Should I consider a mandarin?

[Jl330]

I have a 75 gallon tank with a 30 gallon sump with a refugium.

There is additional live sand and rock in my fuge as well as plenty of algae growth.

I opened up the stand this morning and realized my fuge is crawling with pods. They're pretty big so I'd say they're amphipods but the live rock looks like an infestation in there if you can see through the pods on the glass.

I was actually shocked to see this many. The fuge has only been up about 2-3 months, everything was transferred from a previously setup tank that was a year old.

Does it seem like my tank could support a mandarin goby? I will probably wait another month or 2 to add one while the fuge continues to grow out but just wanting opinions.

 

[BedrockIOMC]

I don't think you should. I really doubt you will have enough pods as of now. I would wait till your refuge is at least 6months old. At the very least. I would feel better with a yr to tell the truth.

 

[rkpetersen]

What you mostly want are copepods. Do you see them crawling around on the inside glass surfaces of your display tank? Typically where the return flow from the fuge hits the glass, and down near the substrate. If so, how soon after cleaning the glass do you see them again? If they're back within a couple of hours, you might have enough to give it a try.

Just took this; hard focusing on the tiny buggers with a cell phone!

 

[starypotter]

I feel like the answer to this question is always going to be wait a little longer. LFS recommends trying out a scooter dragonette for a while first and if you could keep that alive then maybe you might be able to consider the idea of keeping a mandarin alive.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

People seem to rush into these guys. It is HARD to keep up with pod demand and if they wont eat pellets/mysis it is even harder. My scooters took to mysis really well. I see them eating anything and everything. I feel my mandarin is a little more particular.

 

[Jl330]

Sounds good. I may stock with another few thousand and then wait till after Christmas.

 

[Katrina71]

You may want to look for a captive bred one. I have been told the success rate is much higher and they eat frozen. I also have been told they are much more expensive.

 

[Jl330]

You may want to look for a captive bred one. I have been told the success rate is much higher and they eat frozen. I also have been told they are much more expensive.

It's kinda the luck of the draw trusting a store to be truthfulon that.

 

[Jl330]

 

[andy020]

As others have said, it’s hard to keep pods.. I had a blue stripe pipe for a Few years and I spent 50 a month at Algae Barn..
How bad do you want one? I will guarantee they can wipe out a pod population in no time. But, if you are prepared to pay, then ok.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

As others have said, it’s hard to keep pods.. I had a blue stripe pipe for a Few years and I spent 50 a month at Algae Barn..
How bad do you want one? I will guarantee they can wipe out a pod population in no time. But, if you are prepared to pay, then ok.

Only $50?! Lol I was doing $90 a month on autoship, then every few months I would do a big stock up of about $200. Lol my babies are FAT but my wallet was emaciated.

 

[Reefpuck]

What about a red dragonet? They don't get nearly as big as a mandarin and are pretty cool looking imo. I got one in my 90g and love watching it scoot around.

 

[Gareth elliott]

You could try culturing them outside the tank. They reproduce a lot quicker in dirty water. My next staycation i have planned for October was going to spend a day or two to build a pod and phyto reactor. I dont have any pod reliant fish, more of a reliable plan for overall feeding when i take two weeks in Vegas next year.

 

[Jl330]

You could try culturing them outside the tank. They reproduce a lot quicker in dirty water. My next staycation i have planned for October was going to spend a day or two to build a pod and phyto reactor. I dont have any pod reliant fish, more of a reliable plan for overall feeding when i take two weeks in Vegas next year.

I had wondered if my fuge would be good enough. It's about 20 gallons and slowly filling with algae. I figured as it fills, it will create a nice environment for them to grow out.

 

[OrionN]

I would go for it. Avoid adding other fish that would compete with Mandarin for food. Certain fishes and wrasses