly harvested baby brine shrimp that still have yolk sac attached is a different story.
My procedure is quite simple, you can get a shrimp hatchery in almost every store, this is a very good option:

https://www.amazon.com/San-Francisc...47820271&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+shrimp+hatchery

get a 1 liter bottle and you are ready to hatch.

You can fallow that recipe:
"¢ 2 cups tank water
"¢ 1/2 cup RO/DI
"¢ 1 tsp brine shrimp eggs

I use regular warm water from my sink because right now I grow them in my kitchen (thank you wifey), my house was built in 1890 and my basement is around 60 degrees in the winter. I don't use any extra lighting or food. But its recommended to put some phyto 6 hours before they hatch. Mine hatch after approximately 36 hours, you will know because it will turn bright orange.
I buy 90% hatch rate shrimp eggs from amazon they are around $16 for 50 grams.

After 36 hours I unplug the pump and cover the hatchery for about 15-20 minutes because the darkness helps get the hatched Artemia to settle, since they are attracted to light, and the hatched eggs float on top. Then gravity drains the hatched brine shrimp into the net and you are ready to feed. My fish are so used to that the when I open my canopy they all come to the feeder.

Look at that belly:inlove:

<a href="http://imgbox.com/tx0oF5XD" target="_blank"><img src="https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/6b/22/tx0oF5XD_t.jpg" alt="image host"/></a>

 

[jd371]

This is what I use and it makes it so much easier. The shells or unhatched eggs stay to the sides and the newly hatched shrimp swim to the center, so when you remove the small strainer there is only baby shrimp. Don't need to add any aeration with this also, just fill it with water and that's it.

https://www.amazon.com/Brine-Shrimp...7823953&sr=8-3&keywords=brine+shrimp+hatchery

 

[drukkosz]

This is what I use and it makes it so much easier. The shells or unhatched eggs stay to the sides and the newly hatched shrimp swim to the center, so when you remove the small strainer there is only baby shrimp. Don't need to add any aeration with this also, just fill it with water and that's it.

https://www.amazon.com/Brine-Shrimp...7823953&sr=8-3&keywords=brine+shrimp+hatchery

I have that too, but I harvest large amount of Artemia everyday so its not big enough for me. And in my opinion because there is no water movement eggs don't hatch at same time and when its time to replace the water tons of unhatched eggs go to the drain.

 

[Cymonous]

What about your feeder? What all did you make it with?

 

[drukkosz]

What about your feeder? What all did you make it with?

Here is how I made my feeder:

I used a 8oz food storage container,

Cut a hole in the cover , I cut it less than half of the cover so the brine would stay in the feeder longer.

Get a piece of acrylic or PVC tubing about 3/8" wide. Make a bend near one end of the tube, I heated it using a pot with hot water.

Hold the bent part on your substrate and mark it about an inch above the water. Cut the tube there.

Drill a hole in the side of the container so the tube fits in snugly and push the tube in.

Get your old or new stocking with a fine mesh from your gf or spouse.

Make sure you purchase new pair of stocking for your gf or spouse.

Lay the piece of stocking on the container (try not to stretch it to much) and put the lid on.


Also don't be surprised if your fish won't go to the feeder for few days. It takes them time to use to it and understand what's going on.


<a href="http://imgbox.com/x8SraS4Y" target="_blank"><img src="https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/98/79/x8SraS4Y_t.jpg" alt="image host"/></a> <a href="http://imgbox.com/3UaYojNV" target="_blank"><img src="https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/24/e9/3UaYojNV_t.jpg" alt="image host"/></a>

 

[jd371]

I have that too, but I harvest large amount of Artemia everyday so its not big enough for me. And in my opinion because there is no water movement eggs don't hatch at same time and when its time to replace the water tons of unhatched eggs go to the drain.

Yep, I can see if you need a lot of Artemia this wouldn't do. I just supplement the usual fish and coral feedings with them once and a while.

 

[drukkosz]

Here is my male ruby red

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O_CH1lN_kg0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[drukkosz]

Peekaboo....


<a href="http://imgbox.com/N4X3r3eH" target="_blank"><img src="https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/cd/f8/N4X3r3eH_t.jpg" alt="image host"/></a>