[koletang]

In my search to find a mandarin i was wondering if it would be best to buy a small one or a large one? Today at the store i saw one no bigger than 1/2 inch. Also is it best to buy a fat one?

Thanks

 

[Russ K]

I would have to say it depends on the size of your tank and how many bugs you have in there for it to eat. Probably smaller the better it won't demand as much food. Some fish acclimate better when they are older. I am not sure if this is one of them, maybe someone else may know.

 

[Specialk]

IMO as long as it is healthy looking . I started with small ones and they are both on frozen mysis now. (But in seperate Tanks) I started them in my 90 about a year apart. As long as you have alot of LR and a tank that is established you should be OK. And dont get any or have any other fish that eats pods.



Kaye

 

[ofblong]

IMO as long as it is healthy looking . I started with small ones and they are both on frozen mysis now. (But in seperate Tanks) I started them in my 90 about a year apart. As long as you have alot of LR and a tank that is established you should be OK. And dont get any or have any other fish that eats pods.
Kaye

well that depends on what you have in your tank. I had a green mandarin and a springeri dottyback in my tank. both eat pods. the difference is you have to have a hiding spot like a fuge for the pods to grow. the mandarin lived over a year and the springeri for 6 months before i bought a starfish that ate them. I took that star immediatly back to the store. that was 4 months ago. now I am waiting till I have time to drive out to preuss pets to get a springeri and a mandarin again. my mandarin started out at around 3/4" and ended at almost 4". if you get one make sure it is picking at rocks and not just laying around doing nothing. Also you want to make sure it is not too skinny as it may not survive long if you get a really skinny one. if it looks like most normal fish would look then you could get it and it should be fine. Some lfs will tell you that you cant keep one for more than a few months but from experience and what others say that is now wrong. you also need at least 50lbs of lr and you should see every square centemeter of the sides of your tank filled with copepods.

 

[koletang]

all i have is two clowns and a kole

 

[ystmarroon]

Larger ones are usually older if that means anything. And yes fat ones are best cause they have either been eating, or just recently caught.

 

[ofblong]

oh I forgot to mention it is almost always better to get any fish no matter what it is as a juvenile.