View Full Version : small fish for a small tank
waterspirit
01-30-2003, 1:08 PM
Does anyone know anything about the mandarinfish or the psychedelic fish? I know that they don't get very big and are safe with invertebrates. Any input? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
BrianH
01-30-2003, 1:14 PM
Mandarins are not suitable for a small tank. This is because almost all mandarins will not eat prepared foods. They will only eat live foods, copepods. live brine shrimp etc. IMHO in order to keep a viable copepod population, you need at least 75lbs of live rock, some will argue that at least 125 lbs or live rock are needed.
Brian
OrionGirl
01-30-2003, 1:52 PM
You need a reliable, large source for copo's. Most people get that with a big tank, and lots of live rock, AND no competition for the pods from other fish.
A small tank won't cut it. If you can find a mature mandarin (4+ inches and fat) for sale, it might be taking prepared foods, but even then I wouldn't trust it unless I actually saw it feed once a day for a week or more.