Dragonet Survival

blkhawk10 · Jan 28, 2019

I just purchased a ruby red dragonet yesterday...I'm curious to see what steps I should take in keeping my tank populated enough with pods for it to thrive. I have a well established 57 gallon tank that I introduced tisbe and apocyclops pods about 3 months ago so the populations are booming. Along with introducing the pods in my DT I introduced them into a 10 gallon refugium in my sump. I'm about to get another 16 oz. jar of tisbe and tigger pods to seed the DT and refugium even more. Will I be good to go after this last seeding, as far as not having to seed again?

James M · Jan 28, 2019

What other inhabitants do you have ?

davocean · Jan 28, 2019

^^ Agree, as long as there is no other real pod competition sounds like you are good to go.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 28, 2019

Ruby’s have a different gut than a mandarin. They do need bugs , but will also do well on frozen foods and sometimes pellets. PE Mysis is a good one for that. Lps like it too.

blkhawk10 · Jan 28, 2019

I have a red pygmy wrasse and a mystery wrasse...the pygmy I'm sure eats some but the mystery I have never seen really picking so I think I'm ok in that aspect.

OriginalUserName · Jan 28, 2019

I'd try to get him on frozen foods also. In my old tank my dragonette did just fine with pods that grew in the tank but I had a contamination issue that wiped out all my pods overnight and he didn't make it.

blkhawk10 · Jan 28, 2019

What would be the best way to train it to eat frozen food? Is there a link I should check out?

TedsReef · Jan 28, 2019

blkhawk10 said:
What would be the best way to train it to eat frozen food? Is there a link I should check out?

Get a small QT set up (mine is 5g). Not sure if you'll be okay with a bare bottom or if you'll want to add substrate due to the way the ruby hunts. I'd start by using a small pipette to put live pods near him. Also, keep putting frozen near him. Slowly feed less pods. Baster out what frozen he doesn't eat after an hour. Soak the frozen food in something like garlicX. It may take some time but that's the method I've used with other fish (haven't tried the pod method, I just added that due to it being a ruby).

blkhawk10 · Jan 28, 2019

that's very interesting, thanks for the info.

Jesterrace · Jan 29, 2019

IMHO Mandarins are always going to need at least supplemental feedings of pods. I agree that if they adapt it gives you some more flexibility but it also locks you in to frequent feedings (something that doesn't really work if you have a fulltime job or go to school).

Pbh-reef · Feb 19, 2019

saltyfilmfolks said:
Ruby’s have a different gut than a mandarin. They do need bugs , but will also do well on frozen foods and sometimes pellets. PE Mysis is a good one for that. Lps like it too.

Just wanted to understand - could a ruby dragonet do well in a 10 gallon seeded with pods and 2x a day frozen food feeding? I’ve always assumed they were the same as mandarins so interested to learn more. Is there a good article or thread to read about their care requirements?

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 19, 2019

Pbh-reef said:
Just wanted to understand - could a ruby dragonet do well in a 10 gallon seeded with pods and 2x a day frozen food feeding? I’ve always assumed they were the same as mandarins so interested to learn more. Is there a good article or thread to read about their care requirements?

I wouldn’t do one in a ten gallon. No.

Pbh-reef · Feb 19, 2019

saltyfilmfolks said:
I wouldn’t do one in a ten gallon. No.

Didn’t think so! Definitely curious to learn more about this fish though

Mayerlyn A · Feb 19, 2019

saltyfilmfolks said:
Ruby’s have a different gut than a mandarin. They do need bugs , but will also do well on frozen foods and sometimes pellets. PE Mysis is a good one for that. Lps like it too.

I did not know this. I really like them and thought they would be a lot like a Mandarin

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 19, 2019

Pbh-reef said:
Didn’t think so! Definitely curious to learn more about this fish though

Get on wet web media.
Bob Fennner is a friend of mine. He loves to talk fish. He’s a bit strict though.
Tang police officer and Mandarin FBI.
Knows the biology thought.

Pbh-reef · Feb 19, 2019

saltyfilmfolks said:
Get on wet web media.
Bob Fennner is a friend of mine. He loves to talk fish. He’s a bit strict though.
Tang police officer and Mandarin FBI.
Knows the biology thought.

Omg I loved that website when I was a kid - I emailed him so many questions and he was very patient and kind. This was about 1997 or so. I read the CMA book so many times the binding fell apart!

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 19, 2019

Pbh-reef said:
Omg I loved that website when I was a kid - I emailed him so many questions and he was very patient and kind. This was about 1997 or so. I read the CMA book so many times the binding fell apart!

Lol. He’s totally a cool guy in person too.
He’d probably autograph a new copy for you. Lol.