Psychedelic Mandarin Goby

[TMF89]

Well guys I'm thinking my final addition to the tank will be this guy, IF I can keep him successfully. I have a 29 gallon I'm planning on stocking with two clowns, a watchman, and maybe this guy. I figure that bioload (without skimmer or sump) would be about maxed out?


I've done a bunch of research on the mandarins and they all say that they're very picky eaters, and require cepholopods, which requires the owner to buy/breed the pods for the fish. That seems like a lot of work (well not a lot, but more than I'd like) for someone who's setting up their first saltwater tank! lol
My question is have any of you tried or heard of people keeping these fish without breeding their food source? Thanks guys!

 

[R_Hudson]

There is a thread on here about the ORA dragonettes. They are more expensive but will do much better in that size tank due to the fact they eat prepared foods vs pods alone. And in a 29gal I think with that stocking list you are still light as far as a bioload is concerned. You could add a wrasse or basslett to the mix without problem.

 

[Slim_jim989]

A 29 gal is way to small for a mandarin, unless you have a fuge attached to it but even then. The new ORA dragonettes do seem promising but still to early to tell. so look into some other fish.

 

[TMF89]

I actually just found that thread. Done some researching, can't find any online vendors, but I'll keep checking.

And Jim, I've found a few sources who kept a Mandarin in smaller tanks, one guy kept his in a 10 gallon for a couple years (stopped blogging) with proper feeding, he had to suppliment a lot of the pods, but he said he thought eventually a rock colony and a couple sponges kept it going.

 

[Ben34105]

Hold off on the ORA mandarins. I haven't seen mine eat prepared food yet. He was getting a little thin so I bought a bottle of tigger pods and dosed the tank. While I support ORA for captive breeding them, I think their claim of them eating pellets is pushing it.

 

[small alien]

I don't think they're claim is pushing it (they raised them from fry after all), but it may be that they still take some time to settle in and begin eating.

 

[TMF89]

Ben, did you find yours online, or at an LFS?

 

[Ben34105]

I'm friends with the owner of the LFS. I had him order it special for me and was ready when UPS delivered it.

 

[reef_doug]

Try the small size (.5 mm) NLS Ther-A pellets.