Looking to add a Mandarin Goby/Dragonet need some tips!

[Michael Gentile]

My tank has been established for about a year now with coral, but has been running for about 2 total. I wanted to add a Mandarin Goby because of how awesome they look. I add variety of pods every 3 months or so, my population should be very healthy. I do also dose phytoplankton every now and then, I don't always restock it to keep feeding. Before I buy one and quarantine it, i was wondering how to successfully quarantine them since they're so picky? I was thinking of just buying a pack of pods for the month of quarantine to dose the QT tank. Also is there any difference in the Blue, Green, or Red phenotypes, or is it just for looks. Finally should i go with captive bred or would that not matter? Also add anything else you may think i should know!

 

[laverda]

What size is your tank? It is amazing how many pods mandarins eat. Planing to supplement on a regular basis is a good idea, for qt I would put some live rock in the tank and add pods.
I am all for buying captive bred fish when possible. In theory they should not need to be QTed. That is unless you get them from a LFS that puts them in with all there other fish, there by exposing them to who knows what. I have not purchased captive bred mandarins, but hear the typically are tiny and expensive. The fact they are supposed to be eating prepared foods is a big plus in the case of mandarins.

 

[DungSl1nger]

I have a blue mandarin (blue is captive bred) I did observation with him. I believe the tank to tank method is normally the QT method of choice for mandarins. My blue eats whatever frozen I put in the tank 3 times a day and then scavenges the rest of the time. I highly suggest the captive bred one just because it does eat frozen. Mine is under a year old but is a fat boy. I also cultivate pods and phyto, you will likely have to as well.

 

[Michael Gentile]

I have a blue mandarin (blue is captive bred) I did observation with him. I believe the tank to tank method is normally the QT method of choice for mandarins. My blue eats whatever frozen I put in the tank 3 times a day and then scavenges the rest of the time. I highly suggest the captive bred one just because it does eat frozen. Mine is under a year old but is a fat boy. I also cultivate pods and phyto, you will likely have to as well.

How do you cultivate your phyto, for my pods i keep a small live rock in the refugium that i transfer every now and then from the display and refugium to spread some back into the display without always having to buy more. I was leaning towards the captive as well the only problem is its $130 compared to $30. Potentially saving up some more to buy him might be best though if he does eat frozen food.

 

[Michael Gentile]

What size is your tank? It is amazing how many pods mandarins eat. Planing to supplement on a regular basis is a good idea, for qt I would put some live rock in the tank and add pods.
I am all for buying captive bred fish when possible. In theory they should not need to be QTed. That is unless you get them from a LFS that puts them in with all there other fish, there by exposing them to who knows what. I have not purchased captive bred mandarins, but hear the typically are tiny and expensive. The fact they are supposed to be eating prepared foods is a big plus in the case of mandarins.

my tank is 55 gallons, he should have plenty of room, with about 60lbs of live rock, i would Qt atleast for a short period just because i'm cautious. i guess i would have to pump up my pods dosing as well. but they are expensive running for about $130 on the sites i saw them, my local LFS aren't very good so i usually opt into online fish buying. I wish this wasn't the case since i dont really like this method of buying, just feels wrong to the fish.

 

[DungSl1nger]

How do you cultivate your phyto, for my pods i keep a small live rock in the refugium that i transfer every now and then from the display and refugium to spread some back into the display without always having to buy more. I was leaning towards the captive as well the only problem is its $130 compared to $30. Potentially saving up some more to buy him might be best though if he does eat frozen food.

I started with a basic set up you can find on the web, 2-liters, a light; and airline. I then upgraded to something that didn’t look like a teenagers science experiment. I bought the phyto off Amazon and just started cultivating it according to the instructions. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in both pods and phyto over the past 6 months.

I feel it’s something I have to do because I can’t get a refuge started due to lack of macro algae available right now.

 

[Michael Gentile]

I started with a basic set up you can find on the web, 2-liters, a light; and airline. I then upgraded to something that didn’t look like a teenagers science experiment. I bought the phyto off Amazon and just started cultivating it according to the instructions. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in both pods and phyto over the past 6 months.

I feel it’s something I have to do because I can’t get a refuge started due to lack of macro algae available right now.

I just run cheato in my fuge as well, with some live rock. I also can't get my hands on any other macro. Ill have to look up some videos, i didnt even know that was possible. sounds like a life saver, instead of getting the algaebarn combo

 

[DungSl1nger]

I just run cheato in my fuge as well, with some live rock. I also can't get my hands on any other macro. Ill have to look up some videos, i didnt even know that was possible. sounds like a life saver, instead of getting the algaebarn combo

Yes, check out the videos. I do still use algae barn here and there but I have done well with with out crashing the cultures. Just take your time and be clean.