pro's con's to buying a mandarin that eats prepared foods?

[as1720]

Well i would like to find one that is already trained to eat prepared foods since i dont have time/patients to do it myself. I am prepared to pay more for it so thats not an issue.

Pro's, con's, any advice befor i start looking?

 

[Scooterman]

You already answered your own question but not having time, these fish need their natural copods to survive long term, feeding prepared foods will only extend their starvation, not a good idea!

 

[as1720]

I thought if they ate prepared foods they would be ok?

So they HAVE to have copepods to live weather they eat prepared foods or not?

Got any web site links with more inforamtion on the subject? My computer is outta wack and wont let me do anything! lol

 

[Herefishyfishy]

The simple rule, all creatures have a niche that they have evolved (or been created) into. They have specific needs including nutrients, habitat and quarry. These fish need to search for and find 100s of tiny pods each day to survive. Yes, eating prepared foods will help, but no way to replace their real needs.

 

[returnofsid]

Finding a Mandarin Dragonette that accepts prepared foods is a HUGE bonus, however, the Mandarin will still need it's diet to consist predominately of natural pods. Otherwise, it's not getting the appropriate mix of nutrients that it naturally needs. Without it's natural food source, it's highly unlikely that a Mandarin, even one that accepts prepared foods, will flourish.

 

[as1720]

Well i am going to work an making a fuge under my display tank. At least im asking befor im buying! lol

 

[returnofsid]

Yes you are!! That's awesome!! Much better than those who buy a Mandarin at Petco to put in the 20 gallon that they also just bought!!! LOL

 

[Scooterman]

Well i am going to work an making a fuge under my display tank. At least im asking befor im buying! lol

That Indeed is great news but please give it time to populate with pods then get your Mandarin, they are a beautiful fish!

I'll what I can dig up on reading!

 

[Scooterman]

Here is a great one for pod information! You'll need it!
http://www.oceanpods.com/faq.html

 

[Scooterman]

And a few more to look throught!

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24806&highlight=mandarinhttp://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24806&highlight=mandarin

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23962&highlight=copods

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/podcast-episodes/2140-copepods-podcast-episode-69-a.html

 

[as1720]

Thanks! Yeah my tank is only a 29 it has been running about 6-7-8 months cant remember but i still wont put one in there.

Thanks for the links but i am going to try to figure out how to do the fugu then while im waiting for it to age i will read about the pods. I do plan on buying some pods to ad to the fuge to help it along. The 29 only has one fish in it and two shrimps so i dont think it would take too long?

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I can not imagine a mandarin making it long term in a 29 even with supplemental food.
Unless you are real lucky and your pod population EXPLODES in the fuge (never yet seen this) it will gradually starve to death. As a rule, the ones that live a long time are grazing off of 100s of pounds of rock. Sorry for the stark opinion, but seen too few of these amazing critters make it past 6 months

 

[Holygral]

A 29 gal will never sustain a pod population, any Mandrian that you get will not likely survive.

 

[as1720]

A 29 gal will never sustain a pod population, any Mandrian that you get will not likely survive.

Even with a Refuguim/sump?

 

[returnofsid]

Yep, even with a refugium/sump. Unfortunately, it's just not enough real estate or live rock to be able to support a self sustaining pod population. I have a Mandarin in a 46 with about 70# of live rock and a refugium. I wouldn't even recommend this set up to other people. It's worked for me but I'm diligent about the pod population. I have a 10 gallon tank that I use to grow pods and macro algae. I use pods from this tank AND buy pods to supplement my 46. Not sure if it's needed, as I seem to always have a good pod population, but I take no chances.

 

[as1720]

Got it, i will just put him in our 75 if we ever get it going. I was hoping i could do it in the smaller tak that way he wouldnt be lst in the 75. lol oh well.

 

[gotfish]

I hate doing this, but what size of a tank with correct amount of LR would you say is a minimum. 75g/100g?

 

[colleen]

I hate doing this, but what size of a tank with correct amount of LR would you say is a minimum. 75g/100g?

I kept a mandarin plump and healthy and growing in a 75 gallon for about 2.5 years or so before progressing to the 155 gal. The tank had been setup for 2-3 years with 3-4" sand bed and a lot of live rock before I added the mandarin. (Sorry, never weighed the rock, but photo of 75 gal. is attached from '02 to give idea of amount of sand and rock).

 

[Rothany]

I have 1 in my 40 breeder been doing great had it for 6 months now..I have around 90 lbs live rock, have 2 fuges 1 cpr hob and sump/ fuge

 

[leebca]

Whereas I will agree that the 29 is too small of a tank for the Mandarin, it isn't because it won't provide enough pods. That is to say, I know that a Mandarin needs no 'natural pods' in its diet at all.

A Mandarin I trained to eat prepared foods has been in a bare bottom tank with a little live rock and artificial landscaping now for 6 years, living on prepared foods. It has never been ill since captivity, as far as I know and is healthy.

Still it does take time to maintain one. Food must be gotten to the fish such that other fishes don't 'take it away' or eat it before the Mandarin has a chance at it. There are devices that will let the Mandarin in and out to feed, but not allow other, larger fish to get at the food! You may wish to also read the bottom of this post:
Food Presentation