Mandarin question......

[kmf507]

I have a 90 gallon RR with 100 lbs LR. I've also got a sump and a separate fuge. I plan to add a mandarin in about 9 months. From everything I've read, my pod population should not be a problem (I even have some rubble in the tank that is protected for pods to reproduce in). I know I am going to attempt a mandarin and feel I have taken all the steps.

Now the question...
Do you think adding a 6 line wrasse to the tank will hurt the mandarin's chances of survival? I know they eat pods as well, but want to know if you think my setup can facilitate both.

Thanks.

[Scuba_Steve]

That really depends on your pod population. From what you have described, you should have plenty, but everyones tank is different. Do you already have a good starting population going in your tank?

[kmf507]

I feel like I have a good population. I see them all over the cheato and often in the tank.

[Fast Eddie H]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but what do pods look like. I am new to the hobby and just added live rock to my tank and fuge 4 days ago. It was pretty close to cured as the LFS had it in a tank with flow and heaters for three weeks or so, and I have yet to see any kind of cycle.
Anyway, the day after I added the live rock to the fuge, I noticed this white translucent mound at the base of one of the rocks. It looks gelatenous, and on closer inspeaction I could see tiny white speacks swimming around it. Are these pods?

[kmf507]

This should help....

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

Anymore thoughts on my pod pop supporting both a 6line and a mandarin?

[usmcsgt]

I would say no, Even though you may have good pod population, the sixline is much faster would eat up the pods quicker than the mandarin would be able to. So in the long run the mandarin probably wouldn't survive unless 1. It will eat prepared foods or 2. you periodically boost your pod population with a bottle of pods. That's just my opinion, I had a mandarin in my 90 and he ate up the pods to where I rarely saw any pods, unfortunately it died when I upgraded to my 125 and pretty much lost all my pod population.

[supervdl]

I agree with the last post. The wrasse is faster and will deplete the pods to fast. Also keep in mind the overall fish count and this also might be a strain to your pod population.

[poissonist]

I LIKE MANDARINS VERY MUCH; I HAVE 4 OF THEM IN THE RED SEA MAX 130 liters...if you like them put couple of splendidus and red couple also. do not mix with picturatus because splandidus hate it. yOU NEED TO FEED with live artemia each day (nauplies).

[bigquinntweezy]

I ALSO HAVE A 90 GAL WITH ABOUT 100 LBS OF LIVE ROCK

MY TANK HAS BEEN SET UP FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS

I HAVE NEVER ADDED PODS EXCEPT FOR WHAT EVER HAS COME ON THE LIVE ROCK

I HAVE A MANDERIN, SKOOTERBLENNY , BICOLOR BLENNY, AND A SIX LINE WRASSE AND EVERYONE HAS PLENTY TO EAT

IF YOU CAN SEE PODS ON YOUR LIVE ROCK OR IN YOUR GRAVEL THEN THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE IN THERE

[poissonist]

Be careful your mandarin is going to eat eveything. More and more guys stop to have mandarin for this reason. in the future be prepared to feed your mandarin with living artemias nauplies.....

[kappaknight]

I have a 90g, about 130 lbs of LR, no sump, just a HOB fuge 3.5 gallons. My mandarin has been fat ever since I rescued it from the LFS when I saw its ribs. That was actually the first week I upgraded to a 90. I recently added a six-line and both seem happy.

One thing I am doing is keeping the fuge for unlimited unreachable supply of pods as well as keeping a softball sized ball of chaeto in the main tank out of the light so it doesn't grow any bigger; but at the same time, any pods in that ball is unreachable by the fish.

[davocean]

Your setup right now sounds ideal for one of the two, but adding both could be a problem.
That wrasse is going to be fast, and need alot of food.
Now you may be able to have both a male and female mandarin, but I'd start w/ one, and see how your pods hold up.

[kmf507]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to with only the mandarin then.