20g First SW tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I would add an additional AC110 for a fuge. You are going to need as much fuge action as you can possibly get.

I hope the mandarin also takes prepared foods like a pig. Its going to be super hard to sustain one in a tank that size. Go with an ORA captive bred one for sure.
 
Yes.. coraline is good

and I like the 110 as a fuge. Gives a ton of space for stuff and was easily modified to work... Or you could do a reef octopus HOB skimmer/refugium combo...

I got a whole lotta negative feedback when I got my mandarin and If you get one the same will happen. I think it's a cool fish and mine seems to be eating brine, so I'm happy. the ORA ones are nice but from what i've heard they are pricey
 
Wild capture on these fish is not sustainable, and also the method of capture is often damaging and unethical.

In addition I would think that the likelihood of survival with a captive raised one would be much higher in his setting.

+1 for the 110 HOT skimmer combo
 
FLESHY;5029958; said:
Wild capture on these fish is not sustainable, and also the method of capture is often damaging and unethical.

In addition I would think that the likelihood of survival with a captive raised one would be much higher in his setting.

I agree 100% with the captive raised ones. I've been doing alot of research on Mandarin's since i got mine and the ORA's will it prawn eggs, copepods, brine and even mysis. It would be considerably easier to keep.

They did mention that the colors/patterns are different than wild caught as well as stunned growth. there was even chatter of bred "dwarf mandarins"... If it gets any smaller what the heck is it gonna eat! lol
 
Haha yea dang...

I have read that they arent much easier than wild caught ones, but it is still worth the extra cost in my mind.

I wonder what they feed them for the year they keep them in captivity, and what their mortality rate is like...maybe its a lousy diet that amounts to the stunting.
 
From what i read Nutramar Ova was a staple in their diet...
 
Side note... could I try feeding that to mine?
 
Of course, I wont get a mandarin until I have everything 100% ready and have a good tank. They are too innocent and beautiful looking to not have the right set up.

I only plan on getting a couple fish with some coral for now. I have aquac nano remora and ac70 with carbon in it at the moment. Would you suggest setting up a fuge now or no real reason for it?

Also, like I said before, I think I found a porcelain crab in the tank, should I be feeding him anything?
 
I believe the porcelian crab will pick up left overs off the rock and stuff...

I would go ahead and make your 70 a fuge if you want. It'll be more benficial than the ac and biomax stuff. I used this video as a guide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9miXlQQ31v0
took like 10 min to setup and I let it dry overnight.
 
So no need for carbon ya think?
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com