mandarin dragonets

[tito3054]

Do they eat anything but live things, like pellets?

 

[cedarreef]

they can be trained to accept prepared foods, but they need a well established reef with lots of copepods to survive long term. If you can get it eating mysis and bloodworms then you should be good, but he still needs the pods

 

[m0nk]

This is a specialized fish and it's diet depends on pods. While you can sometimes find one that eats frozen, mysis, or other foods, they can't live solely on that long-term.

 

[spanko]

So just for informational purposes what is so special in the copepod that the fish does not get from prepared food?

 

[saltn00b]

nothing, they just wont eat them. they prefer to graze live stuff out of the rock's nook and crannies all day. i have never kept or seen one that ever ate any prepared foods or anything other than live pods. a few people say they have one or have seen one. i dont know how you can "train" them...

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2729958
So just for informational purposes what is so special in the copepod that the fish does not get from prepared food?
I thinks a matter of them just refusing to eat enough of anything else for a long term. Any single food item, like mysiss, can't replace a fish's natural diet. With many fish, we can substitute a variety of prepared foods and vitamin supplements. I don't think there is really anything lacking; because Mandarins have been kept long-term on prepared foods. But, that sure is the exception. I also suspect that, like tangs, a constant supply of food is a big deal; as opposed to just daily feedings. IMO, they also need a large tank.

 

[spanko]

here is a Mandarin Diner. I remember this from a while back and was wondering if they will live long term on prepared food if you can get them to eat it and give them a variety with Selecon or Zoecon.
http://search.netscape.com/search/re...ion=WebResults

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2729994
here is a Mandarin Diner. I remember this from a while back and was wondering if they will live long term on prepared food if you can get them to eat it and give them a variety with Selecon or Zoecon.
http://search.netscape.com/search/re...ion=WebResults
This is a neat idea; instead of a jar find the right size barnacle shell and it would look natural. I had a shy copperband a while ago and i stuck pieces of Form I&II inside the shells of a barnacle clump and he was the only one that could reach it; now he eats with everyone else. Grid feeders might work too; but not with aggressive feeders that clean the grid in 10 mins.

 

[tito3054]

i love the jar idea thank you all, BUTTTTT I HAVE A DOMINOE DAMSEL THAT I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO CATCH I THINK IIF I DO THE Jar thing the damsel will eat it, or the pods i also have 3 tangs and 3 other yellow tail damsels that i cant get rid of. So again Now that every one knows what I have whats the best thing? Again Thanks

 

[meeks101]

My mandarinfish is a strict vegatarian and gets all he needs from the rocks!

 

[spanko]

well maybe the jar will catch the damsels????????????????????

 

[privatejoker]

meeks your mandarinfish is more than likely eating pods not algae. I just watched my mandarin start to eat mysis, I can only hope it starts to eat other things.

 

[tito3054]

I Bought frozen brine shrimp

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2730487
meeks your mandarinfish is more than likely eating pods not algae. I just watched my mandarin start to eat mysis, I can only hope it starts to eat other things.

true.Mandarins are true carnivores; sometimes pods are hard to see. I doubt a Mandarin could survive without meat.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by privatejoker
http:///forum/post/2730487
meeks your mandarinfish is more than likely eating pods not algae

Mandarins are certainly not vegetarians. You'd definitely mistake the pod hunting for algae grazing without knowing any better, considering most pods (especially copepods) are almost too small to see with the

[hr]
eye.

 

[spiderwoman]

Pods are extremely high in protein and amino acids and none of the prepared foods mimic the quality of that live feed.

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2730971
Pods are extremely high in protein and amino acids and none of the prepared foods mimic the quality of that live feed.
I'm waiting for the Trigger Man to chime in on live foods.

 

[keri]

I have a scooter blenny (simmilar in diet requirements to a mandarin) and he eats all day...pods of course, wouldn't touch anything I put in there. Your best bet is really an established tank with a Lot of LR or a refugium.

 

[t-bone]

I was thinking of getting one, and have a decent amount of live rock and pods that I can see at night. I don't have a sump or refugium. Will he wipe out the supply on the lr or will it be able to keep up with his diet?

 

[oceanlover]

If money is unlimited you can buy live arctipods and such and feed a mandarin. But the bottles are at least $20 each and you 'd need several bottles a week. If you set up a refugium, you have to wait awhile for the vegetation to grow and introduce copepods and wait some more. Its also a god place to put a rock or a quarelsome fish. You need to have lights on the refugium but they don't need to be halides. I waited about 4 months on my refugium until the copepods were bursting at the seams. Then I got my mandarin. She eats all the time and has double her size in three months.