Mandarin Dragonet Help
- Thread starter meanteen
- Start date
fishfatty
Active Member
Originally Posted by meanteen
:help: what are the reqirements of a Mandarin Dragonet , what do they eat? if u have pics of your pleas help me
dicide wich one should i get the green one or the spottted one
Mandarin Dragonets are harder to keep! They need an established tank, with lots of pods- They feed on pods, which is why a sump is most likely required for these fish. What size tank? Ive always wanted one, but they have alot of requirements!
:help: what are the reqirements of a Mandarin Dragonet , what do they eat? if u have pics of your pleas help me
Mandarin Dragonets are harder to keep! They need an established tank, with lots of pods- They feed on pods, which is why a sump is most likely required for these fish. What size tank? Ive always wanted one, but they have alot of requirements!
120reefer
Member
I honestly wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have a 55gallon or larger with 80-100lbs LR and a sump/fuge system. Although people have had short term sucess with feeding live brine, they really serve no neutritional value to them, even soaked in vitamin suppliments is still not enough. These guys feed primarily on microfauna and should really only be attempted in a well established tank... i.e. meets all the previous requirements plus tank has been up and running for 9-12 months
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by 120reefer
I honestly wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have a 55gallon or larger with 80-100lbs LR and a sump/fuge system. Although people have had short term sucess with feeding live brine, they really serve no neutritional value to them, even soaked in vitamin suppliments is still not enough. These guys feed primarily on microfauna and should really only be attempted in a well established tank... i.e. meets all the previous requirements plus tank has been up and running for 9-12 months
I honestly wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have a 55gallon or larger with 80-100lbs LR and a sump/fuge system. Although people have had short term sucess with feeding live brine, they really serve no neutritional value to them, even soaked in vitamin suppliments is still not enough. These guys feed primarily on microfauna and should really only be attempted in a well established tank... i.e. meets all the previous requirements plus tank has been up and running for 9-12 months
lion_crazz
Active Member
Originally Posted by 120reefer
I honestly wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have a 55gallon or larger with 80-100lbs LR and a sump/fuge system. Although people have had short term sucess with feeding live brine, they really serve no neutritional value to them, even soaked in vitamin suppliments is still not enough. These guys feed primarily on microfauna and should really only be attempted in a well established tank... i.e. meets all the previous requirements plus tank has been up and running for 9-12 months
Yep, that was said very well.
I honestly wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have a 55gallon or larger with 80-100lbs LR and a sump/fuge system. Although people have had short term sucess with feeding live brine, they really serve no neutritional value to them, even soaked in vitamin suppliments is still not enough. These guys feed primarily on microfauna and should really only be attempted in a well established tank... i.e. meets all the previous requirements plus tank has been up and running for 9-12 months
Yep, that was said very well.
mark_d
Member
Would it be possible/humane to do the following:
Keep a mandarin dragonnet in a 55 gal aquarium and, in a separate tank, have a copepod culture going (i found places that sell these guys, not too expensive either) to feed him. Everyday you could add a few adults from the culture as well as other foods which this site suggests as a supplement, rather than as its main food. I understand copepods are among this fish's main source of food. So in theory, that would cover its picky eating requirements, right?
Keep a mandarin dragonnet in a 55 gal aquarium and, in a separate tank, have a copepod culture going (i found places that sell these guys, not too expensive either) to feed him. Everyday you could add a few adults from the culture as well as other foods which this site suggests as a supplement, rather than as its main food. I understand copepods are among this fish's main source of food. So in theory, that would cover its picky eating requirements, right?
120reefer
Member
well, the separate tank your talking about is the sump/fuge system that im talking about
It would be very difficult for you to take the right amount of microfauna out of the one tank and put it into the display, and still have a sufficient food source. In an established tank, there could be hundreds upon thousands of these creatures living on the rock and in the sand for mandarins to pick at through out the entire day... not at just one specific feeding time. If you have a sump/fuge setup, the microfauna will thrive in the rock/sand/chaeto/mangroves or whatever's in there and slowly be put into your display. I believe that the correct amount of this can only be achieved if given plenty of time to work things out on its own.. i.e. when the tank is established
So to answer your question of "if it will cover the picky eating requirement," it may, but probably not... JMO
mark_d
Member
Originally Posted by 120reefer
well, the separate tank your talking about is the sump/fuge system that im talking about
It would be very difficult for you to take the right amount of microfauna out of the one tank and put it into the display, and still have a sufficient food source. In an established tank, there could be hundreds upon thousands of these creatures living on the rock and in the sand for mandarins to pick at through out the entire day... not at just one specific feeding time. If you have a sump/fuge setup, the microfauna will thrive in the rock/sand/chaeto/mangroves or whatever's in there and slowly be put into your display. I believe that the correct amount of this can only be achieved if given plenty of time to work things out on its own.. i.e. when the tank is established
So to answer your question of "if it will cover the picky eating requirement," it may, but probably not... JMO
You do make a lot of sense . . . . thing is I love the fish but theres not way in hell my 30gal will have enough copepod and stuff to feed it . . . Ill probably just wait till i can upgrade to a bigger tank.
On the other hand.. Im tempted to get one of these copepod cultures goin, adding em to my tank . . to have as many as possible living in the tank (hope they arent detrimental in large numbers). Then, after a few months, maybe longer, add the Mandarin dragonnet...
Course then after a few montsh I might have enough cash to upgrade.. but thats kinda of a hassle so I dont really want to.
well, the separate tank your talking about is the sump/fuge system that im talking about
You do make a lot of sense . . . . thing is I love the fish but theres not way in hell my 30gal will have enough copepod and stuff to feed it . . . Ill probably just wait till i can upgrade to a bigger tank.
On the other hand.. Im tempted to get one of these copepod cultures goin, adding em to my tank . . to have as many as possible living in the tank (hope they arent detrimental in large numbers). Then, after a few months, maybe longer, add the Mandarin dragonnet...
Course then after a few montsh I might have enough cash to upgrade.. but thats kinda of a hassle so I dont really want to.
120reefer
Member
yeah i was on the same boat as you are (tank too small for a mandarin) but now I have a 120 w/ 29 sump/fuge up for a lil over a month now, and hope to throw a mandarin in there for my birthday next January!
And yes, definately get that goin, mandarins arent the only thing that needs these guys... you could throw in a diamond goby or other sifting goby and they love pods and other microfauna living in the sand. Diamond gobies are a real cool fish, and mine was almost always moving around. Maybe you could try him first for a couple of months to keep your mind off the mandarin...