Mandarin ??

[theappe3]

I know that mandarins require pods for survival. In numerous occasions I have read on this board that they may eat prepared foods. Is it safe to assume that If the mandarin eats prepared food it will be ok?

 

[nygel]

its not safe to assume itll be fine on prepared foods alone, it'll needs pods, but not nearly as much, but it will still need pods, frozen alone is not as healthy for it.

 

[1journeyman]

No.
Many Mandarins, even once they eat certain prepared foods, eventually starve as their specific dietary needs are not met.

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
No.
Many Mandarins, even once they eat certain prepared foods, eventually starve as their specific dietary needs are not met.
My madarin is and has not touched ANY prepared foods... He is actively scouring all my live rock for pods.... THANK GOD for my fuge which has millions to propegate!

 

[1journeyman]

Exactly. Natural, high density pod populations are key.

 

[theappe3]

well i guess that answers my question! thanks for the help!!

 

[ecooper]

And, after having my mandarin for 6 months, I also can tell you not to count on him/her eating any prepared food. Mine still eats pods only.

 

[theappe3]

well i guess the only way to get them to eat then would be to add pods to your tank right...
say i do buy pods... would i just dump them directly to the wet/dry?

 

[1journeyman]

I would dump them directly into your tank.

 

[ecooper]

or everyone in the tank (well, all of your opportunistic fish that is) will eat them before they can get into the rock to begin to multiply...

 

[nietzsche]

how many copepods (estimate) do they eat a day?

 

[alix2.0]

Originally Posted by nietzsche
how many copepods (estimate) do they eat a day?
i read somewhere that it is in the 500 zone but that might be totally off...

 

[renogaw]

i got three packs of copepods from this site. 2 went into the fuge, one went into the tank. my mandarin is hitting the 7 month mark and still doing well (thank goodness)

 

[nietzsche]

ive been wanting to try it out but just got my refugium setup, but i dont think itll be a happy camper since my tank has a lot of flow in the tank