blue mandarin (1 Viewer)

[turtlesoup2]

hi i was look at an blue mandarin and was wondering how hard are they to care for

 

[jdeveaux]

Unless you get one of the ORA tank raised gems, or one that just happens to take to prepared foods you need to have a large system with a heavy pod population or they just wont make it.

One thing I've also learned since I have tried keeping two now. The big pods you can easily see and find with the naked eye aren't the ones they are looking for. I've found that they are usually after the smaller hard to see pods; like tiger pods. I went ahead and let my tank age another year before trying again and now I've had a gorgeous specimen for over 3 months but I'm concerned that even now he may not be getting enough food. My system is about 300 gallons in total volume with tons of rock, sand, and chaeto so I've gotten in the habit of shaking my macro algea over the main display area to make sure the pods from the sump are making it up to the main system.

In all honesty if your take is less than 200 gallons I wouldn't try it but I have seen Mandarin's make it in smaller systems.

 

[turtlesoup2]

i only have an 46 gallon system so i dont think i will try them

 

[Llama]

double post

 

[Llama]

I would not recommend this to others. However I kept one in a 46 bow for a little less than a year. I made sure that I watched the guy at the store feed her before I even considered it. He tossed in some pellets and the mandarin happily gobbled them up. I then tried to make sure that I watched the mandarin eat everyday. Even if it meant turning of all water circulation and and dropping food directly above the mandarin's head. It was a lot of work, and like I said I would never tell someone else to try it.

Now she is in the 90 with a nice large fuge that is loaded with life. I still feed her pellets daily. She doesn't make me turn the pumps off these days though. I've also noticed that she loves to hunt the very small mysid shrimp in the tank. She will locate a swarm, and blast through it multiple times trying to suck as many up as she can. Pretty cool to watch when you catch it.

 

[turtlesoup2]

i have found an person selling an blue mandrain that is eating frozen food,but i dont know if i should try it what do all of you think??

 

[Llama]

Don't buy unless you can see it eating.

 

[turtlesoup2]

ya i know, i watched it eat the frozen food

 

[Llama]

Hmmm, you have to make that call. Just be prepared to offer special attention to the fish. If you don't think you can do that then I wouldn't risk the fish's life.

 

[turtlesoup2]

i think i will go for it :biglaugh2:

 

[Llama]

Keep us posted.

 

[turtlesoup2]

im gonna get it this saturday cant wait

 

[Llama]

PS - It wasn't brine shrimp was it? Hopefully the frozen was mysis.

If it's brine, don't buy unless you see it eat mysis. Brine will not give the nutrients the fish needs. It's like candy.

Post pics!!!

 

[turtlesoup2]

no its mysis