Mandarin experts

[murph]

How many pods does a Mandarin consume on a daily basis to guarantee continued health and growth?
I am looking for a new challenge and am thinking of setting up a Mandarin only tank of 30 gallons. I can get the tank started with some mature LR from my existing system and LR is on sale in my area so I can add more. I am thinking of a total of 40 pounds accompanied by a DSB. I can introduce some pods to the new set up via some macros from my existing fuge and let things mature from there.
I am thinking tank size may be a problem here. I can see the Mandarin burning through the pod population in a 30 gallon faster than they can reproduce???

 

[pontius]

the amount of rock is the problem. I have seen it suggested that they need at least 100 pounds of LR with a good pod population in order to survive.

 

[murph]

Well I have been surfing for info since posting the question. Problem is the difference of opinions is staggering.
I have seen claims of keeping these dragonets in nanos to those that claim keeping the fish at all is impossible.
I also have a spare ten gallon I could devote to the project to raise pods in. Setting up and raising the pods I am confident in doing. Collecting and transferring them to the Mandarin tank I am unsure of.

 

[corally]

Originally Posted by Pontius
the amount of rock is the problem. I have seen it suggested that they need at least 100 pounds of LR with a good pod population in order to survive.

yes, this is what I have heard many, mnay times.

 

[teresaq]

if the ten gal was set up as a fuge connected to the 30 gal, and the mandrine ate mysis and brine, it might work. I have one in my 55 gal, but she eats frozen, and i have a small fuge attached to my tank.

 

[aredmon]

I Have Only Had My Mandarin For A Short Time But He Eats Frozen Food. I Also Have A 10 Gal I Keep Pods In With Nothing But A Few Lbs Of Lr And A Couple Of Bunches Of Micro Algea. When I Transfer The Pods I Just Take A Ball Of The Algea Out And Shake It In The Water Of The Mandarin Tank. Btw The Tank The Mandarin Is In Is A 25gal.

 

[murph]

I have the room and I guess what I could do is buy another overflow box and connect the thirty to the existing system.
Existing system is DT down stream to 30 gallon fuge down to twenty gallon sump where the return sends water back to DT. Put the Mandarin in the existing 30 gal fuge which is crawling with pods and seed the new fuge.
The problems here is the new fuge would have the DT between it and the Old fuge/Mandarin tank. I would also then have two pumps feeding back to the DT. One from existing system and another from new fuge. If at any time one fails I am looking at some water on the floor.
Either that our try adding the Mandarin to the 75 Gallon DT with the rest of the community which is peaceful and other than the maroon clown consist mostly of herbivores. There is easily 75 pounds of rock system wide most of it in DT. Problem here is despite the fuge having a large pod pop I rarely see any in my DT.

 

[bang guy]

For long term health I really recommend 100 pounds of live rock per Dragonet or a large, connected refugium to supply food. You can get them to eat prepared food but I'm not convinced they can live long term on prepared foods.