[icemark]

Last month I lost my Mandarin, who I had kept for 3 years now. He had become trapped under a fallen rock that a pair of extra large turbos managed to dislodge. Time for more reef epoxy. Needless to say I was quite bummed, but not as much as my daughter who thought of this fish as “her” fish. He was the sole fish in my 30 gal reef tank.

I was quite concerned on buying a new one as that from talking to other aquarists, I felt that my mandarin was quite unique in the fact that he ate both the ‘pods in the tank as well as both frozen Brine and Mysis. Being only a 30 gal + a 20 Gal sump, the tank is only minimal for naturally feeding this fish.

After fixing the rock work, and well frankly cringing in the store, I bought a new Mandarin Monday fearful that this $25 fish may not do as well as the last one. My LFS had one that the had just got in the previous Thursday, and this fish had none of the typical sunken stomach that most LFS mandarins have. Although I thought the price was very high, I felt for a healthy and very good sized specimen that the cost might be worth it.

Both last night and this morning when I fed the tank, this new fish hustled his butt out (as much as a Mandarin can) and ate both frozen brine last night and Mysis this morning. What more my daughter thinks this one is much more pretty than the last one (even though they look almost identical to me).

[Mikeman]

its stories like this, that keep me going,



congrats

[waterboy]

Congrats Icemark,
This info is making me rethink about buying a Mandarin. I always wanted one, but everyone always said Mandarins are finicky and won't eat anything but pods.

Thanks!

[reefhead]

thats to cool!!!


joe

[organicreefer]

icemark do you /did you see copepods on the glass?do you have amphipods?if so then i guess youre ok (youre fish didnt deplete the population).i have about 100 lbs of live rock dsb etc.and a fat and healthy mandarin who eats nothing i put in the tank,and there are tons of copepods and amphipods in my tank,i could probly support 2 more mandarins easy.point being i think that a smaller system can probly provide for a single madarin,especially if you have a refugium,dsb well seeded with detrivoresetc.if you can provide the right enviroment ,mandarins are extremely hardy fish ime.my mandarin has been in captivity for almost three years now (sorry about youres ice,i know i would be bummed if anything happened to mine)and is my oldest fish.

[Aragorn]

Icemark,

I'm sorry to hear about your 1st Mandarin. The Mandarin I got about 3 weeks ago just started eating Frozen Brine tonight! I couldn't believe my eyes! Considering he's the only fish in our 135g w/ a MASSIVE pod population one would think that he'd "turn his nose" to brine. Nope. There he was chowing on some. I'm glad I got him from the LFS store. Best of luck with your new "little fella".