Spotted Mandarin

I have been patient and done my research on this fish. My tank has been running for eight months. I have a 55 gallon with 20 gallon fuge. I built the fuge for the sole purpose of wanting this fish down the line. I believe I am ready. I just wanted to see what others opinions were.

 

Do you have a large population of pods?

 

I'd say you are fine, sounds good. Unless you just had a pod exodus that is...good luck!

 

My pod population I'm sure is good. I have seeded with pods from my lfs twice.

 

Give it a shot. Try to buy a fat Mandarin if you can. Bonus if you can get him/her to eat prepared food.

 

I am actually trying to find one that accepts frozen foods in addition.

 

Try putting shells in your DT. Pods will love to make a home in there, so the mandarins will congregate there too. Then try stuffing it with frozen. The foods I have hadthe most sucess with are Nutramar Ova, Rods Food (frozen pods) and cyclopeeze (although for some reason it did not trigger the feeding response of the other 2). Try mixing live pods in a bottle with some arctipods or cyclopeeze and theowing that in the tank. Good luck!

 

I bought an assortment of pretty big shells from reef cleaners. I feed rods fish food as well. I like the idea of stuffing the food in the shell.

 

I'm gonna search the Internet for one.

 

You should try to get one from ORA. Ive read that there is still not 100% chance of successfully getting it to eat frozen but its a better chance than other mandarins