Mandarin Goby?

[StevenSeas]

Here's a link to ORA
http://www.orafarm.com/

I know at least Polly's carries ORA products. Not sure who else.

...

[SoLiD]

Went to Ora link, read they only sell stores, who sells them???

Some time ago, I purchased an ORA Spotted Mandarin Dragonete that had been at my LFS for about a month and a half for the low price of $65 (insert sarcasm here). She was tiny and I saw them feed the tank many times and thought her being there for over a month was a good sign. When I got her home I noticed that her stomach showed signs of emaciation which I could not see at the LFS (no lights above the tanks) where I bought her. Sadly a month after I brought her home she died. I felt like I failed her because I was relying on her to eat frozen. I thought I had a good pod population but not an over abundant amount. So I felt that that I needed to commit myself and do it right before I tried again... It was time turn it up a notch. So I added a ton (I mean a ton) of amphipods and copepods for a month before I purchase another small female striped mandarin. Seeing her fatten up for 2 months I considered it to be a good sign. I then decided to add a boyfriend for her. They are both fat and spawning. I would like to see them eat some frozen mysids or brine shrimp, but I've only see them eat pods.... all day long...

Long story short: I recommend adding some pods at least a month in advance to help establish your population and ensure a better survival rate. They are truly some of the Sweetest Little Fish you'll ever have the pleasure of caring for.

Just to be clear these are Non-ORA Mandarins.

[allan]

I've had success with the target.

I've always thought of them as horses, each one needs at least two acres of land (or whatever the amount is). In another fashion, you don't put five on one acre.

The second thing is that you need a sustainable population of pods. I would caution that a small tank, along withe addition of a large population of pods may not have a large population at the end of the month. Half may die off if they can't eat.

My benchmark, and I've never added pods, is shining a light in the overflows. When I saw a significant population there I waited a few months before adding the mandarin.

I've never got mine to eat, and in hind sight had I known that it would live solely off the pod population I would have gotten one of the phsychos.

[cowboy572]

I have had my Green Mandarin for two years now. Hes fat and happy, and no one messes with him. I have three tangs in a 110 tall, they could care less about him. I have a refurium in my sump to keep my pod population well stocked for him. It was a bonus for me when I got my cheato from ping (Pete) it was loaded with pods.