Feeding a Mandarin Dragonet

[tgfitz1]

Hi all,

I know, another Mandarin and copepod thread. SORRY!

I purchased a mandarin dragonet yesterday evening as my tank hit the 11 month marker as well as being sure that there are lots of pods in my tank! But having a tank on the smaller side (40g), I want to be sure that my mandarin is getting the amount of food that it needs so I am going to add additional pods to the tank. I eventually also want to culture my own.

(I have done plenty of research on the fish but I didn't really think about how I would go about supplementing the tank with pods, I just knew I wanted to.)

My question is, how many pods should I be buying per week/month/year and when adding them to the tank, should I turn off my skimmer? Place the pods to where the Mandarin is usually hanging out? Or just put them in the sump and let them do their thing. Also, would phytoplankton be another beneficial food source for them?

If anyone could provide me some information on this I would be more than grateful as I desperately want to keep this beautiful fish (and my new favourite) in my tank!

Have a great day!

 

[Diesel]

Lots of pods you need to feed him.
How much is hard to say but I would start cause you have the mandarin already getting it used to frozen Mysis.
Try everyday and don't give up after it won't eat it at first it can take up to a week or two maybe longer to get it used to it.

 

[Chrisfish]

In addition to lots of pods in my tank which I supplement monthly, my mandarin loves live black worms and Frozen LRS that I feed my other fish. When I add the new pods I do it at night when the lights are out and turn the skimmer off for an hour or so. Good luck!!

 

[tcarter1936]

Refugium if possible is the easiest way to maintain your pod population. If he not fat he's not getting enough.
I just got my order from Josh Avila at pod your reef. He's on this site. And the amount of pods in each bag was astounding.

 

[tgfitz1]

Lots of pods you need to feed him.
How much is hard to say but I would start cause you have the mandarin already getting it used to frozen Mysis.
Try everyday and don't give up after it won't eat it at first it can take up to a week or two maybe longer to get it used to it.

So for example if I bought around 1200 pods, how often would I have to put that amount in the tank to sustain the Mandarin?

I imagine it shouldn't make a difference to train him onto Brine?

Thanks!

 

[tgfitz1]

In addition to lots of pods in my tank which I supplement monthly, my mandarin loves live black worms and Frozen LRS that I feed my other fish. When I add the new pods I do it at night when the lights are out and turn the skimmer off for an hour or so. Good luck!!

A lot of people seem to be having success with black worms so I may give them a try!

Thanks for the information!

 

[tgfitz1]

Refugium if possible is the easiest way to maintain your pod population. If he not fat he's not getting enough.
I just got my order from Josh Avila at pod your reef. He's on this site. And the amount of pods in each bag was astounding.

I'm thinking about either getting a HOB refugium which I can get some chaeto and supplement pods and phytoplankton, or alternatively I was going to cultivate my own pods?

I haven't decided which will be more sustainable yet.

Cool thanks, I will check him out!

 

[tcarter1936]

So for example if I bought around 1200 pods, how often would I have to put that amount in the tank to sustain the Mandarin?

I imagine it shouldn't make a difference to train him onto Brine?

Thanks!

It all depends on if they have a safe place to breed and how fast they are reproducing. When I set up my last refugium I actually got worried that I made a mistake as they were all over the glass and had them everywhere but the mandarin was fat and happy and the population stabilized and never had to add them to That tank again.

 

[Ocelaris]

Have you seen Paul B's baby brine shrimp feeder? That might be a bit easier than culturing pods specifically with phyto. Essentially it's a plastic container with netting over it with a hard plastic tube going up to the surface where you pour bbs into it and the mandarin et all can feed as the bbs move up to the light. Very effective, and baby brine shrimp is fairly easy to hatch, and cheap.

 

[Ocelaris]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2166449

This is his how to thread

 

[tgfitz1]

Have you seen Paul B's baby brine shrimp feeder? That might be a bit easier than culturing pods specifically with phyto. Essentially it's a plastic container with netting over it with a hard plastic tube going up to the surface where you pour bbs into it and the mandarin et all can feed as the bbs move up to the light. Very effective, and baby brine shrimp is fairly easy to hatch, and cheap.

Yeah I have and it will definitely be something that I will consider building myself, thanks very much!

 

[tgfitz1]

A little update: I went to a local reefer in my area who I know cultivates his own phytoplankton and copepods, and he gave me a large jar full of the stuff! I've released them into my tank and the mandarin is going crazy for them. He's looking fat and healthy and has settled in well so far [emoji4] just now a case of keeping the population up.

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

A little update: I went to a local reefer in my area who I know cultivates his own phytoplankton and copepods, and he gave me a large jar full of the stuff! I've released them into my tank and the mandarin is going crazy for them. He's looking fat and healthy and has settled in well so far [emoji4] just now a case of keeping the population up.

Thanks for all of your help!

Awesome! Any pics of the little guy?

 

[tgfitz1]

Awesome! Any pics of the little guy?

I've got some low quality pics, but pics nonetheless!

 

[Z3speed4me]

One of my favorite fish and totally on my "to buy" list for the new tank. Unfortunately it probably won't be until about this time next year that I feel comfortable adding one.

 

[tgfitz1]

One of my favorite fish and totally on my "to buy" list for the new tank. Unfortunately it probably won't be until about this time next year that I feel comfortable adding one.

He/she will definitely be worth the wait, my little guy is the favourite thing in my tank [emoji1]

 

[tgfitz1]

One of my favorite fish and totally on my "to buy" list for the new tank. Unfortunately it probably won't be until about this time next year that I feel comfortable adding one.

He/she will definitely be worth the wait, my little guy is the favourite thing in my tank [emoji1]

 

[tgfitz1]

Little update: had the little guy for over 2 months now, he's settled down great and roams the tank all day long! Also flashes at me whenever I stare at him for too long! He is a healthy male and I'm looking forward to watching him grow [emoji3]

 

[Chrisfish]

Little update: had the little guy for over 2 months now, he's settled down great and roams the tank all day long! Also flashes at me whenever I stare at him for too long! He is a healthy male and I'm looking forward to watching him grow [emoji3]

Beautiful fish!!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Little update: had the little guy for over 2 months now, he's settled down great and roams the tank all day long! Also flashes at me whenever I stare at him for too long! He is a healthy male and I'm looking forward to watching him grow [emoji3]

Looks Fat!