Mandarin success questions

footballdude2k3 · Aug 22, 2014

What size tanks do you guys have that have been able to keep these things happy for extended periods of time? I have a 65, that has a ridiculous amount of pods, and I don't really see any of the fish hunting them, I have a rock that is covered by pods all day, and the fish just act like it doesn't exist, so I was thinking about one of these, but I know they are usually pretty finicky eaters, and I do not wanna get one if it is going to starve.

So I wanted to know if I could grab one of these guys now, or if I should hold off until I do a bigger upgrade, the 65 will be up until May, and everything will be going into a 120 that will be up for 2-3 years until the move to Colorado, where the 120 will probably be setup for another year or so until we get a house, and do an upgrade to something along the lines of a 400 with a basement fish room. Any advice is always welcome.

ReefMadScientist · Aug 22, 2014

75g with sump.

Had two, one died due to my blue knuckle crab trying to eat it and messed him up pretty good. As for how to keep them alive, train them from eating live to frozen food. Its fairly easy.

Daniel@R2R · Aug 22, 2014

I think you'd be fine to keep one. The biggest thing is that you need to have enough pods for them to eat, and it sounds like you definitely do.

TBAquaculture · Aug 22, 2014

I have 2 in a 125 that I have had for just at a year and have had one in a 90 for a couple years, but I have not tried anything smaller. If you have pods for it to eat while you are training it to eat other things you should be golden.

J Rog · Aug 22, 2014

You could get one imo.. But if start noticing that you havent seen any pods for a little bit buy a bottle of them

footballdude2k3 · Aug 22, 2014

That sounds great, thanks a lot guys

vic67 · Aug 22, 2014

I have in a 75G with a 20G sump. I am paranoid so I still purchase copepods to add from time to time. I've read about people having success with mandarins in nanos(like 29Gs) but I'be never seen it in person. I would think you'de be alright with one. GL

ahmed.boomer · Aug 22, 2014

I haven't seeded in upwards of 7 months. Watch your mandarins belly. Every tank is different. Have a 90 gallon with a 30 gallon sump(1/3 refugium) and it seems to do great. I always travel for several days at a time do I will get these small algae and nutrient outbreaks which probably do help out the pods.

NanaReefer · Aug 22, 2014

Just make sure that the tons of pods your seeing are Copepods and not Amphipods. Oh and check out any and all threads by Paul B. He knows Mandarins!!! Lol

CWMorrow · Aug 23, 2014

NanaReefer said:
Just make sure that the tons of pods your seeing are Copepods and not Amphipods. Oh and check out any and all threads by Paul B. He knows Mandarins!!! Lol

Some people say that Mandarins will eat amphipods, although they seem rather large to me.