LF: copepod culture

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Nano

Mandarins are gobies so to speak. Slow moving easy targets for sticky nems. IME they are hard to keep in small tanks I went through 2 scooter dragnets that ate frozen live and flake and still was unable to keep either alive for more then 7 months. This has been my experience though, and my tank is larger with nearly triple the total water volume of yours. Approach these lovely fish with extreme caution. Good luck.

Yap well aware of that. As many would say, my tank is too small for mandarine. But I would love to take up this challenge and ofcourse I have back up plans if I can't keep up with it (which I am 90% confident that I won't). But this hobby is all about challenges Like you successfully used, what most would say, "snake oil" to cure ich.

Oh I totally forgot about the goby family thing :| But I really don't like YWG since they are just, STILLLLLLLLLLL! Even my banggai and firefish move around the whole tank :P Weird :P

[Nano]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Like you successfully used, what most would say, "snake oil" to cure ich.

??
I don't follow

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Nano

??
I don't follow

Sorry I might have mixed up but someone with "nano" in their username used herbtana to cure ich successfully I was just trying to present an example of debate :P

[Nano]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Sorry I might have mixed up but someone with "nano" in their username used herbtana to cure ich successfully I was just trying to present an example of debate :P

Yes herbtana is 100% safe though, I wouldn't call it snake oil, I think your thinking of the time i steered you away from using kordon ich attack which is a whole nother thing.

If you are going to seed your tank monthly will most likely not keep up with the mandarins eating habits. Remember your other fish eat them too, though it is not their sole dietary need. I would be going weekly in a smaller tank, as they will get cleaned up faster then they will reproduce

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Nano

Yes herbtana is 100% safe though, I wouldn't call it snake oil, I think your thinking of the time i steered you away from using kordon ich attack which is a whole nother thing.

If you are going to seed your tank monthly will most likely not keep up with the mandarins eating habits. Remember your other fish eat them too, though it is not their sole dietary need. I would be going weekly in a smaller tank, as they will get cleaned up faster then they will reproduce

Yah herbtana is a great product. My fishes actually recovered automatically so didn't buy that. But there are people who call those "snake oil". I clearly remember some in that post

Anyway back to the topic; I feel like I don't have any pod eating inhabitant. I got a pair of clown, a banggai and a firefish. I will using the fuge as breeding ground. Currently, its the breeding ground for amphipod and trust me, there's LOT of them! Don't you think 6oz bottle will be good enough for the breeding cycle for a month?

[Reefgoat]

From what I understand Mandarins graze pretty much constantly. What you consider a lot will probably be mostly gone in the first week. If you want to have one you will probably need to culture pods in other containers and add them to the tank or it will slowly starve to death. Make sure to get Tisbe copepods as opposed to Tigriopus (Tigger) pods.

As an alternative you could get an ORA captive bred target Mandarin. They raise them to eat pellets and frozen food. ORA may have Blue Mandarins available now again as well, but not last time I checked.

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Reefgoat

From what I understand Mandarins graze pretty much constantly. What you consider a lot will probably be mostly gone in the first week. If you want to have one you will probably need to culture pods in other containers and add them to the tank or it will slowly starve to death. Make sure to get Tisbe copepods as opposed to Tigriopus (Tigger) pods.

As an alternative you could get an ORA captive bred target Mandarin. They raise them to eat pellets and frozen food.

Thanks

I am actually going to try to train it at first and if not, I will keep on adding pods manually, depending on the need. Now I need to find pod :P

BTW any specific reason you are not suggesting tigger pods? Because online, I found people use tigger pods since that's more likely to be available.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

Yap well aware of that. As many would say, my tank is too small for mandarine. But I would love to take up this challenge and ofcourse I have back up plans if I can't keep up with it (which I am 90% confident that I won't). But this hobby is all about challenges Like you successfully used, what most would say, "snake oil" to cure ich.

Oh I totally forgot about the goby family thing :| But I really don't like YWG since they are just, STILLLLLLLLLLL! Even my banggai and firefish move around the whole tank :P Weird :P

Please save yourself the trouble and learn from other peoples mistakes, you have identified that this tank is too small & it contains goby predators.

Although I agree this hobby is about challenges and learning, its also about trying to be as environmentally responsible as possible. Put yourself in the Mandarines shoes, would you enjoy being put in an overly small tank with a lack of food and things that could kill you @ every turn?

I think not... But alas I have a feeling this fish will be added to your tank regardless.

[Nano]

Originally Posted by Zoaelite

Please save yourself the trouble and learn from other peoples mistakes, you have identified that this tank is too small & it contains goby predators.

Although I agree this hobby is about challenges and learning, its also about trying to be as environmentally responsible as possible. Put yourself in the Mandarines shoes, would you enjoy being put in an overly small tank with a lack of food and things that could kill you @ every turn?

I think not... But alas I have a feeling this fish will be added to your tank regardless.

+1

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Zoaelite

Please save yourself the trouble and learn from other peoples mistakes, you have identified that this tank is too small & it contains goby predators.

Although I agree this hobby is about challenges and learning, its also about trying to be as environmentally responsible as possible. Put yourself in the Mandarines shoes, would you enjoy being put in an overly small tank with a lack of food and things that could kill you @ every turn?

I think not... But alas I have a feeling this fish will be added to your tank regardless.

+1.

I, in no way, will disagree or argue with what you said.