My Mandarin Success Story

[Sitarangi]

Im a rather novice aquarist that has had an eye for keeping a mandarin or any dragonet since day one. I planned a fuge out of my penguin 70 BW filter that does nothing but breed amphipods for my tank. After much discussion with the owner of a fish (and my now boss ) I figured out my cunning plan to keep the fish. First, on a daily basis id remove the filter cartridges on my BW filter and shake them off in my display, that sent dozens of large amphs. all over the place. Second I created a 'fuge' out of a water bottle with some transplanted live sand chock full of copepods, some LR rubble, and lots of misc. algae. You can see how many little specs are in it now. I poked some holes on the top so they can escape.

I got the spotted mandarin and he helped himself to the countless worms I've had all over the tank. My recently purchased pistol/orange spotted goby pair has worked miracles on unearthing all sorts of goodies for him to eat. I still regularly dump amphs. into the tank and he'll nip them in the air, which is a good sign that he'll eventually eat frozen mysis if I keep being persistant. I've had him for almost 2 weeks in my 29g long, and hes doing great!

 

[snorvich]

How long have you kept it?

 

[wrasseguy2]

keeping a mandarin for two weeks is hradly a success story..after a year or two if it is still doing good then i would start to say you are having success

 

[BADGUS]

Agreed,mandarins are extremely finicky,i tried keeping them,and they just die after a few months,so i gave up on them.

 

[snorvich]

One of mine is going on four years. Once you are measuring in years, you have a success story. Not until.

 

[Sitarangi]

I kind of laughed when I read this, very well. In two years time, if he's still alive, I shall bump this very thread from the blackness of the internet, then it shall be a success story. All in all, i'm just shocked that hes eating great and doing fine in such a small tank.

 

[snorvich]

And in two years time, if I am here, you are here, and the fish is still here, we will all celebrate!!

 

[iCon31]

I have my mandarine gobie for almost seven months now.

 

[Sitarangi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12886029#post12886029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iCon31
I have my mandarine gobie for almost seven months now.

Dragonets, not gobies.

Honestly, im just proud that mines doing great in a 6 month old 29g tank.

 

[rookiegirl]

Having a true passion for this hobby makes it what it is...good on ya Sitarangi....good on ya.

 

[discusone]

Wow good for you Sitarangi.

I dont know,but some of the responses seem kind of harsh!

Just your joy at having your Mandarin doing well for two weeks is great to see.With the number of fish dieing from negelect at LFS,people losing intrest in this hobby,its nice to see some enthusiasm.

Im sure Wrasseguy2 didnt mean any thing by his response,but it sure was blunt!

Goodluck with the Mandarin,and thanks for sharing your two-week success story!

 

[Reefer07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12886828#post12886828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sitarangi
Dragonets, not gobies.

Honestly, im just proud that mines doing great in a 6 month old 29g tank.

Do you do anything to supplement copepods?
I was interested in doing a mandarin in my tank. I have a 29 gallon with a 10 gallon sump. The tank and sand have been live for over a year.
I have about 50 lbs of live rock between everything.
I know one person that buys copepods for his tank but it costs him about $20 a bottle. How can I increase copepod growth to possibly keep a mandarin?

 

[iceemn360]

For now good work. But indeed 2 weeks is a bit short to make a statement of success. As a student with mandarins my self you are doing good with your efforts on the fuge. I would however recommend that you not rely solely on your pod population . I may suggest still trying to wean your mandarin onto frozen foods. Ive had mandarins gobble up blood worms, tubliflex, mysis, brine, and formula 1 and 2 pellets. Give it a try. It may take some time but if you succeed you can feel better that your mandarin can sustain itself on more than just pods.

Male mandarin 1.5 years

Female mandarin 3.5 years

There is a male psychedelic that spawns with the female but he is extremely camera shy

 

[iceemn360]

btw the first mandarin is indeed a male but somehow his dorsal ray must have been clipped.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, it is called a circumcised male. Some collectors clip off the dorsal to sell it as a female with male coloration.

 

[iceemn360]

hmm interesting to know. thanks snorvich

 

[unbreakable]

ice, that mandarin looks amazing

 

[lawboy888]

i thought my newly purchased mandarin croaked...so got another one, turns out she was still in there and now they paired up yea supplementing with pods and a healthy chaeto full fuge

 

[Sitarangi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12890098#post12890098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer07
Do you do anything to supplement copepods?

The water bottle provides a decent amount of pods, also my guy loves amphlipods. Everyday I shake off my filter cartridges in the tank and he'll go right for them. I do it right before I feed the rest of my tank mysis. Hopefullly I can wean him on the stuff.... any suggestions?

 

[lawboy888]

how does the bottle pods works...hint please