will mandarinfish pick at food

[badkjb2]

in the gravel and live rock if there is no food there? or does him picking mean he is eating something in the sand? or in other words, is he finding food?

 

[broomer5]

Mandarins can see some pretty small things, copepods and such. If he's picking - he's seeing something there. What it actually is that he's picking at I guess is yet to be determined.
If I may ask - How much live rock do you have, and have you ever noticed any copepods or bugs on your substrate, rock or glass ?
( I assume it is a he - could be a she )

 

[badkjb2]

i do have white bugs, that i was told on this site are small starfish, there are hundreds on the glass. i was hoping he would snack on them. i have about 50 lbs. of live rock, and about 3inches of sand. im planiing on gtting more live rock for him

 

[broomer5]

The white "bugs" - if they are all over your glass - very very small - and move in a jerky start and stop fashion - are most likely copepods. Congratulations !
Good thing indeed and if this is the case - your mandarin is going to town on them !!!
If these white critters are stationary, and have noticible arms - could be starfish
I'm guessing pods

 

[badkjb2]

i think there starfish, because i havent noticed them move. i was hoping they were copepods. i guess you never know. i know this may sound stupid, but can you buy copepods?