To Keep a Mandarin or Not

[SGreene]

Not to disrespect Mandarin police, I want to know how successful/unsuccessful people have been keeping Mandarin in a tank smaller then 75g. I know so many factors play into the success or failure. I hear so many people arguing that a Mandarin will die in a small or immature tank. but I want to hear from people who have actually kept a Mandarin.

What you did to make it work for you?
What you did you wish you hadn't done?

 

[Rrocky]

had one that ate frozen, but he was such a slow eater that my other fish wouldnt allow him to eat much. it was kinda frustrating how slow and methodical he was about eating brine or mysis. its like, he'd stare at it and say grace first or some sh!t LOL he eventually disapeared and i personally wouldnt try again unless i had a HUGE pod supply.

 

[Smite]

I had the same problem as Rrocky, just couldn't get enough food to him.

If I were to try again, there are 2 things I would do differently.

1. Qt the mandarin to get him to eat more than just brine or mysis, find a quality pellet it excepts. Shouldn't take long without competition.
I found that my tank had just enough pod population to keep him distracted from trying other foods. Not enough to sustain it.
2. Stock the tank with fish that are friendly small non pod eating fish.
Something that swims open water like glass red spot cardinals. They will be less likely to hunt the sandbed/rock work for food they missed on the way down. Leaving the mandarin to hunt the rest.

 

[SGreene]

Not encouraging :a33: My current tank is new but my previous tank was mature and I could see pods all over, even in day light. If i ever get to that point, I am sue to try one. I set up my rocks to kinda simulate rubble zone with densely packed small rocks on one side, prolly over 100lbs of rocks total with crushed coral substrate. Also have plenty rubble in the refugium.

Any success stories?

 

[Smite]

There was a member here who had a pair in a fairly small tank but I cant remember her user name right now. I think they were the only fish in the tank though, so that probably helped.

 

[contrerasjl88]

I have one in a 60g that I've had for about a year. Had a fuge in my sump for half a year but after I saw him eating frozen and pellets took it off. Seems healthy and always scavenging. They need peaceful mates since they tend to be on send bed

 

[Confuse]

I say, only get one if you have a 100g+ tank. I have one in my 150 and he eats pods. He's been there for two years and doing well. I know myself better than to say, "I'll spot feed him everyday." I won't. Not even with my anthias. They eat when the auto feeder is on and when I put frozen in. Haha

I don't think it's worth the hassle. Unless you're really committed to having one and you have 45 minutes to spot feed the **** thing while it slowly decides to eat and scrutinize every little piece of food.

 

[babyjess210]

I had one in a 75gal for 2 years and had to break down the tank. I sold it to a buddy and he kept it for another year before it died after introducing another fish without QT. I wouldn't go smaller than a 60 gallon and will wait at least 6-9 months for the tank to mature before adding a mandarin. You should look for one that is hunting around for food when you purchase one as you have plenty of food but he doesn't know how to find them.

Also if you plan on getting certain wrasse they will eat up all the live food and mandarin will starve. I like leopard wrasse more so no more mandarins for me.
HTH

 

[swiftism]

I have a 30G about a year old... Got a mandarin about 10 weeks ago, still looks good and is pretty active. I'm I in the clear? How long does it take to starve one? Disclaimer, I've added pods every month as a safety net.

 

[djam]

I had one for a year in a 60g frag tank (had a fuge and sump as well). For the first few months I would dump a bottle of pods in the tank, 1/2 in the tank and half in the fuge every 3-4 weeks. Soon my fuge was over whelmed with pods. About 4-5 months in I noticed that he would start eating frozen brine and mysis as they landed near him on the ground. I had sand in the bottom of the frag tank..just FYI. I put a big clean up crew in there to help pickup the scraps. I did the same thing with a different mandarin in a 90+sump.fuge. Had both for a year before I moved them both into a larger tank. Turns out they were both males, but both exist on their own side of the tank and it has been another year. So about 2.5 years all in so far with these two.

 

[russ13]

I had one in my frag tank. He was cool just cruised around and didn't bother anything. Originally he was only going to be a short term fish. I picked him up to take care of a flat worn problem and he did a great good. Then I noticed he was eating frozen food that was left over after spot feeding my frags So I kept him. I have been told if you get a larger one that is an adult you will have a better change of getting it to eat frozen food. Doesn't ORA breed them now???


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[SGreene]

Great stuff guys, keep it coming.

 

[touchingstoves]

I had one in my frag tank. He was cool just cruised around and didn't bother anything. Originally he was only going to be a short term fish. I picked him up to take care of a flat worn problem and he did a great good. Then I noticed he was eating frozen food that was left over after spot feeding my frags So I kept him. I have been told if you get a larger one that is an adult you will have a better change of getting it to eat frozen food. Doesn't ORA breed them now???


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No unfortunately. They used to.


You is kind. You smart. You is special.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

had one that ate frozen, but he was such a slow eater that my other fish wouldnt allow him to eat much. it was kinda frustrating how slow and methodical he was about eating brine or mysis. its like, he'd stare at it and say grace first or some sh!t LOL he eventually disapeared and i personally wouldnt try again unless i had a HUGE pod supply.

I had the same experience with a red Scooter blenny. It ate frozen but was way too slow to compete with other fishes. He disappeared.

 

[bboyvital]

If you really have to have them and don't wanna wait for a sufficient pod population I saw a tank thread on r2r where a guy built a feeding station for them and he would feed live food right down a tube. simple set up and pretty cool.

 

[organism]

There are a lot of tanks "smaller than a 75 gallon," most of which would definitely be too small. What size exactly is the tank you're planning on putting it into? Either way your tank has to be established for a while to have enough food, can't put one in a new tank.

 

[Smite]

The two fish that made me want to try SW - mandarin and copperband butterfly. Haven't successfully kept either and don't plan to try again! Too frustrating to watch something slowly starve out

 

[SGreene]

There are a lot of tanks "smaller than a 75 gallon," most of which would definitely be too small. What size exactly is the tank you're planning on putting it into? Either way your tank has to be established for a while to have enough food, can't put one in a new tank.

I have a 50g with over 100lbs of LR, about 10g refuge with rubble and chaeto. Tank is less then 6 months old. I am designing it to maximize pods population just so I can get a mandy in the future, around 1yr mark.

 

[organism]

I think more than tank size is square footage since it's about roaming space. My frag tank is a 60 but it's 2'x4' which is a good amount of area for pods to grow. What are the dimensions on yours? With the amount of rock you have and waiting a while to get one you should be good imo, especially if you pick up a smaller one.

 

[SGreene]

I think more than tank size is square footage since it's about roaming space. My frag tank is a 60 but it's 2'x4' which is a good amount of area for pods to grow. What are the dimensions on yours? With the amount of rock you have and waiting a while to get one you should be good imo, especially if you pick up a smaller one.

My tank is 36Lx18W, did I mention I have crushed coral substrate. I got it specifically to support more pods.