pods for mandrin

T

tmkx3

I have 125g w/125lbs of lr. My tank has been set-up for 18months. I waited to get my mandrin until my tank matured, but know I am reading that my mandrin will deplete my tank of pods in about three months. I don't have a refugium or a sump. What I do have is a hob filter and a hob protien skimmer. They both have compartments fpr fber fill. Can I grow pods there? I have also heard about pod piles. Can I use these 2 things to grow my pods?
 
I've heard a number of things that can help you achieve pod-madness. First thing I could suggest and have read is that its entirely viable to get live rock rubble (that part is important) and make stashes and piles of rubble all over the tank and especially in such a way that your other inhabitants don't mess with it or take interest in the pods. Second you get get a hang-on-back refugium and get cheato from other members, the more members the better I think, since it will increase the variety of pods and allow them somewhere to breed in relative safety. Third is to try to sneak in frozen foods with the pod-stashes so that he does get nutrition from someplace else. If you're lucky he might even take to frozen, even my picky fish love formula 2 pellets. Its especially fun if you can buy a mandarin that will already eat with ENTHUSIASM in the store. Make sure also that he's really fat and chubby. Once they're looking even a little skinny its a downhill track.

Hope that helps!
 
Also, you can order copepods to help keep your population up. I order from this place from time to time:
http://www.aquaculturestore.com/swinverts.html
Look down the list for the plankton that has copepods in it. If I am not mistaken, mandarins go more for the smaller copepods than for the larger amphipods (well, mine did). Anyway, they have free priority shipping for most of their items. I've never had a problem with any of my orders and I've probably ordered 3 times in the past couple years.
 
you can creat rock rubble sanctuaries for copepods to breed with out getting harrassed by the mandarin....build rock rubble mound then cover it with a berry container so the mandarin can not pick the pods off.
 
I agree with all the above, especially trying to start with a fat Mandy. If you have a space in your HOB skimmer and/or HOB powerfilter to stuff macros, get the little clip-on spot lights from Home Depot and shine it on the greens 24/7. Getting a little Macro from several membes will get you started, or try Mr. Li's Caulerpa for $5.00 a bag at FP in Fort Worth, it's full of pods. Squirt a little phyto into the greens twice a week. Make Pod piles. Use the pod diner trick, grow pod heavy macros in your QT tank in between uses, and most importantly, strart right away with the weaning process, that is getting your Mandy to eat frozen mysis. First gut load live brine with Zoe enriched flake and mysis. Squirt a turkey baster full of these gut loaded brine into the pod piles then after a while slowly start replacing the live brine with frozen mysis. Eventually the Mandy will begin taking the frozen, if you start with a FAT one.

They are incredable little fish and well woth all the trouble

Good Luck.


Whoops, Edit:

Just saw you are in Houston. Might be a bit of a drive to Fort Worth for Mr. Li's Marcos. :oops:
 
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