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dallan07 
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Joined: October 26 2005
Location: United States
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 Topic: Mandarin Goby (dragonette)
Posted: October 26 2005 at 5:02pm |
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I'm new at SW but I am gaining a love for it fast. I want to get a Mandarin Goby but reading about them says they eat copepods. Would my established tank have them already or where would I get them?
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Adam Blundell
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Joined: June 24 2002
Location: Davis County
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Posted: October 26 2005 at 5:19pm |
Just don't get a mandarin. They really are difficult to keep. I'd have to see your tank before I'd dare say that it is established enough to support one.
Adam
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Come to a meeting, they’re fun!
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Will Spencer
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Joined: September 04 2003
Location: West Jordan
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Posted: October 26 2005 at 7:56pm |
I agree with Adam. If you look at the tank with a flashlight after the tank lights have been off a couple hours and don't see tons of them swiming around the tank you likely don't have enough for a Mandarin to live. Also the size of the tank has a lot to do with it. IMO anything smaller than a 75 gallon tank will never be able to keep a Mandarin fat and happy, and even a 75 may be pushing it. It's sad to watch them get skinnier and skinnier and eventually die.
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jeffras
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Posted: October 26 2005 at 10:11pm |
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I have one. He is high maintenance! I have to feed him with a tube and
syringe and even then it is very hard to keep him well fed. And at
first he wouldn't eat frozen food so I had to suppliment with
freshwater live worms.
They are very picky eaters and usually will starve to death in a tank
that has other fish that will compete for food. They eat pods and are
extreamly efficient at nearly wiping your population out (even in large
tanks like my 180). I would suggest that if you want one that you wait
until you have had your tank up for at least a year, you have a huge
amount of live rock, you have a large refugium, and that you are
commited to helping them survive (possible spot feeding). Maybe even
try to setup a pod growing tank.
Best of luck,
Jeff
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Jeff Rasmussen
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some1h8sme
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Joined: December 22 2004
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Posted: October 28 2005 at 11:54am |
I have a 30 gallon that a M.G. has been living in for about 5 months. She seems to be fat and happy. Of course I have lots of flatworms, bristleworms, and copepods. The 20 gallon refugium attached to the tank provides a steady supply of copepods for her as well. The fact that she doesn't have anyone competing with her for food, helps as well.
John G.
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John Grandjean
Draper, UT
619-1428
30TallSW w/ 20 gal fuge
10SW
"Not another water test! Didn't I do one a week ago?!?
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jeffras
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Posted: October 28 2005 at 12:15pm |
 some1h8sme wrote:
The fact that she doesn't have anyone competing with her for food, helps as well.
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I think this comment is key!!! I think that the reason
mandarins have a bad rep with hobbyists is that they keep them in the
wrong environment(Like I do). I know mine would do much better in a
tank by itself or with some other small non agressive feeders.
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Jeff Rasmussen
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