Mandarine question

29man · 05/13/2009, 04:35 PM

I have a 29 gallon tank and a curious thought popped into my head. I have always loved mandarines (who doesn't?) but it has always been advised to keep them in very large and mature tanks. My tank is a 29 with a 20 gallon sump. There are quite a few pods in this tank but not enough to keep a mandarin with. I was wondering if I could QT one and get him on frozen and also culture pods? I know that they need pods for survival and that they can't live solely on frozen foods. If I culture pods to feed a mandarin...can one live in a 29? Even if it is ethical, I probably won't do it. I'm just curious. Thanks.

Ohiomom · 05/13/2009, 04:41 PM

Thinking it would take a heck of a lot of dedication to keep one like that..and that is if you are lucky enough to get it to eat "prepared" foods..I don't think the success rate is all that good for that. Have the feeling that culturing pods would get tedious even for the most dedicated reefer so would have to say no..but just IMO.

29man · 05/13/2009, 04:58 PM

Well you gave the answer I sorta expected. Plausible but not ethical. Thanks for the input

gdwats · 05/13/2009, 05:18 PM

I put a lot of spaghetti algae in my refugium and before long it turned into not on an excellent source for nutrient transport, but became loaded with lots of microcrustations, pods of all kinds. I have had my spotted or Target Mandarin for years, so I can only assume the little crustations find their way through the return pumps alive. enough of them to keep display tank supplied and mandrin happy. Also, be sure you have that rock "pod pile" somewhere in main tank too for the pods to hide and multiply/grow. Just a though. I just threw out a 5 gallon bucket of the macroalgae for pruning...that always is painful.

mjoener · 05/13/2009, 05:53 PM

it can be done, I had one in a 34g for over a yr, lost him in a move

but you do need to make sure that your pods are being replenished and can multiply quickly, I also used live brine a couple times to slowly move it to frozen foods. I would do this in a QT

grand reef1 · 05/13/2009, 05:56 PM

I wouldnt do it man they are extremely hard to take care of and I've heard that they are endangered.

mjoener · 05/14/2009, 11:01 AM

they are not endangered

gdwats · 05/14/2009, 11:23 AM

I think he was teasing.

mjoener · 05/14/2009, 12:18 PM

oh...oops sry

05/13/2009, 04:35 PM	#1
29man Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2	Mandarine question I have a 29 gallon tank and a curious thought popped into my head. I have always loved mandarines (who doesn't?) but it has always been advised to keep them in very large and mature tanks. My tank is a 29 with a 20 gallon sump. There are quite a few pods in this tank but not enough to keep a mandarin with. I was wondering if I could QT one and get him on frozen and also culture pods? I know that they need pods for survival and that they can't live solely on frozen foods. If I culture pods to feed a mandarin...can one live in a 29? Even if it is ethical, I probably won't do it. I'm just curious. Thanks.

05/13/2009, 04:41 PM	#2
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	Thinking it would take a heck of a lot of dedication to keep one like that..and that is if you are lucky enough to get it to eat "prepared" foods..I don't think the success rate is all that good for that. Have the feeling that culturing pods would get tedious even for the most dedicated reefer so would have to say no..but just IMO. __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

05/13/2009, 05:53 PM	#5
mjoener BAMs BAMs... I have a ton Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: E.P., MN Posts: 739	it can be done, I had one in a 34g for over a yr, lost him in a move but you do need to make sure that your pods are being replenished and can multiply quickly, I also used live brine a couple times to slowly move it to frozen foods. I would do this in a QT __________________ Getting back in with a 5g Nano. R.I.P. RSM 250 - April 2010 RSM 130 - July 2007 Current Tank Info: 30g w/ 10g sump/refug Custom Build

05/14/2009, 11:01 AM	#7
mjoener BAMs BAMs... I have a ton Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: E.P., MN Posts: 739	they are not endangered __________________ Getting back in with a 5g Nano. R.I.P. RSM 250 - April 2010 RSM 130 - July 2007 Current Tank Info: 30g w/ 10g sump/refug Custom Build

05/14/2009, 12:18 PM	#9
mjoener BAMs BAMs... I have a ton Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: E.P., MN Posts: 739	oh...oops sry __________________ Getting back in with a 5g Nano. R.I.P. RSM 250 - April 2010 RSM 130 - July 2007 Current Tank Info: 30g w/ 10g sump/refug Custom Build

05/13/2009, 04:58 PM	#3
29man Moved On Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2	Well you gave the answer I sorta expected. Plausible but not ethical. Thanks for the input

05/13/2009, 05:18 PM	#4
gdwats Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 110	I put a lot of spaghetti algae in my refugium and before long it turned into not on an excellent source for nutrient transport, but became loaded with lots of microcrustations, pods of all kinds. I have had my spotted or Target Mandarin for years, so I can only assume the little crustations find their way through the return pumps alive. enough of them to keep display tank supplied and mandrin happy. Also, be sure you have that rock "pod pile" somewhere in main tank too for the pods to hide and multiply/grow. Just a though. I just threw out a 5 gallon bucket of the macroalgae for pruning...that always is painful.

05/13/2009, 05:56 PM	#6
grand reef1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 143	I wouldnt do it man they are extremely hard to take care of and I've heard that they are endangered.

05/14/2009, 11:23 AM	#8
gdwats Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 110	I think he was teasing.