any tips for owning a green mandrinfish

[Kuzurí]

If you're dead set on getting a Mandarin, get captive bred only.

I bought a tiny captive bred (so small he can't go in my main Reefer 170 tank until he is big enough to not fit through the filter intake) about 6 months ago. He's been in my 10 gal QT tank and doing great. He eats pods, brine and frozen.

I'd also suggest a subscription of pods from algaebarn.

 

[Bolen2]

So buy copepods from algae barn

Of course you could do that but it’s not entirely the best economic solution. If that is not of concern to you by all means that is a good option.

 

[zafink]

if you are 100% dead going for it (I'm not saying go for it, but understand, and if you DO decide to go for it no matter what with a 24 gallon here's my advice instead of algae barn get a monthly subscription with @Eldredge

I'd say get his 12 oz pods and a bottle of his phyto on monthly sub. Pour maybe 1/4 bottle of the pods into your sump/refugium. Start with 10ml/day of his phyto (phyto can help sustain your pod population). He has denser, cheaper pods then algae barn, and its a mix of tisbe tigriopious and apocyclops I believe. Lots of tisbe in there which is good.

ALSO get yourself a brine shrimp hatchery... BRS has a good set up for around $35

Feed every day...

and go biota, grab some masstick food like biota recommends and stick it near where your mandarin might find it...


Again, not saying go for it, but if you do that might give you a pretty good shot lol

 

[zafink]

if you are 100% dead going for it (I'm not saying go for it, but understand, and if you DO decide to go for it no matter what with a 24 gallon here's my advice instead of algae barn get a monthly subscription with @Eldredge

I'd say get his 12 oz pods and a bottle of his phyto on monthly sub. Pour maybe 1/4 bottle of the pods into your sump/refugium. Start with 10ml/day of his phyto (phyto can help sustain your pod population). He has denser, cheaper pods then algae barn, and its a mix of tisbe tigriopious and apocyclops I believe. Lots of tisbe in there which is good.

ALSO get yourself a brine shrimp hatchery... BRS has a good set up for around $35

Feed every day...

and go biota, grab some masstick food like biota recommends and stick it near where your mandarin might find it...


Again, not saying go for it, but if you do this MIGHT give you a pretty good shot lol.