ORA Tank raised mandarin vs. wild mandarin

[Matt Dean]

I want to get a Blue/Red mandarin for my 125. I'm not terribly worried about pods. I have a fuge, rock in my overflow (coast to coast - no worries of flow problems) and I know I have a decent pod population. However, I do have 3 Leopard Wrasses that compete with the mandarin for pods.

So, I have been waiting for a tank raised mandarin to become available. My question is, do you think it really makes that much difference? They "claim" to be trained to eat prepared foods, but not convince it's worth paying $90 more.

All opinions welcome.'

Cheers, MATT

 

[snorvich]

I would opt for noncyanide caught wild ones but NOT because of price.

 

[davocean]

Even if they eat prep'd foods, I would not rely on that as sole source, in fact I think it just barely makes a dent in what they really need.
I'm not super exp enough w/ leopard wrasses to know how much pods are taken in by them, but I am enough in knowing mandarins eat about 1-3 pods per minute, all day.
I'm also not a fan of having major pod competition w/ mandy's, especially most other wrasses(I think leopards are a lil passive as wrasses go) and many wrasses I've known/had will be ticky towards competitors.
As for mandy collection the only way I know to get a non cyanide collected is there should be a dot on the tail where they are tail speared, how they are often caught.
I think if I had 3 leopard wrasses eating and doing well, I'd be afraid to disrupt that, they are tough to keep.

 

[Matt Dean]

Thanks for the responses.

Yes, the leopard wrasses are always hunting, however, they are very peaceful, so i'm not too worried about harassment. I am mostly worried about keeping the mandarin healthy.

I also realize the prepared foods are not a replacement, but simply a supplement. It's just an extra to help it along.

Snorvich, would be mind telling me WHY you would opt for the wild? (of course I never want a cyanide caught fish. i have good suppliers local to me)

 

[aquaph8]

I would wait. That $90 price tag wont last as long as people can still get a wild caught one for less than half. I think its great that they are breeding them but $90 is a little high. I really believe many wild caught ones eat prep'd foods, just not like other fish. I believe they eat what they come across while searching for pods but the pods among other stuff is they hunt throughout the day is an important part of their diet. Nice job on keeping 3 leopards.

 

[snorvich]

Snorvich, would be mind telling me WHY you would opt for the wild? (of course I never want a cyanide caught fish. i have good suppliers local to me)

I have had mandarins for many years that I keep in my fairly large tanks with no issues. All of them eat frozen mysis when it happens to pass them by but they are NOT competitive hunters. They sustain themselves on copepods with mysis being dessert; all are nice and fat. I tried a pair of ORA ones and it was a dismal failure. They did not hunt for copepods, they could not compete for frozen and did not even try, and in a 350 gallon tank, it is impossible to try and baby them with target feeding. :twitch:

 

[snorvich]

As for mandy collection the only way I know to get a non cyanide collected is there should be a dot on the tail where they are tail speared, how they are often caught.

They are captured with a slurp gun. I too keep leopards and would not mix mandarins with leopards except in a very large tank.

 

[Matt Dean]

Aquaph8, I'm not really worried about the price tag, that was a side note, really. It's more what will be better for having a healthy fish. Thanks for the input. yes, i LOVE the leopard wrasses. I have one Ornate female and two Blue Star Female - hoping one changes to a male eventually.

Snorvich, that's an interesting point you make about the tank raised not being good hunters - lost their instinct I guess. Since I am only a 5 X 2 tank, it would be easy, and a pleasure, to baby the mandarin and feed it with a syringe. However, I want one that will be a good hunter as well, obviously.

So you really think the leopards will be a problem with the mandarin? I have read several times that it is rare for a fish to bother the mandarin, even if they are competing for food. Or is it the competition you think is the problem?

Thanks!

 

[Matt Dean]

BTW, Aquaph8, since a fart is mostly Nitrogen, I would think it would have little effect on Ammonia in the tank :blown:

 

[aquaph8]

BTW, Aquaph8, since a fart is mostly Nitrogen, I would think it would have little effect on Ammonia in the tank :blown:

:lmao:Not if the fish ate the chicken wings I had last night.:furious: Believe it or not you are the first one to ever answer.

 

[davocean]

They are captured with a slurp gun. I too keep leopards and would not mix mandarins with leopards except in a very large tank.

You know, I was shown a vid of them using a tiny hawaiin sling, and said that was mainly how they were caught, but I wondered why not a slurp gun.
But I have noticed many w/ that dot on the tail, the telltale sign of the lil sling, wish I saved that vid.
I expected a higher price for tank bred, maybe double, but $90??

 

[Matt Dean]

Actually the price is $120 Canadian, or $280 for a male/female pair.:bigeyes:

 

[snorvich]

No, there is no harassment between mandarins and leopards, just competition for copepods.

 

[Matt Dean]

Thanks Steve,

I am going to wait until the New Year and i will get one. I plan on buying more reef pods and possibly a couple of different types of pods to ensure a hardy population before that. I know i already have a good number already, but I believe in going the extra mile for my "kids".

Cheers