mandarin dragonet feeding

Jerry.I am fully aware of how meticulous you are about feeding your animals.(you have some beautiful stuff)I have no doubt that there are Mandarins who will accept prepared foods. My main concern with that is they must have an extremely fast metabolism in order to eat like they do.(all day long) Using prepared foods as a supplement is one thing,using it as the only means of sustenance is quite another.This is especially true when there are other fish present in the tank that consume the food more aggresively.I really hope that this Nutramar is the answer but I am still skeptical that it will be feasible for your average aquarist.As far as ORA knowing what they are doing. How could they possibly know in this case.Unless a long term study was done including doing necropsy's on these fish. For all they know Nutramar could be the equivalent nutritionally for them as cheeseburgers are for us.Sure they will keep you alive for a time but then one day you reach up and clutch your chest and drop dead from a heart attack.We used to feed all our groupers goldfish. When one suddenly died I had a friend do a necropsy on him and his heart was covered in fat. We now know that this was from the goldfish and it isn't done any more.I guess what it all boils down to is changing a fishes dietary needs is dangerous.Sorry for the long post.

 

I totally agree with you on using prepared foods as a supplement. jfuller is a good example of the many posts we see regarding Mandarins. Maybe not the best research and planning, but willing to make a good effort to try to keep the fish healthy. It's also a repetitive theme that refers are willing to buy bottles of pods to keep the fish alive, which is not really feasible.

I also totally agree with the goldfish comment. They are freshwater fish, and don't contain the HUFA's that saltwater fish require. I used to keep piranhas, and it's a big thing trying to convince people not to feed them goldfish.

Nutramar Ova, on the other hand, is high in proteins and HUFA's. nutramar foods

Matt Pederson found that the Orange Spotted Filefish could be trained to accept Ova, and has since brought the fish into breeding condition with it. From what I understand, it's thought that the OSFF consumed SPS polyps because it's forced into that niche, not that it's required in it's diet to survive.

Feeding Mandarins and OSFF Nutramar Ova is a relatively new thing for us common folk in this hobby. It doesn't have a long track record, but at least it's a viable alternative to buying bottles of pods and starvation.

Btw, thanks for the comment, Vinny! ;D

 

The Mandarin from my story that died despite eating pellets was a $60 ora pellet trained aquacultured Spotted mandarin... I wish pellet feeding had worked for me. (I just don't think I was around enough to feed him) and he wasn't aggressive enough to compete with the rest of the fish for them.

 

That's too bad. I've heard of a number of people having trouble getting their ORA Mandarins to eat. Their aquaculture methods are a step in the right direction, though.

 

Well I think for the time I am going to relocate to my 60 and buy a couple gallons of pods. Is it more feasible to setup a tank to breed pods to seed the other tanks with?.. Im not shy about effort or I wouldnt be in the hobby...

 

target fed some pellets this morning which he did eat happily. had to keep the damn shrimp away... but he did eat. that said ordered some pods earlier and thinking of ordering their pod farming kit. anyone have experience? is this a pipe dream and i should just rehome the little guy to a reefer with a more established base of pods?

 

Good for you I like to hear that. Good luck.8) I have linked this thread into the Mandarin Goby write up in hopes of helping people keep these fish alive. Also it would be great to get more peoples experiences with them. Thanks for all the great input so far.8)

 

A lot of good info here, I found this thread as well. Maybe it can help. http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-month/mandarin-dragonette-fotm-may-08-a-47991.html

 

Figured I would also share this which I just found:

The many methods of training Dragonets - Nano-Reef.com Forums

Dont know how well it works but figured I would share and see if anyone else had any experience... Def happy about the pellet eating as it is at least a step in the right direction and if I know I just need to target towards him I will.

 

I have actually just linked this thread to the Mandarin FOTM thread to try and keep all this great info together. Jfuller in my experience it is very hard once they become skinny to fatten them up again. The fact you are willing to give it a go is great. As far as growing your own pods from what I have read it is not that difficult but requires some time and phytoplankton. Once again thanks everyone for all your input.If anyone has questions about these fish we can just direct them to the Mandarin FOTM thread.8)8)8)8)8)

http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-month/mandarin-dragonette-fotm-may-08-a-47991.html