Mandarins

[oakwell]

Ok i have visited aquarius koi today and have sort of reserved a pair of mandarins.
I know they are hard to keep healthy in an aquarium, but i have approx 80kilos of LR in a 5*2*2 so hopefully they should have enough food.

I am also thinking of culturing my own pods to help and wondered if anyone had any mandarins or could offer more advice on keeping them

thanks in advance

[Buster]

Hi oakwell, How long has your tank been running?

[oakwell]

9 months but transfered from another setup approx 30 kilos of LR and 50 gal of water.

Was going to add some pods also to help them with feeding

[liquidlogic]

they not hard to keep as long as the have suffiant pod life and stable paras ;) good luck, ur going to need alot of pods for 2 mate!

[oakwell]

tbh i have been thinking of just having the one now ..what do you guys think?

I have just started to add a rubble zone to add pods to and hopefully they should enough life feed a mandarin.

[flying Jock]

Hi

You should be fine!

I have had my female madarin for nearly 7 years now.

My intank DSB sure help as well as the 2 refugums.

I would stick with one.

FJ

[jamieb]

do you have a sump or refugium?
jamie

[oakwell]

yes i have a sump

[MR Teee]

I would have thought that you could sustain 1, but 2 might be pushing it.

How about trying them on some mysis or flake at Aquarius. You neve know they might take it straight away, then I would have more confidence in taking both of them home.

If you are struggling for pods how about giving th population an initial boost with one of them pod culture in a bottle type thingys?

[flying Jock]

Hi

I have never seen mine take any type of foods wether it be frozen, flake or live.

A DSB really helps with mandarins as they can get a good amount of microfauna hence why i got 7 years from mine.

I agree with sticking with the one but they really are a great looking fish:)


FJ

[oakwell]

i have actually only decided to keep one at the time there was a pair in the shop and was gunna take both, but they had been sold so still looking for one.

[Tangman]

Hi Daz Just say and Lavinia will get you one, i think she has ordered some for delivery after xmas. HTH. Eric PS They have 2 of the lighter coloured ones dont know the name but i think you know what i mean

[callum_parsons]

i think the one would be the safer option
just got to hope that the person who bought the pair as loads of live rock and a refugium to keep 2 alive