Tang Police Welcome :) but really mandarin question

[37g joe]

Originally Posted by gilligan50
I have read a lot of different info on the mandarins and I don't know what to think. I realize they love to eat copepods and such but have heard and read that you can get them to eat frozen and prepared foods. I have the 29 and have kicked around getting one, but probably won't. The only way I would consider it is if I got a lot of positive feedback about getting them to eat the frozen/prepared food by you guys. I don't like the idea of buying a fish and taking the risk that he might eat. My tank has been running for over a year now and hasn't had a fish in it for a couple of months, and has about 40 pounds of live rock, so I know there woudl be plenty of pods for a while, but I don't want him to eat them all and then starve. Just curious please share your thoughts
I had a Psychedelicfish(spoted Mandarin) for about 6 monthes he had no problem eating frozen foods. I even saw him eat flake food on several ocassions the only reason why I lost him was because I was told I could use malachite green in the main tank. later on I found out since his skin ubsorbes pretty much any thing it was a death sentance.
p.s. he was in my 37 gallon

 

[meekel454]

before i tell everyone my experience with these wonderful fish. and i'm not saying what has worked for me will work for anybody else, has i don't recamend it to anyone. i due agree with the comments on most will not eat anything but copepods, also has one poster stated they are like hummingbirds move veryfast and use a lot of energy, mine hunts 75% of the time.
i have a 29gal tank with 40lbs of live sand 35lbs of live rock. i've had her ( spotted green ) for 2 years now. now keep in mind i have had the rock/sand 2 years before adding the mandrian. and i've never had any other animal that would eat the pods. she has grown/fatten a lot since i've gotten her. i'm sad to hear that some of the other members with much better setup then mine have failed at keeping them. which is why i can't recommend ppl buying them. i jut got lucky with her. i have never seen her eat anything that i've put in the tank, not even looked interested.
if anybody has questions/comments besides how dare u keep her in a 29gal feel free to msg me.

 

[lion_crazz]

Regardless, I don't really think a 29 gallon is too small for a mandarin. If you have a large enough pod population, with enough live rock and/or macro algae for the pods to reproduce in, the mandarin should be fine. They are not a tang and do not need a very large tank to swim back and forth in. If you had told me that your hippo tang had been in your 29 gallon for 2 years, then I might be a little concerned.
I'm glad to hear that you are having success with yours though.

 

[murph]

I have never had one but my hunch is that the key to success is a species specific set up.
If they have to compete for resources in a community tank the problems begin.