mardarin in a 20gal?

[Skimmer Juice]

I read in reef keepers anual you need 75 pounds of live rock to succesfully keep a mandrin.Also should have your tank running for at least 7 months.I have about 70 pounds of rock,but my mandrin eats every thing I put in the tank.Most wont eat like this so I would get at least a 50 gallon with lots of rock.Or atleast fill up your 20g and just wait a few more months.

[marie]

I've had my mandarin in a 75g tank for 4 yrs, packed with as much live rock as I could cram in without the tank looking odd. It took a couple of years before he would eat prepared foods and until he did I worried constantly that he wasn't getting enough to eat. I wouldn't chance it if I were you and definitly not when the tank is only 3 months old

[Bob I]

I would advise against trying it. Mandarins usually don't eat prepared foods. They tend to live on things they find on live rock. Therefore it takes a lot of Live Rock to keep a Mandarin fed. You can't put enough lr in a 20 gallon tank to sustain a mandarin. Having said that I am sure some would argue that their Mandarin eats frozen food. I agree that some do, but it is the exception rather rhan the rule.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Bob I

I would advise against trying it. Mandarins usually don't eat prepared foods. They tend to live on things they find on live rock. Therefore it takes a lot of Live Rock to keep a Mandarin fed. You can't put enough lr in a 20 gallon tank to sustain a mandarin. Having said that I am sure some would argue that their Mandarin eats frozen food. I agree that some do, but it is the exception rather rhan the rule.

I know 4 people with mandarins in tanks less then 50 gallons, 2 with 20 gallons, one with a sump the other with no sump. All have had mandarins for years (same ones) all eat prepared foods (frozen). All were bought specifically because they ate prepared foods. There are always exceptions to everything.
That being said I wouldn't do it

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by Subdued

I know 4 people with mandarins in tanks less then 50 gallons, 2 with 20 gallons, one with a sump the other with no sump. All have had mandarins for years (same ones) all eat prepared foods (frozen). All were bought specifically because they ate prepared foods. There are always exceptions to everything.
That being said I wouldn't do it

Yup, me too. This is my second Mandarin in a tank less than 50 gallons. My last one was a male that I sold to another reefer, and is still doing well. He ate frozen Mysis for sure. The current one is female, and she was quite small, and skinny when I got her. She has fattened up a lot, and is doing well. She is not out very often, so I have no idea what she eats. I still advise against it though.