the ever famous madarin

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by dpandkevin, Jul 21, 2009.

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  1. dpandkevin

    dpandkevin Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    Location:
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    I have had my 120 set up for about 2 years and has been moved twice. I add copepodes (probably not spelled right) about ever 2 months to try to boost the population preparing the tank for a madarin. I look at night to try to see if i can find any and really do not see them. I do not want to take a chance of getting one and starving it so i am wondering how do you tell if its ok to add one?
     
    dpandkevin, Jul 21, 2009
    dpandkevin, Jul 21, 2009
    #1

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  2. adam

    adam Montipora Digitata

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    A 120 gallon over 2 years old is good for a mandarin. I have a 46 with 65 LBS of LR and a mandarin for a year and a half now. I add copepods every 3 months to the tank. I have no refugium.

    How much live rock do you have?
     
    adam, Jul 21, 2009
    adam, Jul 21, 2009
    #2
  3. dpandkevin

    dpandkevin Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    lol honestly i do not know, i just bought without keeping track of the weight its about half way up the tank. The tank is a 48x24x24
     
    dpandkevin, Jul 21, 2009
    dpandkevin, Jul 21, 2009
    #3
  4. Daniel072

    Daniel072 Giant Squid

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    I would think you are ok too. I never see pods in my display but I have had my mandarin for 6 mo now and he is still as fat as a pig. He actually looks pretty perfect as far was what they look like in the wild. The only thing you can really do with these guys is provide them with a decent sized tank and cross ur fingers. You have a good size tank so ya never know.
     
    Daniel072, Jul 21, 2009
    Daniel072, Jul 21, 2009
    #4
  5. salsalito25

    salsalito25 Stylophora

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    These fish are very finiky lil fish.... Some do well... and well some have a sad ending.... Going by size and age of your tank.. You "should" be ok... And if not, hope it goes after flake or frozen foods that you feed on a normal basis....


    Best of Luck...
     
    salsalito25, Jul 22, 2009
    salsalito25, Jul 22, 2009
    #5
  6. whippy

    whippy Sailfin Tang

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    I had excellent luck with live brine.

    My thread "Progress" in the new to the hobby section and my thread "Mysid shrimp and Dragonets?" talks about it :D You may have success as well. Might take a couple of intros though. The good thing about brine is that they're super cheap and easy to breed. It's the movement that drew my mandarins attention.
     
    whippy, Jul 22, 2009
    whippy, Jul 22, 2009
    #6

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  7. dufresne

    dufresne Feather Duster

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    if you have pods you should be able to see them, they hide under caves and in crevices... try at night with a flashlight.
     
    dufresne, Jul 22, 2009
    dufresne, Jul 22, 2009
    #7
  8. inwall75

    inwall75 Giant Squid

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    Turn off the room lights, turn off the moonlights, wait 45 minutes. Go in the room and put a flashlight next to the tank for 15 minutes. Go back in after 15 minutes and look and see if you have teeny-tiny little 'bugs' crawling around on the glass where the the flashlight is.
     
    inwall75, Jul 22, 2009
    inwall75, Jul 22, 2009
    #8