dragonets

[jay0705]

I wanted to post this because I think it may help sum people and fish out. Dragonets are hard fish to feed,or at least that's the thinking. I have a green Mandy and a red scooter both suppose to be difficult to feed. I feed them prawn roe. Hard to find but not terrible expensive and other fish like it too. But I have now witnessed both eating pellets!!! Hikari marine s pellets. Idk what's in these but they both gobble them up. I've tried other pellets no go lol. So if you have issues feeding your dragonets give these pellets a try.idk why but they seem to like them

 

[pegasus]

That's good information, especially if you can't provide them with enough of their natural diet. I have a green mandy and an ocellated dragonet (aka/scooter blenny) also. Fortunately, my refugium produces enough amphipods and copepods so I don't have to feed them. I have live rock rubble underneath the refugium inlets, and on top of that I have a grande bag of Chemi-Pure. Some of the amphipods make it to/through the return pump, but to stay on the safe side, I harvest 100 or so adults once a month and deposit them in my DT. I simply take out the Chemi-Pure and scrape them off the bag into a shallow tub. They breed so fast in the live rock rubble that there's never a shortage. I let the copepods enter the water column naturally, since they normally make it through the return pump without incident. Lots of live rock in the main tank helps a lot, too. The video shows a mix of Tisbe and (mostly) Parvocalanus copepods in just one corner of my refugium. Amphipods and copepods are the natural food of dragonets, and it's all my dragonets eat. They are rather plump and healthy. Not bragging, just want to emphasize that once established, pods become "free" food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgFuw0ZZ4KU&feature=youtu.be

 

[jay0705]

Very true. I don't mind feeding them since there eating what I feed my other fish. The fuge is the way to go tho.

 

[pegasus]

Understood. I can't imagine life without a fuge...

 

[jay0705]

I have to get one myself. I run a very basic fowlr system. But id like to get a larger tank and w that iam doing all the bells and whistles

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pegasus http:///t/395751/dragonets#post_3528252
That's good information, especially if you can't provide them with enough of their natural diet. I have a green mandy and an ocellated dragonet (aka/scooter blenny) also. Fortunately, my refugium produces enough amphipods and copepods so I don't have to feed them. I have live rock rubble underneath the refugium inlets, and on top of that I have a grande bag of Chemi-Pure. Some of the amphipods make it to/through the return pump, but to stay on the safe side, I harvest 100 or so adults once a month and deposit them in my DT. I simply take out the Chemi-Pure and scrape them off the bag into a shallow tub. They breed so fast in the live rock rubble that there's never a shortage. I let the copepods enter the water column naturally, since they normally make it through the return pump without incident. Lots of live rock in the main tank helps a lot, too. The video shows a mix of Tisbe and (mostly) Parvocalanus copepods in just one corner of my refugium. Amphipods and copepods are the natural food of dragonets, and it's all my dragonets eat. They are rather plump and healthy. Not bragging, just want to emphasize that once established, pods become "free" food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgFuw0ZZ4KU&feature=youtu.be
Nice Pods!!

 

[pegasus]

I hope you can do just that, jay. As odd as it sounds, it's actually easier to maintain a larger tank as opposed to a small tank. Changes are much more gradual in a large tank, giving you time to correct the problem. A small tank can turn over in a matter of hours with little to no wwarning. On another note, you can create a habitat for pods with an HOB refugium. It won't produce the volume that I'm seeing, but it will definitely help. Your dragonets will love you for it. Just something to consider until you upgrade.
Thanks, sweatervest. In the dark area on the right side of the screen (0:13), you can see a tiny bit of the live rock rubble. One side of this chamber is filled with rock, and my skimmer takes up the other part. This is where the majority of the amphipods live and breed. Some live in the macroalgae and small amount of rubble in the refugium chamber, and many live on the filter between the refugium and return chamber. I have pods basically living from one end to the other. I find them in the DT after lights out, so it's all good. I may have gone a little overboard, but several months ago I started seeding the tank and refugium with pods. Over a period of a couple of months, I introduced over 5000 amphipods and copepods. After I got my dragonets, I added a 16 oz. bottle each of Tisbe and Pavocalus . That's been a few months ago, and it looks like they're well established.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pegasus http:///t/395751/dragonets#post_3528300
I hope you can do just that, jay. As odd as it sounds, it's actually easier to maintain a larger tank as opposed to a small tank. Changes are much more gradual in a large tank, giving you time to correct the problem. A small tank can turn over in a matter of hours with little to no wwarning. On another note, you can create a habitat for pods with an HOB refugium. It won't produce the volume that I'm seeing, but it will definitely help. Your dragonets will love you for it. Just something to consider until you upgrade.
Thanks, sweatervest. In the dark area on the right side of the screen (0:13), you can see a tiny bit of the live rock rubble. One side of this chamber is filled with rock, and my skimmer takes up the other part. This is where the majority of the amphipods live and breed. Some live in the macroalgae and small amount of rubble in the refugium chamber, and many live on the filter between the refugium and return chamber. I have pods basically living from one end to the other. I find them in the DT after lights out, so it's all good. I may have gone a little overboard, but several months ago I started seeding the tank and refugium with pods. Over a period of a couple of months, I introduced over 5000 amphipods and copepods. After I got my dragonets, I added a 16 oz. bottle each of Tisbe and Pavocalus . That's been a few months ago, and it looks like they're well established.
Good recipe for success with Dragonets.
I have a green mandy and he is plump and happy. I don't have the swarm of pods like your video, but my fuge is teaming with them. Just a little ride past the return pump and into the DT they go. Weeeeee.

 

[jay0705]

I kind of do have a fuge w my hob filter when I take a cartridge out its loaded w critters. Some must make into the tank

 

[pegasus]

Sweatervest, it sounds like you've got enough to keep your mandarin happy and healthy. Sadly, I had ordered a pair of green mandies, and when they arrived the female was badly emaciated. I have always heard that once they reach that point, they will most likely die. I had a 15 day guarantee on them, and she made it to 17. She was constantly eating, but she was already too far gone to pull through. I was really surprised she lasted as long as she did. Even in her state, she never left the male's side. I will soon be ordering another female so he can have a companion. I know that food isn't an issue...
That's good news, jay. The only problem with having them in the filter is that most of them get trapped there. They can survive and reproduce there, but not many will make it through to the tank. An HOB refugium will give them a safe place to live and breed, and also give free access to the tank. Just a suggestion.

 

[jay0705]

Ah very good. I LL have to look into those. I've heard of them but never seen them in any lfs. It does suck w mandys many I see are way too thin to survive. In this day and age of high tech gismos and such you think suppliers would have better ways to take care of the special needs fish like dragonet's

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/395751/dragonets#post_3528322
Ah very good. I LL have to look into those. I've heard of them but never seen them in any lfs. It does suck w mandys many I see are way too thin to survive. In this day and age of high tech gismos and such you think suppliers would have better ways to take care of the special needs fish like dragonet's
It is probably a better deal to look online and order. I just did a quick search and found a pretty good selection.
I have heard of folks gutting an aquaclear HOB filter and converting it into a HOB fuge. That might be more cost effective. Just a couple of ideas for you.

 

[jay0705]

Ah thanks sweater. I've seen that mentioned on here as well . I d like to get a female Mandy for my male but id like to boost my pods b4 just incase she doesn't take to frozen like him or my scooter