Paddy's Mandarin Paradise

[paddyob]

I had one over two years in a fully mixed reef. This tank I am using now used to be my nano.

It did eventually take frozen and then my tank crashed. Sad.

I figure I did it with one and 4 other fish. Why not two in a dedicated tank with fuge.

[Slick Fork]

I had a mandarin in my old 110 gallon. Whenever I fed NLS pellets it would become visibly excited and race around snatching anything up that made it to the bottom. I didnt try to train it, it just sort of happened after a couple of months. I think it might've grabbed one by accident one day and that was that

[toytech]

Im 6 months now with my mandarin in a 15 gal , Just added a sump last week . Dunno why everyone is so against it , there fish, i feed it just like the rest of my fish . I am going to try and get it to eat pellets though , if you have any sucess with that let me know .

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by toytech

Dunno why everyone is so against it , there fish, i feed it just like the rest of my fish .

the biggest reason is they are very resistant to eating man made or dead food, it is rare to see one which does eat food other than live pods. Now we are starting to see more as they are starting to be captive bread.

12 years ago when I got my pair there were only rhumors of mandrins that would eat anything other than there natural food, now you can actualy see them eating other stuff in pet stores. but mandrins eating prepared food (weather it be blood worms or what ever) is still an exception not the rule. and as captive raised ones become more common more people will be able to enjoy them.

Steve

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

I had a mandarin in my old 110 gallon. Whenever I fed NLS pellets it would become visibly excited and race around snatching anything up that made it to the bottom. I didnt try to train it, it just sort of happened after a couple of months. I think it might've grabbed one by accident one day and that was that

I am trying to train onto NLS finicky eater pellet. Loaded with garlic ha ha!

[paddyob]

As for pics... the two of them are acting very shy. They swim about a lot... but usually on the back side of the rock wall and therefore hard to get a good shot of.


Soon. Sorry people. I am trying.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by paddyob

I had one over two years in a fully mixed reef. This tank I am using now used to be my nano.

It did eventually take frozen and then my tank crashed. Sad.

I figure I did it with one and 4 other fish. Why not two in a dedicated tank with fuge.

I lost my female after 3 years but the male hung on for about 5 years in my 94, but mine were typical mandrins, would check out what I put in the tank then turn up there nose at it.

hey and why do you not have any pics up yet?

Steve

[intarsiabox]

I've seen mandarins in local stores every now and then that are already eating frozen. I believe Ken had some ORA ones that ate frozen a little while back.

[Myka]

Yay! Are they eating well these days?

I see you have red bubble algae...that stuff is worse than green bubble algae. Trust me, I've been through that one. The balls are filled with slime...they are gross. I would suggest you attack it aggressively.

[paddyob]

I do not attack any algaes in the tank.

Great for pod habitatation. The male never made it a month unfortunately, but she is fat!

I have not seen her take NLS yet, but I feed it three times a week and she Definately becomes aroused by it's presence.

My HOB fuge is amazing. For a 20g... I think I succeeded in making a mandarin suitable tank.

Needs more coral though. Kenya and gsp is all that's in there. More Softies wanted.

As for bubbles again... Attacking would mean adding something? Emerald?