How long till mandarin?

[totter0817]

I know to get a mandarin the tank has to be pretty well established with lots of growth to keep the mandarin happy. I am just curious as to how long this usaully takes. I have had my tank up and running for about 6 months now. I have about 80 pounds of live rock- I know that can make a difference. They eat copepods, I haven't noticed any in my tank, but I havent looked hard and there is soo much rock to look at. Is there a way to get copepod population up. Sorry long post!


Thanks guys!!

[luvreefs23]

Im also curious to see what peoples opinions are on this...

[totter0817]

I know let's hear it from the Guru's.... yea I just called ya out- lol!

[tazzy695]

for mandrines or other pod exclusive eating fish need at least a year before you can add these fish unless you get extreemly lucky and get one that actualy eats brine or other prepared foods

[amcarrig]

6 months to a year is what I would wait, however, without a refugium or other type of safe haven for copepods to reproduce, a dragonette will quickly wipe out a pod population in less than a year. If you don't think you have pods, take a good look at your tank glass after the lights have been out for a few hours

[jas3600]

My tank was flooded with Copopods and I decided to get a Mandarin simply because they are one of the coolest looking marine fish, It lived 6 months totally ran out of food.

It just kept getting littler and littler until it died.

I tried all types of frozen preps to keep him going.

Hard to keep lil fellow...

Never thought of the refugium to create a safehaven for the pods.

[evojoe67]

you can always buy copepods to keep replenishing

[tazzy695]

Originally Posted by evojoe67

you can always buy copepods to keep replenishing

the problem with this is the amount you buy about 500 at a time can be wiped out in a day and at about 10 bucks or more for this makes a very expensive way to keep a fish better off doing a fuge of some sort to grow the pods and waiting for the population to grow to and adiquet size before trying to add one of these fish

[phoenixhieghts]

many mandarins can be tempted with frozen food - as long as the competition for it isnt to stiff. Thats what i found with mine anyway!

[Crabby Jim]

I waited a whole year before I added my mandarin when I was sure that I had a good copepod, amphipod population. You can see my tank specs below. I seeded my fuge twice with tigger pods in the few months previous to adding the mandarin I have had him for 3 months now and it is great to see him growing up I bought a small one .