mandarins

I have been wondering about these guys. I hear everyone say that they only eat copepods and are difficult just because of this. First, how old should a tank be before introducing one, and second, I have seen live copepod food at the lfs that says specifically for mandarins and picky eaters. Would this be an acceptable substitute or addition to the natural food found in the tank?

 

At least 1 yr.

 

This is a good rule of thumb for these guys. The Q on the substitute food I think it should be an ok idea however they can be fussy dont forget. this is why its good to have a healthy colony of copods in the tank so they can eat a the time they wish as apposed to when we feed.

 

I agree with this, unless you buy the small bag of "live copepods" and have some kind of refugium to protect them so they can reproduce. I have them all over the place to include the overflow chamber. After about 1-2 months, you can add the mandarin. You'll know when your ready by the amout of copepods that are everywhere. Luna

 

you could try and find a mandarin that will take frozen foods - would be much easier to keep. But they are not aggresive feeders so they don't compete well for the food.

 

I think that the size of the tank along with the amount of live rock comes in to play. I had a mandarin doing very well in a 15 gal. BUT it did eat frozen mysis. He would not eat in front of me though, I would have to hide. Did finally die when I was transfering my tank and had a problem. He ended up on the carpet and then into the tank with no acclimation. Anyway. If you can find one that is eating frozen or at least looks nice and fat health. And you can buy copods somewhere, go for it. I would add copods to my 15 bi monthly. They would go buck wild. Everywhere in my tank. Then the mandarin would fatten up, then slowly thin out. One day he just started eating frozen. My buddy also has a mandarin that eats pellets. You could lucky.

 

thanks for the advice, will take all this info into consideration