Would you keep a Mandarin?

[JumboShrimp]

If I had to guess, I would say that of any fish for sale in a LFS, a Mandarin is the greatest piece of impulse ‘buy-me-now’ bait (no pun) out there. Hats off to anyone who can keep one for a prolonged period of time.

 

[starypotter]

Voted no, because as much as I would love to have one, and the 10 gallon debate side, I am just truly skeptical of anything that's supposed to be growing these pods and the impression I'm getting from your explanations seems like it's supposed to be something that's self sustaining, maybe I'm wrong on that. I just wouldn't have enough faith in something for it to take care of a creature like that, maybe I'm just cynical, but with something that's so important at mandarin levels I don't think that would be enough for me to trust it completely. Maybe what you come up with would be really great, I don't know, and maybe it would be a great addition to a tank just to increase pod levels but I don't think I would ever let myself depend on something like that without watching a whole lot of reviews of success first, like long term sustained success.

 

[kayla s]

I kept a red scooter dragonette (not the same, but similar with diet) in a 10g for 6 months before upgrading systems.
My trick was this little bottle. I drilled the holes, filled with chaeto, then did two orders of 1250 copepods two weeks apart and used a turkey blaster to add them into the bottle. Less than a month in, the tank has an unbelievable amount of pods! I also use phyto and syringe it into the bottle once a week. Would suggest 10/10, especially if someone doesn’t have a sump/fuge like me.
Just make SURE you use glass. All plastics (even FDA human baby proofed plastic) will leach horrible chemicals into your tank.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Smart! Thanks for sharing that.

 

[PDR]

I kept a red scooter dragonette (not the same, but similar with diet) in a 10g for 6 months before upgrading systems.
My trick was this little bottle. I drilled the holes, filled with chaeto, then did two orders of 1250 copepods two weeks apart and used a turkey blaster to add them into the bottle. Less than a month in, the tank has an unbelievable amount of pods! I also use phyto and syringe it into the bottle once a week. Would suggest 10/10, especially if someone doesn’t have a sump/fuge like me.
Just make SURE you use glass. All plastics (even FDA human baby proofed plastic) will leach horrible chemicals into your tank.

That's a cool idea, but I have to disagree with that last statement.

 

[kayla s]

That's a cool idea, but I have to disagree with that last statement.

Maybe. I did research through the FDA on the numbering system found on the bottom of all homeware and food product regulated plastics. I personally wouldn’t put a plastic bottle in my tank, anyway.

 

[PDR]

Maybe. I did research through the FDA on the numbering system found on the bottom of all homeware and food product regulated plastics. I personally wouldn’t put a plastic bottle in my tank, anyway.

What do you mix your saltwater in?

 

[DHill6]

Get a Biota captive bred mandarin. They'll eat flake and frozen. https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1500+5142+5146&pcatid=5146

TDO small pellets also.

 

[fish farmer]

Fwiw. The biggest Mandy I have seen in person was over five inches.

I saw one like that too, really thick like a little green hot dog.

So...I'm voting no on the basis of tank size. I think a full grown mandarin would need more cruising room like a 40 gallon or more.

I raise trout in containers for work....sure I can pack 1000 lbs of fish flesh in a small tank, add oxygen, adequate water, feed...but they do much better health wise with more space.

 

[PDR]

I saw one like that too, really thick like a little green hot dog.

So...I'm voting no on the basis of tank size. I think a full grown mandarin would need more cruising room like a 40 gallon or more.

I raise trout in containers for work....sure I can pack 1000 lbs of fish flesh in a small tank, add oxygen, adequate water, feed...but they do much better health wise with more space.

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.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

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.

The first post suggests that you would be able to keep one in a ten gallon. Strait up. That’s the question would you keep it in a ten gallon if you could feed it.

Mandarin are one of the most beautiful fish in the trade, they are also one of the hardest to keep. If it was possible to keep one in an aquarium as small as a 10 gallon, would you? The fish would be well fed, comfortable, and happy. You also wouldn’t have to worry about the normally expensive cost of feeding it live pods every day.

If yes, why?
If no, why?

Thanks for the info, this is important data. I love reef2reef for this stuff.

 

[PDR]

The first post suggests that you would be able to keep one in a ten gallon. Strait up. That’s the question would you keep it in a ten gallon if you could feed it.

Maybe the OP could have been clearer in the original post, but he has since, multiple times, corrected that.

I'll also add, that I have had a spotted mandarin for 3 years now and he is still under 2". As chill as this guy is, I couldn't imagine him needing more than a 10 gallon. We are talking about mandarins here, not tangs lol.

 

[C-Reefer]

for sure yes! The point of the poll is, if I came up with a device that could keep a mandarin sustained in as small a tank as a 10 gallon without having to supplement pods. Don't get hung up on tank size, its just showing that the device could sustain that many pods.

I would be up for testing prototypes.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Maybe the OP could have been clearer in the original post, but he has since, multiple times, corrected that.

I'll also add, that I have had a spotted mandarin for 3 years now and he is still under 2". As chill as this guy is, I couldn't imagine him needing more than a 10 gallon. We are talking about mandarins here, not tangs lol.

There is a difference in the digestive systems of spotted , ruby and other dragonettes and mandarins. A scorer blenny is in fact a dragonet.
That’s why they are all easier.

I’ve had mandarins and dragons for ten years , I don’t see the difference between the tang rule and Mandy rule.
I can’t tell you the number of starving Mandy threads I’ve answered here when it was ignored.

Can’t blame folks really for answering the original question though. I was also confused by the intent of the thread as well , despite later clarification.

 

[PDR]

There is a difference in the digestive systems of spotted , ruby and other dragonettes and mandarins. A scorer blenny is in fact a dragonet.
That’s why they are all easier.

Ok, that may be true, but if ample food is available, how does this make any difference?

I’ve had mandarins and dragons for ten years , I don’t see the difference between the tang rule and Mandy rule.
I can’t tell you the number of starving Mandy threads I’ve answered here when it was ignored.

Really? There is a huge difference between the two. The tang rule has to do with the amount of room a tang needs to swim without having health issues. The mandarin rule has to do with their food supply, not how much room they need to swim. If I said I have a 20-gallon display with a 200-gallon pod fuge, most people wouldn't have a problem with that.

. I was also confused by the intent of the thread as well , despite later clarification.

He has clarified, several times, that it has to do with the food supply for the mandarin, and not the tank size. I don't know how that hasn't cleared it up.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok, that may be true, but if ample food is available, how does this make any difference?




Really? There is a huge difference between the two. The tang rule has to do with the amount of room a tang needs to swim without having health issues. The mandarin rule has to do with their food supply, not how much room they need to swim. If I said I have a 20-gallon display with a 200-gallon pod fuge, most people wouldn't have a problem with that.



He has clarified, several times, that it has to do with the food supply for the mandarin, and not the tank size. I don't know how that hasn't cleared it up.

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...

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

To clarify, I only meant that my invention may have the ability to keep a pod population in a tank as small as a 10 gallon. PDR is correct, this isn't about size, the debate about keeping a mandarin in a 10 gallon is irrelevant, this is all about food.

Also, concerning the meeting, my professor brought up two concerns he had with the product, I believe both were rectified in the meeting. He encouraged me to test it out, so I will. I'll hopefully get a model built/3-D printed within the month and begin testing.

 

[Kremis]

Sounds like a great idea, I would def try it out. If it uses pods in theory couldnt it also work for things like pipefish?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

To clarify, I only meant that my invention may have the ability to keep a pod population in a tank as small as a 10 gallon. PDR is correct, this isn't about size, the debate about keeping a mandarin in a 10 gallon is irrelevant, this is all about food.

Also, concerning the meeting, my professor brought up two concerns he had with the product, I believe both were rectified in the meeting. He encouraged me to test it out, so I will. I'll hopefully get a model built/3-D printed within the month and begin testing.

Understood. Now anyway.
It’s jut being brought up as many can or will be convinced it’s a good idea.

I do want to see what you come up with.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

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.