Copepods

So I was thinking that soon I may get a Mandarin. Is it feasible to buy some (https://www.livecopepods.com/zencart/) and keep them in my dt. I don't have a refugium or sump or anything like that. Anyone see a problem with this? Thx!

 

If you don't have a refugium where pods can reproduce without predation, you are going to need a very large tank with lots of live rock for the pods to hide in. Otherwise, a mandarin would become a very expensive fish to feed unless you try to do something like this.... http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-food/going-start-pod-farm-65860.html

 

woo hoo.

if you need pod farm help, let me know. I have a lot of fun with it.


You'll have to dose pods periodically - either a purchased bottle every couple weeks or from a farm...

 

Creating large rubble piles will help the pods reproduce without being eaten. My mandarin was on the verge of starving and I incorporated rock rubbles piles throughout my display and I can see pods swimming all throughout the piles now. That will help. Keeping a chunk of chaeto behind your liverock will give them some nice breeding grounds too.

It would suck to have to buy pods every week to feed your mandarin. How big is your tank? A pod farm is always an option too. If your tank is a sufficient size, and you have around 1.5lbs of rock per gallon, and incorporate some pod rubble piles, you may be successful. You just have to keep a close watch on the mandarin to make sure he is not getting skinnier. Continue to try to get it on frozen foods and prepared foods right from the get go.

 

Thx u2! Peredhil, I will be bugging you in weeks to come

 

my tank is a 37...I have about 30 lbs+ of LR...also do you think they would eat green brillo pad algae..guess it's kinda like chaeto maybe lol

 

justin you can get pods from MO for 7.99

 

no prob dude.


one note, however you decide to proceed. You'll need to dose pods in your tank for a few weeks before adding the mandarin to give them a chance to populate and call the DT home...

Also, we're kind of assuming you have a maturish tank and this isn't a fresh setup...

 

thx Phil...no Pere this is only a 2 month+ old tank..I'm thinking in the future. HONEST lol