This may not be the most accurate forum to post this on, since I've been at the hobby for some time but here it goes. The other day I finally fulfilled one of my sw aquarium dreams and purchased a mandarin. There have been pods in my 60 gal reef tank from the beginning in the form of colonies on filter floss that I keep in the back of my two hob filters. I know they're in there because every time I change a filter pad it's always crawling with em. I want to ensure that my new favorite fish has enough to eat. I've heard of shining a red light into the tank with the lights off, but are there any other ways to ensure the pod population is sustainable for the goby? (Sorry so long winded)
Enough Pods??
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SNAKEMANVET
Well-Known Member
Only way for sure is if the mandarin has a fat belly.If there isn't enough you will will see it get skinny.The pods they eat you can barely see them.If you get lucky it will start eating frozen Mysis and other prepared foods.
MikeyAl
Well-Known Member
There are different points of view on this- and I think I am in the minority. IMO even if you have a great pod population- which it seems you do- a mandarin can greatly reduce your numbers quickly- unless you have a safe place like a fuge to ensure they keep populating at a fast rate.
I have had success with newly hatched baby brine shrimp, and even getting them to eat prepared foods. This will ensure they get plenty of food.
Paul B. has a great article.
http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/
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I can't grow pods for the live of me!
I agree with this and will add one additional comment for consideration; nothing is stopping you from adding additional cultures of aquacultured pods in the form of pre-packages like AlgaGen ReefPods and others. Typically you would want to reseed, so to speak, every 6 to 10 months to try and keep a thriving population.
Also pods tend to be "more" active at night and dosing the tank with the right amount of a live planktonic food source will aid your pods and help you achieve better sustainability.
I agree with this and will add one additional comment for consideration; nothing is stopping you from adding additional cultures of aquacultured pods in the form of pre-packages like AlgaGen ReefPods and others. Typically you would want to reseed, so to speak, every 6 to 10 months to try and keep a thriving population.
Also pods tend to be "more" active at night and dosing the tank with the right amount of a live planktonic food source will aid your pods and help you achieve better sustainability.
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themcnertney
Valuable Member
I'm sorry but I dislike this topic. They should be left in the ocean IMO.
themcnertney
Valuable Member
Correct. Thanks for clarifying that.
OP
OP
Parker
New Member
Thanks for all the info guys! I believe I'm going to buy additional live pods to bolster my population, and I have frozen brine shrimp (not the most nutritionally rich I know) that I thawed and added to the tank today which the goby perked up at. Trying to cover all my bases.
Kungpaoshizi
Valuable Member
They're easy to take care of, just be sure to get a feeder, and feed powdered food multiple times a day to support the pods. Then also add a few drops of decapsulated brine shrimp eggs in the morning/afternoon.(http://www.ebay.com/itm/Decapsulate...193005?hash=item2369d180ad:g:qaIAAOSw9k5XQSUF) Be sure any decapped brine shrimp eggs you get, say 'hatching'. You can decap two ways, one way renders the eggs inert.
Paul B has some decent info, but the feeding apparatus isn't too necessary. I found it annoying because multiple fish will fight over the output where the bbs come out. If you just dump some in the tank, it'll allow each fish to "hunt".
Good luck!
Paul B has some decent info, but the feeding apparatus isn't too necessary. I found it annoying because multiple fish will fight over the output where the bbs come out. If you just dump some in the tank, it'll allow each fish to "hunt".
Good luck!
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klp
Active Member
What constitutes your "powdered food" powdered flake?
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