Copepods....

[sergiotami]

Decided I want to purchase a mandarin..I've been doing my homework and decided copepods is a good route, but wanted to ask forum members, how do they work, do I put them in my tank and they live amongst my live rock reproducing or do I constantly have to replace them????

[justahobby]

They don't hang out in the water column like plankton. LR and chaeto are a pod's playground. You probably won't need to add pods.

[Boy]

From what i have found out, copepods repreduce very quickly so i wouls reccommend just buying some chaeto off a member or buying some live rubble rock. After a week or so in your tank you should be ready for a manderian.

[CoryDude]

From what i have found out, copepods repreduce very quickly so i wouls reccommend just buying some chaeto off a member or buying some live rubble rock. After a week or so in your tank you should be ready for a manderian.

Don't know about a week. But, within a month or so your tank should be ready.

The best way to check is look at your tank at night with a flashlight. If you see the little bugs and flea looking things on the glass and rocks, then you should be good to go.

Just curious, how big is your tank and how much live rock do you have?

[allan]

What Cory said, only I wouldn't even bother with a Manderin until you hit six months at the least to guaruntee a pod that will sustain a manderin.

Chances are that you already have some pods and copes in there. But the fuge, with the macro, has a tendency to provide some of the smaller bugs to the display tank. A pile of rubble will provide an area where the bugs can knock ankles and stay safe (relatively safe) from a searching manderin.

Were you truly insistant that you try your hand at a manderin, I'd suggest a target manderin as they can be "trained" to eat prepared food. i've only heard a tale or two of someone happening onto a physchodelic that eats prepared food.

I had a scooter blenny and a target, and for about six months they got along. But at some point I think the target realized it was competing for a dwindling supply of food with the scooter. At that point the target wouldn't let the scooter anywhere near the rock work. I eventually lost the scooter as neither fish ever ate anything I put into the tank.

As far as macro with bugs, I've got some if you have a need.

[justahobby]

What Cory said, only I wouldn't even bother with a Manderin until you hit six months at the least to guaruntee a pod that will sustain a manderin.

Chances are that you already have some pods and copes in there. But the fuge, with the macro, has a tendency to provide some of the smaller bugs to the display tank. A pile of rubble will provide an area where the bugs can knock ankles and stay safe (relatively safe) from a searching manderin.

Were you truly insistant that you try your hand at a manderin, I'd suggest a target manderin as they can be "trained" to eat prepared food. i've only heard a tale or two of someone happening onto a physchodelic that eats prepared food.

I had a scooter blenny and a target, and for about six months they got along. But at some point I think the target realized it was competing for a dwindling supply of food with the scooter. At that point the target wouldn't let the scooter anywhere near the rock work. I eventually lost the scooter as neither fish ever ate anything I put into the tank.

As far as macro with bugs, I've got some if you have a need.

Excellent input Allan. And which size tank did that happen in?

[allan]

190 gallon display with a hundred gallon sump