Another Mandarin question

gobygal

Member
This may have been asked before..but I didn't want to go through hundreds of posts to find an answer.
I have a 120gal tank that has been running since Dec. 11th 2012. We have amphipods up the arse at night. I know we have some copepods too but I don't see much of them. When I do...they are pin-head small.
My LFS said that since I had so many amphipods, a mandarin would be alright. Well.....the amphipods only come out at night as far as I can tell. And I do not see copepods swarming all over my LR during the day. I am assuming the only way I know if he is eating enough is by the size of his belly. I don't think he is eating enough. He is quite large in size...almost full grown male. He was the most healthy one I have seen at any store and had to get him.
Question is #1 ..........how would a mandarin eat amphipods if amphipods only appear at night, and mandarin hunts in day?
(I decided I need to pick up two bottles of copes this coming Saturday...one for tank and one for the culture bucket I have going. )
Second Question #2..........I read that Tisbe copes are the ideal copes. I know I need glass/sand dwelling copes and not free swimming. If what I have in my tank are Tisbe.....are they always so small?? I can barely see them and my mandarin is quite large....how could he possibly get full? Plus I have a sand-sifting goby that puts sand all over rocks...how could he even see them?
I have no refugium .....gonna do a culture in a five gallon bucket. (no fuge, no skimmer, no sump...and my tank is pristine!! Regular water changes and no overfeeding....I have a great balanced, healthy ecosystem...no need for any of that stuff or chemicals)
Have plenty of amphipods....not sure if I have enough copes. Was told they eat the amphipods...but I just don't see how that can possibly work out since mandarin does not hunt at night when the SWARMS of amphipods are out. If he did...he would be a tubby little guy!!
 
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