New Reef Tank, Advice for Copepods in Refugium

[OrQidz]

I don't think this will go well, honestly. Fish can slowly starve over quite some time while we think they are getting enough to eat. Mandarins eat constantly, like one pod every few seconds. It's highly unlikely you'll have enough pods to sustain that, and unless you can feed him frozen every few seconds 24/7. I've also heard, although I've never researched it, that it's pods that they need. Frozen or pellets are a nice supplement, but not a replacement for their real needs which is a constant supply of pods.

I would take him back for now and focus on fish that will do a lot better in your setup.

 

[Tanthaitrung]

Sorry about inserting.

My tank is 250g, over 2 years old with no live rock and bare bottom. I also love the Mandarin. My question are:

Mandarin can eat frozen artemia?

I have to feed them many times a day?

Thanks in advance
Khanh

 

[Cakebaker13]

Never assume in this hobby. Watch the size of the fish. Make sure he looks "fat and happy".

With the size of tank you have I don't think you'll see many pods on the walls (even in the fuge) and such and the mandarin will significantly reduce the population.

But I do see a lot of 'pods on the walls. I also have a small 'pod farm to augment in case I turn out to be wrong and he devours the entire 'pod population.

I am keeping an eye on his size. He is doing well and looks happy. Not fat yet, but I think he's gained weight since the LFS.

 

[Cakebaker13]

I would take him back for now and focus on fish that will do a lot better in your setup.

Well, He's the only fish I wanted in my aquarium ... and the main reason I got into the hobby, so ... I think I'm going to keep him and just make sure he is healthy and happy by going the extra mile.

 

[NS Mike D]

Well, He's the only fish I wanted in my aquarium ... and the main reason I got into the hobby, so ... I think I'm going to keep him and just make sure he is healthy and happy by going the extra mile.

I have a 29 gal tank with the large 5gal CPR fuge. IMO, you won't be able to keep up with pod production to feed your mandarin.

If reconsidering giving up the mandarin is off the table:

Consider turning your display tank into a more natural environment by adding macro algae to encourage pod reproduction in the display tank. There is a thread where a member did this to successfully keep a mandarin in a small tank.

The LTA is going to outgrow your tank quickly so consider giving back the LTA and the clowns and keep anything that will compete with the mandarin for the pods out of the tank.

 

[vikinglord13]

The pod farm will help. What NS Mike D said about the macroalgae and competitive fish would also help. Getting a nice piece of macro algae that probably wouldn't be eaten by fish (like a sailfin blenny) and crabs would work well, especially if it promotes pod colonization.

Check out this website for ordering algae, it's the best I've come across so far.
http://live-plants.com/

 

[Tanthaitrung]

But I do see a lot of 'pods on the walls. I also have a small 'pod farm to augment in case I turn out to be wrong and he devours the entire 'pod population.

I am keeping an eye on his size. He is doing well and looks happy. Not fat yet, but I think he's gained weight since the LFS.

I've just searched and have some links. Liveaquaria.com said, minimum tank size: 30 gallons. If your tank has no more pods, you can try frozen food. Fish keepers here have good results with this method. I think your Mandarin can grow in your tank. Please see

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1635+551&pcatid=551

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2072752

Good luck
Khanh

 

[jayball]

Sorry about inserting.

My tank is 250g, over 2 years old with no live rock and bare bottom. I also love the Mandarin. My question are:

Mandarin can eat frozen artemia?

I have to feed them many times a day?

Thanks in advance
Khanh

Mandarin’s evolved to eat very small prey hundreds to thousands of times a day and so have a very short digestive track. They cannot fully utilize a large meal because of this.

Because you have no live rock for you would need to feed them many, many times a day and they could not be just plain brine, you would need other foods that are healthier as well like live baby brine, eggs, or live black worms to name a few. It would be a full time job keeping it fed, assuming you can train it to eats all those things.

EDIT: Came back to ask... with no rock or sand what does your tank look like?

 

[Tanthaitrung]

Mandarin’s evolved to eat very small prey hundreds to thousands of times a day and so have a very short digestive track. They cannot fully utilize a large meal because of this.

Because you have no live rock for you would need to feed them many, many times a day and they could not be just plain brine, you would need other foods that are healthier as well like live baby brine, eggs, or live black worms to name a few. It would be a full time job keeping it fed, assuming you can train it to eats all those things.

EDIT: Came back to ask... with no rock or sand what does your tank look like?

After itch treatment, I will try a Mandarin (maybe a medium size) with frozen baby brine. I saw some members here have good results with frozen food twice a day:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2072752

I mean my tank started with dead rock.

Thanks anyway
Khanh

 

[Cakebaker13]

I have a 29 gal tank with the large 5gal CPR fuge. IMO, you won't be able to keep up with pod production to feed your mandarin.

If reconsidering giving up the mandarin is off the table:

Consider turning your display tank into a more natural environment by adding macro algae to encourage pod reproduction in the display tank. There is a thread where a member did this to successfully keep a mandarin in a small tank.

The LTA is going to outgrow your tank quickly so consider giving back the LTA and the clowns and keep anything that will compete with the mandarin for the pods out of the tank.

What is your LTA assumption based off?

 

[NS Mike D]

What is your LTA assumption based off?

I had one. It grew to over a foot in a few months., and they can grow to 20".

It can be done in a 29gal, but it would need to be your centerpiece, leaving little room for anything else in the tank.