View Full Version : Fish Question.. need opinions!
MarineDream
09-01-2007, 3:28 PM
The Misses would like to get a Green Mandarin Dragonet as a new addtion to our tank. So I went to the LFS today to check them out, purhaps get one. The guy there suggested that I shouldn't, even if I have lots of pods for them to eat (which I do) he said they starve to death when they run out of pods to eat.
SO I'm confused, I thought Gobys' and Dragonets where similar? But is that true? do they starve to death? or is there a different way to keep them alive?
And for anyone else here that has these types a fish, should I just ignore him and get one anyways? Perhaps tell me how to keep them good and healthy?
How big is your tank? How long has it been set up? And do you have a fuge?
MarineDream
09-01-2007, 3:46 PM
I have a 29 gallon, it's been up for about 7 months, and I have no idea what a fuge is <-- newbie moment :(
Reefscape
09-01-2007, 4:37 PM
personaly, i would not, i would wait till about a year for your tank to mature and settle and the pod colony's are growing well....A fuge, or refugium, is a seperate area of water, connected to the main display tank via pipe work and has a slow flow through it. It typically contains sand, live rock rubble and macro algae..This is an ideal area for copepods to culture and grow as there is not interference from other inhabitants eating them as the colonys expand, and will find thier way into the display tank via the plumbing...
The other alternative is to buy a large ammount of pods from a shop or online source and introduce them into to your tank...Persoanly, i like doing it the natural way, with a refugium....
Niko
I'd wait too and I'd set up a good fuge if you're not prepared to buy them (pricey and the dragonette will go through them rapidly)
archer772
09-01-2007, 6:15 PM
I know many people say a minimum of 100lbs of LR to be able to keep them so I would say no in a 29 gallon
I'd say no to unless you have a large fuge as well no other fish that eat pods etc. pretty much your tank would have to be dedicated to a 3 inch long fish with no other fish included. You still might have to suppliment their diet with pods ,"get expensive fast unless you set up a pod breeding tank." Some pet shops have mandrins that will eat mysis but, MAKE them feed the fish in your sight first!!!!!