Reeflower,
The Marine Aquarium Annual magazine had a good article on mandarin fish. Would be worth it to get it and read up on it so then you can plan your next larger tank around your "dream fish" and know that you did it right from the start. Also, kudos for passing up the fish! They are beautiful (I'm still having to tie my husbands hands at the fish store because he wants one so badly for our 55 reef and its just not ready yet!)
Also, later on if you are really interested in getting into these fish, there are sites where you can buy copopods, and raise them so you have a supply for your mandarins. I haven't ever tried it, but supposedly there easy to raise in these little like $30 kits they sell for them. Just an idea!
Lexi:happyfish