Mandarin dragonet
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NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
tank size and do you have a refugium or a sustainable amount of pods in your DT?
reefiteasy
Community Member
Very challenging fish unless you have a healthy copepod population, or constant supply of pods going in.
Oh and make sure you have a lid… that’s how I lost mine
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
oh yeah! that sounds like a good set up for 1 mandarin dragonet just keep the copepod population at a stable rate
How old is the tank? You want lots of natural pods to graze on even if it’s captive bred. Be sure to have lots of small foods on hand to offer like cytopleeze and tiny pellets (may need to crush them). Other fish easily steal the food so non greedy fish makes it easier to feed.
The pods will always stabilize to whatever food is in the tank for them. If there isn’t enough food then they just cannibalize each other. I find macros in the display to really boost their population.
The pods will always stabilize to whatever food is in the tank for them. If there isn’t enough food then they just cannibalize each other. I find macros in the display to really boost their population.
OP
OP
clowns
Community Member
Macros in display????
I have tdo b2 pellets, cyclopods, frozen baby brine shrimp, and live pods. Biota suggestions, I guess it's what they feed. Also, I will put in acclimation box to get started..it will be small.
NonstopSoda
Well-Known Member
i think they mean like dragons breathe algae or chaeto
I meant like Display macro algae
Decorative attractive looking algae/plants like dragons breath or blue Hypnea or whatever you like.
Roatan Reef
Valuable Member
The trick is finding one that is captive bread and raised from ORA, BIOTA, etc. Even if you don't see them eat frozen and flakes right away, you always supplement with Pods for the 1st 3 months, then eventually they will start thriving.
Trust me, I know all the myths and mystery surrounding these fish, and I always wanted one but never got one.
Fast Forward to last December and my nephew set up his 13.5 Evo Tank, 3 months later, after adding his black Ice Clown, he added a Mandarin Dragonett, I told him not to, but he absolutely wanted one...so he got one from one of our local LFS who pretty much guaranteed his survival...
Another LFS told us they were wild caught, and couldn't guarantee it's survival unless you had a super mature tank with tons of pod growth.
We supplement with Pods for 1st 3 months, and now, we haven't dosed Pods in a while, dude is fat and happy and is almost twice the size he was originally.
Just find one that is absolutely captive bread. I want one now too, but my 40GB is stocked full, and I don't want him getting harassed by my Diamond Goby.
Trust me, I know all the myths and mystery surrounding these fish, and I always wanted one but never got one.
Fast Forward to last December and my nephew set up his 13.5 Evo Tank, 3 months later, after adding his black Ice Clown, he added a Mandarin Dragonett, I told him not to, but he absolutely wanted one...so he got one from one of our local LFS who pretty much guaranteed his survival...
Another LFS told us they were wild caught, and couldn't guarantee it's survival unless you had a super mature tank with tons of pod growth.
We supplement with Pods for 1st 3 months, and now, we haven't dosed Pods in a while, dude is fat and happy and is almost twice the size he was originally.
Just find one that is absolutely captive bread. I want one now too, but my 40GB is stocked full, and I don't want him getting harassed by my Diamond Goby.
Paul B
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I hate to say this but your tank is a little to new and small for a mandarin. He will live in there but I doubt he will live for a year or so. They need naturally growing pods unless you have stock in a pod company.
I have been keeping mandarins since they arrived in the hobby and they should live about 10 years and spawn. But I think your tank needs another year to mature.
Sorry but thats my opinion.
I have been keeping mandarins since they arrived in the hobby and they should live about 10 years and spawn. But I think your tank needs another year to mature.
Sorry but thats my opinion.
Sophie"s mom
Valuable Member
are you feeding the pods phytoplankton? That is what the eat. I dose my tank with pods every couple months, and add Phyto a couple times a week.
