Mandarin

Been wanting to get a mandarin for awhile. Tank has been up a year and a half but it's been in three different tanks. Started with a 55 then downsized to a 20 then went up to a 40 breeder. Water and rock was transferred with each tank change. I don't run a sump. What are my chances of being able to feed one ? Thanks.

 

It's always gonna be a risk with a mandarin. What looks like a lot of pods to you in reality could only be a few days of food for a mandarin. I have a low population of pods but my mandarin and scooter eat prepared foods so I'm lucky but it also means I technically overfeed my tank. I've had both of them for years now and are very fat and happy. My scooter and mandarin will eat anything I put in the tank from pellets to frozen. I've watched my scooter snag a piece of flake out of the water column. I say try it but watch closely for signs of starvation.

 

Would it be good to buy a bag of those pods and dump in the tank ?

 

It wouldn't hurt but IMO it's not a cure all. My mandarin and scooter literally hunt for food constantly so it would get expensive real quick plus it takes a while for the pods to mature and grow. Good luck, I love my mandarin and scooter

 

This is such a common question. There is rarely a definitive answer. I would look for one that eats prepared food, you can always ask for the LFS to feed it in front of you. If not, you can give it a go, especially if you are willing to buy pods. I say that because i have not heard of a subjective way to know for sure unless you try.

 

http://www.3reef.com/threads/mandarin-dragonette-fotm-may-08.47991/
http://www.3reef.com/threads/how-long-should-i-wait-to-get-a-mandarin.113142/
http://www.3reef.com/threads/mandarin-dragonet-feeding.117256/

 

I don't get the appeal. Yes they are pretty fish, but they are very reclusive (at least mine is) and I rarely ever see it. I inherited mine with the tank I bought which was & is loaded with pods. Mine also feeds on cyclopeeze. I also feed rotifers but not sure if it eats those as I can't really see them to tell.

 

It's crazy how fish can be so different from one tank to another. Mine is always out and about and when he sees me he rushes to the front knowing something tasty is being dropped in the tank.

 

Pft... I'll see mine out and I'll try to sneak up and grap a pic and he darts back into my rocks like a bat outta hell!!

 

That's funny. Mine won't even move away when my hand is in the tank. Lol