Mandarin Vacation

[Mrc8858]

Well I've had my mandarin for almost 6 months and he's doing great even eating frozen when I give it to him but my pod population in my refugium is absolutely MASSIVE at this point so decided to give him a few days in there to enjoy some easy hunting

 

[Readingexcalibur]

I read they may resort back to pods and have to be retrained to eat prepared foods. Hopefully this isn't the case. He looks happy enough in there tho.

 

[Mrc8858]

I never tried to train him to eat frozen just found out one day when I noticed him eyeing up my dropper as I was feeding so gave it a shot haha

 

[Readingexcalibur]

Oh, I got it, you are one of the lucky few lol. I am not speaking from experience, I have always wanted one. I am afraid of the outcome haha.

Just for my own information. How much LR do you keep on you DT?

 

[Mrc8858]

About 60 lbs in my 46 gallon bowfront and about 15 lbs in my 8ish gallon fuge

 

[Mpfaff77]

I wouldn't keep him in refuge too long. That tank is a place to sustain your pod population. He could wipe it out In a week. Get him in display and utilize refuge for pod production. They will end up in display thru you return pump.

 

[Readingexcalibur]

About 60 lbs in my 46 gallon bowfront and about 15 lbs in my 8ish gallon fuge

Thanks for the info!

 

[Readingexcalibur]

I wouldn't keep him in refuge too long. That tank is a place to sustain your pod population. He could wipe it out In a week. Get him in display and utilize refuge for pod production. They will end up in display thru you return pump.

Wouldn't the pump "hack" them up?

 

[Mpfaff77]

Wouldn't the pump "hack" them up?

I would say no. Maybe a big amphipod would get killed. But small Copepods I am sure would make thru impeller. Another way to transfer pods is at night by placing rocks from refuge in display every once in while. Or have a pod bundle that you switch out once in while. All it is is rock inside a plastic gutter guard zip tied together.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

I would say no. Maybe a big amphipod would get killed. But small Copepods I am sure would make thru impeller. Another way to transfer pods is at night by placing rocks from refuge in display every once in while. Or have a pod bundle that you switch out once in while. All it is is rock inside a plastic gutter guard zip tied together.

Yea i have heard of this being done. They but it in the fuge for a little while and let the pods climb on in. Then they drop them in the DT and it supplies pods to the DT for the dragonette

 

[Mpfaff77]

Yup. Very easy to make as well as cheap. I usually leave the bundle in my display for few days at a time every month or so.

 

[Mrc8858]

Sponges work better for pod transfer and I understand all this but he's not gonna effect my population enough to hurt it he's just there for a treat

 

[Mpfaff77]

Sponges work better for pod transfer and I understand all this but he's not gonna effect my population enough to hurt it he's just there for a treat

Sponges would work. But you be surprised how many Pods they can eat in a day. Hunting 18 hours a day.