Why you should use a feeder for some fish

[Paul B]

I have been using a baby brine shrimp feeder for many years. Notice the blue stripe pipefish and the mandarin are pregnant as they always are.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROQgxQG_AFg&feature=youtu.be

 

[dewboy1127]

How is it made?and how do you put brine in there? Just freshly hatched brine right?

 

[Paul B]

Instead of writhing this over and over, I will just link it here.
http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/

 

[Paul B]

Also a white worm feeder for mandarins that keep other fish out. Worms are injected into tube at surface

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

White worms? I haven't seen them on my coast. My mandys didn't care for the blacks. Not yet anyway. Too big I suppose.

 

[dewboy1127]

Thanks...trying get full feel for it so got couple questions i apologize if have answered before....how do the fish get the shrimp if they are protected behind the screen ?...also any images of top of feeding tube to see how brine is added (even a vid would be cool)?

 

[dewboy1127]

Also a white worm feeder for mandarins that keep other fish out. Worms are injected into tube at surface

Cool vid ..i noticed you have a hog bangaii cardinal as well mine will darn near eat anything put into tank and they have some large mouths....think thats cool kind gives the target feeders a chance to get food before the other hogs get it

 

[Paul B]

That information is all in here. I am a writer there
http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/

 

[reefwiser]

great stuff Paul.

 

[Paul B]

Thank you. I don't know if it is great. Some Supermodels are great, but this is OK.

 

[dewboy1127]

I did not notice that the right pic in the article was the top part my apologies. ..so question is do you just insert that feeder tube into the hole every once in a while to add the brine or do you leave it attached and on there all the time ?...how often do you have to add the brine?

 

[Paul B]

I leave it in my tank just as it is because I fill it every day. The tube also allows me to pull the thing up to clean or change the mesh that is a stocking. Every 2 weeks it gets covered in algae so I need to clean it. It also gets some bristle worms inside although I have no idea how they get in.

I add brine shrimp every day

 

[dewboy1127]

I leave it in my tank just as it is because I fill it every day. The tube also allows me to pull the thing up to clean or change the mesh that is a stocking. Every 2 weeks it gets covered in algae so I need to clean it. It also gets some bristle worms inside although I have no idea how they get in.

I add brine shrimp every day

So you only add the brine once a day?...still dont see how they get through the stocking/screen i imagine them coming up to it only to have legs bit off and what not??...sorry i am just very interested in this and want make sure i have a full understanding of it

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So you only add the brine once a day?...still dont see how they get through the stocking/screen i imagine them coming up to it only to have legs bit off and what not??...sorry i am just very interested in this and want make sure i have a full understanding of it

Google Paul B. He's quite prolific. Lots of vid on the U tube and many articles too. Also once you get hands on it makes more sense.

 

[Paul B]

The screen has holes in it just large enough for the fish to pull them through. Many of them get through all by themselves as they are tiny. Don't stretch the stocking or they will come right through. Trust me it works. I have been using it for many years and my mandarins have been spawning for decades.
Video


And a slightly different model that hatches and feeds. I use this for vacation. They are in my book

 

[wpeterson]

Mandarin's are beautiful fish and we're always happy when ours are spawning. It's quite a sight.

 

[Paul B]

It certainly is

 

[dewboy1127]

Curious is there a way to tell male and female mandarins. ..sry not trying derail post curiosity just got me

 

[Paul B]

Yes there is. I mean besides the females eyelashes and she smells better, she has a rounded dorsal fin as you can see in this picture.


When fully grown, the male is a little larger like here


But the easiest way to tell is that the males dorsal (top fin) can be lifted straight up and it comes to a sharp point towards the front of the fish, not easily seen here on this male but in person it is easy to see.

 

[dewboy1127]

Yes there is. I mean besides the females eyelashes and she smells better, she has a rounded dorsal fin as you can see in this picture.


When fully grown, the male is a little larger like here


But the easiest way to tell is that the males dorsal (top fin) can be lifted straight up and it comes to a sharp point towards the front of the fish, not easily seen here on this male but in person it is easy to see.

Awesome photos and thanks for the info thats cool to know