Would you keep a Mandarin?

[ArowanaLover1902]

It *could* work for pipefish in theory, but a totally different model would be designed, this model is for dragonets, a different model would be needed for pipefish and a different model for seahorse, they are all very specialized feeders.

 

[Kremis]

Also, can we all admit that many mandarins are kept in 10 gallon aquariums. It seems to be the most common beginner tank and mandarins seem to be one of the most common impulse buys, many mandarins will be kept in 10 gallon tanks and die because of lack of food, hopefully my product can at least solve the lack of food problem.

I personally would be fine with keeping a mandarin in a 10 gallon. I would however purchase a small one first. It likely would not get anywhere close to more than 3 inches, just like how my sailfin tang can get to up to 18 inches in the wild but has been 4.5 inches in my 180 for 3 years. Mandarins do not need a lot of space, they barely move as is

 

[hockeyhead019]

@ArowanaLover1902 I love the idea! I'm interested to see what you've come up with... love the look and actions of mandarins but have never wanted/felt comfortable with the amount of effort required to keep a pod population high enough for it to do well.

As to the confusion of the audience (myself included at first) I would recommend editing the OP and threat title if you can? Seems to me that the thread/poll is more of a "Poll for interest" to figure out the potential market for such an invention... as opposed to what some people are interpreting it to be.

 

[Paul B]

Well I’m not selling anything but am working on an invention that would make keeping mandarin dragonets, seahorses, and etc as easy as keeping a clownfish. I can’t really say how because I haven’t heard back from my professor yet, but I hope to patent my idea by the end of the year. I think it’s an awesome idea though.

I think mandarins are easier to keep than clownfish as they are no trouble and you don't have to feed them if you have the proper, natural tank for them. Mine breed regularly and live a long time, maybe 10 years.

I hope you do well with your invention. I have two aquarium related patents. The Majano Wand cost me about $40,000.00 to patent and get into production.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

I didn't know you had developed the Mojano wand Paul B, thats really cool. My goal is to make even the simplest of tanks the "proper, natural tank for them."

 

[PDR]

A mandarin doesn’t need room to swim to avoid heath issues?
It’s a grazer and needs to move all day and pick rocks. It’s a very active fish.
Common reefer lore may only focus on food but...

I think we both know I didn't say that. We're not talking about keeping it in a 2" cube and force feeding it pods.

For the record, based on my several years of experience keeping several dragonets, assuming food supply was not a factor, I personally would not have an issue keeping a smaller species in a 10-gallon tank as long as there was a decent amount of rock work for it to scoot around on.

 

[kayla s]

What do you mix your saltwater in?

I don’t mix my salt water, I buy, but nice snarky comeback.. Also, the plastic bottle would be in your tank and tank water for years. That’s a little different than less than a week in a bucket.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Not using plastic so its not a problem.

 

[dannyfish]

I could use some of that chaeto. I like your ideas.

 

[PDR]

I don’t mix my salt water, I buy, but nice snarky comeback.. Also, the plastic bottle would be in your tank and tank water for years. That’s a little different than less than a week in a bucket.

It wasn't meant to be snarky, sorry if it came across that way. I was just curious if you had some other method for mixing if you feel that strongly about plastic.

FWIW PVC is a type of plastic which is used in almost every reef tank. HOB filters are made out of plastic, powerheads are made out of plastic, most heaters have plastic elements, and if you buy your water from an LFS they most likely mix it in large plastic containers.

There are absolutely plastics that can leach dangerous chemicals, but there are also some that are perfectly safe for reef use.

Edit: Sorry, I didn't mean to derail the thread, and I'm not trying to pick on you. I just see a lot of misinformation spread (usually well-meaning) and I sometimes try and correct it too harshly.

 

[oldbob50]

I vote yes because I surmised that you were working on a way to "make it possible" to do the "impossible". Since I have a very healthy, happy and well fed mandarin I would be interested in your "invention" because I would like to sustain more than one. Mine knows how many pods she has and has killed two males already to protect her food source. I'd like to be able to increase live food source in my main tank but if this idea is only intended to work for a small tank I might consider a smaller second tank.

 

[kirstyflash]

Did the OP say that? If he did, I must have missed it.

You also wouldn’t have to worry about the normally expensive cost of feeding it live pods every day.

Assumed that not feeding live pods meant not growing them also.

 

[Jax15]

I say yes also. I had a green mandarin that I got to eat frozen brine (only brine.. didn’t even want frozen copepods or mysis). The trick was building a feeding chamber. I basically cut the bottom off a plastic bottle, and added a little “door” into the side. Taped it to a long rod, and would set it on the sand in the same place everyday to feed. Used a turkey baster to squirt some frozen brine through the top of the bottle, it would settle and he’d eat it off the sand. He was a happy little camper!

One thing I’ll caution to hopeful mandarin owners — you HAVE to have a top to your aquarium. Even if they’re happy, every few months they do this odd “sleep-swimming” episode, where they swim in circles near the top. Even go limp and get blasted around by the power heads. Bizarre to watch - I’ve been told it’s associated with mating. In this state though, they’ll jump. Trust me :/

 

[SMB]

I waited two years to add a Mandarin to my 45 cube.
I created a little "eating cave" for it and within a week he would swim to it and wait for food which I delivered with a long squirt feeder. From a R2R thread I started a culture of white worms which he eats with gusto. The cave is small enough that he can eat in peace from tank mates.
He now also takes pellets which are delivered in the same manner. I do add pods about every 3-4 months but that is also for a Possum Wrasse that I have had for three years (and have never seen eat). Lately the Wrasse has taken to the pellets and joins the Mandarin in the eating cave.
The Mandarin has gone from 1/2 inch to 2+ inches in 6 months.
Would I put one in a 10 gal tank? Probably, but it would have to be a well seasoned tank and I would try to train it to spot feed.

 

[ot7]

I voted yes because I did keep a mandarin fish in my 45 gallon tank when the tank was approximately a year old. I never fed her, I am not too sure what she ate, I doubt she was captive bred but who knows. She lived for almost 2 years before she disappeared, I kind of suspect she got crushed when some of the rock work toppled over.

I've been a bit hesitant in getting another one because I feel like I got lucky with the first one I got, but id like to try again soon.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

I voted "Yes" because when I would decide to keep them I would make shore I can provide what they need to survive, as I try to do for every creature I want to introduce. The culture of producers for the consumers will be a primary task when keeping Mandarines , and satisfying competitors for the same food source present.

 

[Michelle Crossley]

Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to worry about doing that and still keep him well fed and happy?

At the moment I am trying to breed Copepods,which should give me a constant supply of them saving me £600. a year.
I love my little mandarin and feel it's a little amount of effort to keep him happy.

 

[fish farmer]

Guys, please take time to read what the poll is actually about. The tank size is irrelevant, it has to do with the ability to feed a mandarin regardless of tank size.

I did and it was crystal clear to me. Adequate food supply, small tank. If current thoughts are than mandarins don't get very big, like say 2" like I've seen in this thread then I might lean toward a small tank size.

Also, can we all admit that many mandarins are kept in 10 gallon aquariums. It seems to be the most common beginner tank and mandarins seem to be one of the most common impulse buys, many mandarins will be kept in 10 gallon tanks and die because of lack of food, hopefully my product can at least solve the lack of food problem.

Is this true? I don't keep track of what the beginner saltwater setup is recommended these days. I know nanos and picos are more common, but that could mean a tank up to 40 gallons.

 

[John A!10]

When I had a mandarin and scooter Benny I didn’t have a fuge so I had an in tank fry box whet I added chaeto and pods they can come out but fish won’t go in.

 

[Webslinger]

Get them eating New Life Spectrum pellets and all is good.