Mandarin fish

i really want a mandarin fish and soon im going to purchase a refugium so i can put pods in it currentley i have added about 1200 pods to the main tank i would love any feed back on people that own one and what they do to keep it healthy and alive

 

What size tank?

 

55 gallon

 

Definately want a good, healthy family of pods rocking in a fuge before you try a mandarin. I am seeding my tank now with pods for one. These fish get a bad rep because some LFS who are just out for money, not the good of the fish, push them on newer people. Your tank is about the smallest I would try to keep a mandarin in. You need a large tank, with lots of rock and a fuge to sustain a heavy pod population. How much rock are you running in the 55?

 

around 50ish

 

Thats pretty good.. definately get a decent sized fuge, some macro algae (chaeto is good and pods will thrive in it) and get your pod base up before you tempt it. Or you may starve them

 

ok what would you say is a good pod base i added my 1200 about 3 months ago

 

Well just becuase you added 1200 doesnt mean they lived.. especially in the dt.
What other fish do you have that may eat them?

Easiest way to find out.. is do the flashlight test... look about 1 hour after your lights go off and see what you got.

 

i have six line wrasse and ive done that before but never seen any but i cant imagine they all died also i have clownfish and blue damsel

 

Usually add them in doses.. and at night with the lights off so they stand a chance.
If you are getting a fuge no big deal. Wait til you get your fuge, macro, then re-evaluate.