Are Mandarins really difficult to keep?

[tygger]

I was interested in getting a mandarin for my tank. There are tons of pods in my fuge and I'm sure there are some in the display even though I don't usually see them. I usually feed flakes, but every few days, I'll feed mysis shrimp and cyclopeeze.

 

Any have success or failures keeping these lil guys?

[rioreef]

I have had one for several months now and it is healthy. I had Sean at F&F hold it for awhile to ensure it was feeding in a captive system.

 

I waited about 2 years before I put one in my system.

[GaryL]

i waited for about a year before i added mine. i have seen em eat the home made coral chow the members whip up every now and again

[dschflier]

I have had mine for about a year and it has done fine. Mine is also in a very established system

[darkcirca]

I hunted down one that would eat frozen/freeze dried foods in addition to pods. He's been doing great too, even though my system has only been established since Jan.

[trble81]

We'd love to have on too but we know we need to set up our other system first and have it going for a while. I'm all about having cool fish but if I can't feed it like it needs to be fed, that's just not fair.

[Nitro Junkie]

i have also seen some online shops that will get mandarins and get them eating frozen foods. I will dig up the site if I can find it, but one that eats something else besides pods would be alot easier to keep in a newer system

[Almon]

I got a Psychedelic Mandarin about a month ago and he seems to be doing well, but only a month. My reef is 8 years old with pods running about, but I have also seen him eating frozen brine and possible cyclopeeze. I have been considering putting a small in-tank fuge in, but I'm not sure if it's necessary.

[jason the filter freak]

It really depends on your system, if you can get one that eats frozen and you can target feed it. Great. If not make sure you have a well established reef

[mling]

This may be a silly question but how do you know if your tank has pods ? I see lots of little creatures swiming about in my 3 year old reef tank but how do I know what they are ?

 

Also, does F&F hold fishes for more than a day to see if they are feeding ? Most LFS I've been to will only hold a fish for 2 days max.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

I've had one over a year. In my case, very easy to keep.

 

He started eating PE mysis almost right away. I squirt some near him

with a turkey baster. He aggressively competes with the fish for the mysis.

 

tim

[rioreef]

This may be a silly question but how do you know if your tank has pods ? I see lots of little creatures swiming about in my 3 year old reef tank but how do I know what they are ?

 

Also, does F&F hold fishes for more than a day to see if they are feeding ? Most LFS I've been to will only hold a fish for 2 days max.

 

 

Sean has been very reasonable, he has held fish for much longer for me. Give him a call to see what advice and arrangements he can make. Not speaking for Sean though.

[dzekunoi]

My mandarins do not eat frozen but eat black worms happily. So I supplement them sometimes.

Could be another option.