Could Clowns Decimate Pods Before Dragonet arrives?

[Dark_Knightt]

So Ive recently hauled some new things from my LFS, an anemone, salt, test strips, etc.
Then i bought a bag of Algagen Tisbe pods, because I'd like to add a ruby red dragonet to my tank. I added the pods to my tank, but then I noticed maybe 30mins later the clowns were already filling themselves with pods, pecking on the ones on the tank glass!
Would it be possible for them to eat all of them? Im not totally mad because pods are nutritious but i want the dragonet to be nice and happy in my tank. But should i feed them mroe so they eat less pod?
#reefsquad thanks

Also so you know im going to be buying a small female ruby red, so she would stay very very small, therefore eating fewer pods (still a lot tho). Im going to wait aobut a month or two, and then get the fish. When i get the fish im going to introduce 2 more bags of pods. *This is all if the clowns dont decimate the current population.**

 

[ScubaFish802]

Hi, how old is your tank?

I see pods in my filter chambers and the glass etc.. rocks and other places provide a hiding spot for them to breed. Over time you should establish a population. A newer tank may have a hard time keeping a large pod population right off unless you are adding them regularly

 

[smacbride]

More will survive if you put them in after the lights go out and the clowns are asleep. I had some that lasted in my substrate for years. I could always see them when I vacuumed out the tank.

 

[Nick Steele]

I haven’t noticed my newest pair of clowns eating pods but my old pair would spend 90% of their time pecking at pods all day long!

I’d say it would be hard for them to decimate the population but I’m sure they could do a number on pods.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Agreed with @smacbride, put pods in after dark next time so they have time to hide in the rocks while the fish sleep

 

[Flippers4pups]

Adding them, lights out is best. As far as them “hunting “ them, I highly doubt it.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Hi, how old is your tank?

I see pods in my filter chambers and the glass etc.. rocks and other places provide a hiding spot for them to breed. Over time you should establish a population. A newer tank may have a hard time keeping a large pod population right off unless you are adding them regularly

Tank is about 7-8 months i believe. I have a few pieces of ULTRA porous rock, like legitimate mazes, so i tihnk they should have a safe place to reproduce. I think i may just be being a lil over paranoid because i want things to go well. But then you remember things dont usually go "smoothly" in this hobby XD. Thanks hope this helped

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Adding them, lights out is best. As far as them “hunting “ them, I highly doubt it.

Yes lights were turned off, blinds were shut. Well maybe not hunting, but they were definetly pecking at them on the glass.

 

[Jon Fishman]

If you’re worried about Clowns wiping them out, then you probably don’t have enough, and your tank doesn’t have a large enough established population to support a Mandarin

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I haven’t noticed my newest pair of clowns eating pods but my old pair would spend 90% of their time pecking at pods all day long!

I’d say it would be hard for them to decimate the population but I’m sure they could do a number on pods.

Hopefuly the ones in the sandbed and rocks will be able to reproduce, because its a safe place.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

If you’re worried about Clowns wiping them out, then you probably don’t have enough, and your tank doesn’t have a large enough established population to support a Mandarin

The population should be fine. there was probably about 100 on the glass, but probably abotu 800 safely made it into the rocks and another 500 in the rocks. I think about after a month it should be good.

 

[Flippers4pups]

@Dark_Knightt, what size tank?

 

[Dark_Knightt]

@Dark_Knightt, what size tank?

20g

 

[Flippers4pups]

20g

That’s going to be a tough time keeping the Mandy fed because of the size of tank. Respectfully. I would normally said that you should consider taking it back to the LFS because it may starve, but if your willing to add copepods weekly and the cost involved then go for it. They eat non stop and can eat several hundred copepods daily. They really need a very mature tank with a refugium that can support the copepods reproducing to feed the DT. As well as adding phytoplankton for the pods to eat.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

That’s going to be a tough time keeping the Mandy fed because of the size of tank. Respectfully. I would normally said that you should consider taking it back to the LFS because it may starve, but if your willing to add copepods weekly and the cost involved then go for it. They eat non stop and can eat several hundred copepods daily. They really need a very mature tank with a refugium that can support the copepods reproducing to feed the DT. As well as adding phytoplankton for the pods to eat.

Oh just so you know i dont have the fish yet. If things go well im going to add the fish in a motnh or two. When i get the fish im going to add maybe 10,000 pods to the tank. But yes im going to start cultivating pods and dosing phyto almost daily to feed the pods. The algagen pods give you enough phyto in the bag to last the post aobut a month, but im going to order some online probably in a few days so i can keep them fed.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Oh just so you know i dont have the fish yet. If things go well im going to add the fish in a motnh or two. When i get the fish im going to add maybe 10,000 pods to the tank. But yes im going to start cultivating pods and dosing phyto almost daily to feed the pods. The algagen pods give you enough phyto in the bag to last the post aobut a month, but im going to order some online probably in a few days so i can keep them fed.

It’s a Daunting task to keep up with it. I have trained my Mandy to accept micro particle LRS food. The problem with this is my wrasses are brutal when feeding time comes. I have to distract them by feeding on the opposite side of the reef to get some to it, or they will steal food from it! I do have a large overall system. 125 gallon display and a basement sump with a frag system attached. Total water volume at 240. And yes I have a lot of pods in the system. It’s now over 5 years old.

Years ago I did keep one in a 56 gallon cube. I added copepods on a regular basis. It was starving and I did train it to take small bits of mysis. The problem with that is the amount of feedings needed was too much for me to keep up. I took it back to the LFS.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

It’s a Daunting task to keep up with it. I have trained my Mandy to accept micro particle LRS food. The problem with this is my wrasses are brutal when feeding time comes. I have to distract them by feeding on the opposite side of the reef to get some to it, or they will steal food from it!

Years ago I did keep one in a 56 gallon cube. I added copepods on a regular basis. It was starving and I did train it to take small bits of mysis. The problem with that is the amount of feedings needed was too much for me to keep up. I took it back to the LFS.

I'll see how it goes with a tiny ruby red mando, if it goes well, perfect, if not, ill take it back to my LFS.

 

[FlexingFishSticks]

IMO 20g is a little small I think LA recommends 30g for minimum tank size at least. Def wanna set these lil fish up for success with the best conditions

 

[Dark_Knightt]

IMO 20g is a little small I think LA recommends 30g for minimum tank size at least. Def wanna set these lil fish up for success with the best conditions

Absolutely! Im gonna see how it goes, and hopefully it goes well. If not im not going to endanger the animal any further and ill take her back to my LFS that i trust.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Absolutely! Im gonna see how it goes, and hopefully it goes well. If not im not going to endanger the animal any further and ill take her back to my LFS that i trust.

Good to hear! Best of luck going forward!

Fins up!