Mandarin Dragonette

Jguido1987 · Sep 21, 2017

Ok I went ahead and got a mandarin. I put it in my 28gal mixed reef. Before everyone gets upset I did seed the tank with pods a few months ago and the tank has been up and running over a year now. I also just ordered two bags of pods from AlgaeBarn that should be here hopefully Monday. I have seen the little guy pecking at things on the live rock and the sand so I'm sure he is eating. My question is, although he is a little beat up and has some fin damage, and like most from a store is a little thin, how often should I add more pods to the tank? Also, how long does it take to heal his fins and gain some weight? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions on other food sources? I do have a package of frozen"cyclops" coming to my lfs that I will pick up.

Maritimer · Sep 21, 2017

He'll happily knock back a pod every few seconds or so, all day long. Possibly hundreds of them each day.

Have you considered plumbing a 'fuge into your system?

~Bruce

Jguido1987 · Sep 22, 2017

It's an all in one system. So my options are limited.

ShaunRobinson · Sep 22, 2017

He will gain weight pretty well as long as he has plenty to eat. My advice is to try different foods and see if you can get him eating other stuff to supplement the pods. I was lucky with mine, I managed to pick a nice and fat one up that ate mysis that escaped the fishes. Unfortunately I lost him when I had a tank crash but by that time he was even picking up pellets off the sand taking them to a rock and picking away at them.

Gorgeous fish but all to often sold to just anybody without a thought for their needs. Good luck with yours, I hope you can fatten him up.

Paul B · Sep 22, 2017

Sorry, he will not live long in that tank or fatten up unless you build a feeder and get him new born (live) brine shrimp every day. You will go broke buying pods and brine shrimp eggs are much cheaper.
I have been spawning mandarins for many years and they really thrive on new born shrimp but you can't just throw them in the water, they need a feeder especially in a small tank.