mandarin in 37 cube????

TKByrnes · 09/05/2006, 10:44 PM

I know everyone says they need a big tank but my 37 cube is over run with pods. they look like ants at night. they even come out when the day lights are on. the only thing in the tank is 2 oc clowns, and my coral. I want to get a red scooter also will that cause an issue? should i choose one or the other? If noone thinks a mandarin is a good idea then I wont do it. the last thing i want to do is put a fish in somewhere that he wont be happy or even die.

sir_dudeguy · 09/05/2006, 11:02 PM

they dont really need a larger tank so to speak...they need more pods, which usually means you need more rock, which usually means......a bigger tank!

go figure lol

But no, if you're tank really has a ton of pods and its reallly established, and you've got a fuge, i see no problem with keeping one in a 37. I would NOT however, keep it with the scooter. 2 fish that eat pods in the same tank = not good. However, you can sometimes get the manderins to eat other foods...like mysis i hear, and stuff like brine.

alde · 09/05/2006, 11:02 PM

If you can really keep the pod population up you might be ok with one or the other. You would be amazed at how much a little Mandarin can eat. It's an effort to keep one going in my 120 with lots of LR. I feed the pods at least 3 times a week to keep the population stable.

TKByrnes · 09/05/2006, 11:05 PM

Thanks for the quick reply sir_dudeguy. well right now i dont have a fuge. I did have one on my 75 and I just downsized. so all the rock came from the 75. There is about 60-70 lbs of lr in a 37 cube. slope aquascape so it doesnt look like that much. maybe ill just go with the scooter. Unless i can find a mandarin that eats other foods. my main question was will he be ok in a smaller tank. and you answered that for me. any other opinions?

sir_dudeguy · 09/05/2006, 11:20 PM

ya alde had a GREAT point about needing to keep the pod pop. up. Just because you've got tons now doesnt mean that you will have tons in about a month after getting a manderin, and prolly the scooter for that matter. If you can fit a fuge in your system, get as big of one as you can. Then decide from how that turns out if you'd be able to keep a manderin...or rather keep the pod pop. up.

But you also have a great idea...try to find one thats already taking other foods. But im sure you'll find that difficult lol. Ask in your local board and see if anyones got one there. If you DO find one tho...it may go for quite a bit...i know they're only 15 bucks at the lfs here...but i'd bet he'd be more if it was easier to feed.

TKByrnes · 09/06/2006, 06:18 AM

cool thanks.

Sk8r · 09/06/2006, 07:45 AM

The cost for keeping a mandarin on imported pods is about 700.00 a year.

dc · 09/06/2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sk8r
The cost for keeping a mandarin on imported pods is about 700.00 a year.

LOL, you really have to want one!

Try to find one at the store that you see eating prepared food. It seems like people are having more and more success with them. Check out the diner
mandarin Diner

REV · 09/06/2006, 07:57 AM

I have seen a mandarin eat prepared food before. IT'S NOT FAIR! Anyway, I digress... I wouldn't recommend one without a fuge. I have one in my 75 (20L) fuge and like ALDE said above, I feed my pods regularly to try to keep up. It's almost stressful! I DON'T want to lose him! My tank, approx. 80 lbs LR, fuge w/chaeto & DSB & birdsnest skel., was FULL of pods, until I got my mandarin. Now I sit there 2 or 3 nights a week with a flashlight just looking for ONE! When/IF I find one I breath a sigh of relief! Good luck whatever you do!

TKByrnes · 09/06/2006, 10:30 AM

ok well im not going to spend 700 a year just to keep a $15 fish. dont get me wrong i really like them but thats just not worth it. Ill just try a blenny or something. thanks for the help all!!!

raynist · 09/06/2006, 11:01 AM

I have one in my 180 tank. There are a ton of pods in my 75g sump, but I never see any in the 180.

My mandarin will eat any pellet food that falls on the rocks or sandbed though.

alde · 09/06/2006, 07:29 PM

Another thing that sometimes works is Sea Urchin eggs. You can find them frozen at an Oriental food store. Just make sure they are not salted or anything. They must be fresh frozen. For some reason SOME Madarins love them.

09/05/2006, 10:44 PM	#1
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	mandarin in 37 cube???? I know everyone says they need a big tank but my 37 cube is over run with pods. they look like ants at night. they even come out when the day lights are on. the only thing in the tank is 2 oc clowns, and my coral. I want to get a red scooter also will that cause an issue? should i choose one or the other? If noone thinks a mandarin is a good idea then I wont do it. the last thing i want to do is put a fish in somewhere that he wont be happy or even die. __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

09/05/2006, 11:02 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	they dont really need a larger tank so to speak...they need more pods, which usually means you need more rock, which usually means......a bigger tank! go figure lol But no, if you're tank really has a ton of pods and its reallly established, and you've got a fuge, i see no problem with keeping one in a 37. I would NOT however, keep it with the scooter. 2 fish that eat pods in the same tank = not good. However, you can sometimes get the manderins to eat other foods...like mysis i hear, and stuff like brine. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/05/2006, 11:02 PM	#3
alde Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 1,354	If you can really keep the pod population up you might be ok with one or the other. You would be amazed at how much a little Mandarin can eat. It's an effort to keep one going in my 120 with lots of LR. I feed the pods at least 3 times a week to keep the population stable. __________________ Al No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. "You can tune a guitar, but you can't tune a fish". Current Tank Info: 120 SPS running 2 400 watt ReefOptic 14k's on IceCap Electronic ballasts, Euroreef ES8-2 and closed loop.

09/05/2006, 11:05 PM	#4
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	Thanks for the quick reply sir_dudeguy. well right now i dont have a fuge. I did have one on my 75 and I just downsized. so all the rock came from the 75. There is about 60-70 lbs of lr in a 37 cube. slope aquascape so it doesnt look like that much. maybe ill just go with the scooter. Unless i can find a mandarin that eats other foods. my main question was will he be ok in a smaller tank. and you answered that for me. any other opinions? __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

09/05/2006, 11:20 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ya alde had a GREAT point about needing to keep the pod pop. up. Just because you've got tons now doesnt mean that you will have tons in about a month after getting a manderin, and prolly the scooter for that matter. If you can fit a fuge in your system, get as big of one as you can. Then decide from how that turns out if you'd be able to keep a manderin...or rather keep the pod pop. up. But you also have a great idea...try to find one thats already taking other foods. But im sure you'll find that difficult lol. Ask in your local board and see if anyones got one there. If you DO find one tho...it may go for quite a bit...i know they're only 15 bucks at the lfs here...but i'd bet he'd be more if it was easier to feed. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

09/06/2006, 06:18 AM	#6
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	cool thanks. __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

09/06/2006, 07:45 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The cost for keeping a mandarin on imported pods is about 700.00 a year. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/06/2006, 07:57 AM	#9
REV Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 394	I have seen a mandarin eat prepared food before. IT'S NOT FAIR! Anyway, I digress... I wouldn't recommend one without a fuge. I have one in my 75 (20L) fuge and like ALDE said above, I feed my pods regularly to try to keep up. It's almost stressful! I DON'T want to lose him! My tank, approx. 80 lbs LR, fuge w/chaeto & DSB & birdsnest skel., was FULL of pods, until I got my mandarin. Now I sit there 2 or 3 nights a week with a flashlight just looking for ONE! When/IF I find one I breath a sigh of relief! Good luck whatever you do! __________________ John Doe Current Tank Info: 72 reef

09/06/2006, 10:30 AM	#10
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	ok well im not going to spend 700 a year just to keep a $15 fish. dont get me wrong i really like them but thats just not worth it. Ill just try a blenny or something. thanks for the help all!!! __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

09/06/2006, 11:01 AM	#11
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	I have one in my 180 tank. There are a ton of pods in my 75g sump, but I never see any in the 180. My mandarin will eat any pellet food that falls on the rocks or sandbed though.

09/06/2006, 07:29 PM	#12
alde Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 1,354	Another thing that sometimes works is Sea Urchin eggs. You can find them frozen at an Oriental food store. Just make sure they are not salted or anything. They must be fresh frozen. For some reason SOME Madarins love them. __________________ Al No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. "You can tune a guitar, but you can't tune a fish". Current Tank Info: 120 SPS running 2 400 watt ReefOptic 14k's on IceCap Electronic ballasts, Euroreef ES8-2 and closed loop.