Mandarin Success?

[dirtycontour]

I've been noticing a pod explosion in my new tank. I'm not sure how long it will last but it's got me thinking. A LFS five minutes down the street from me has also been consistently stocking live blackworms for the past month or so. I would love to keep a mandarin but I want to make sure I could keep him long term. What is the secret to keeping a mandarin fat and happy? Are live worms enough to sustain one? Any tips on culturing pods? Thank you.

Earl

 

[fsarmien]

Here's an article about culturing pods. http://coralmagazine.coverleaf.com/coral/20110910#pg97

You need a good supply of pods, be able to train it to eat frozen foods, and patience. I'm working on training my mandarin to eat frozen at the moment.

 

[jgraz]

Earl, what LFS five min from you? If its the one I'm thinking of they keep telling me that they don't carry live or frozen. So please share.

I'm gonna let others give their advice on feeding. I waited almost a year before adding mine and he was a skinny one when I did. I've had him about 2 months now and he fattening nicely. Though he is a pods only sort. Won't touch anything else I add to the tank.

 

[dirtycontour]

Earl, what LFS five min from you? If its the one I'm thinking of they keep telling me that they don't carry live or frozen. So please share.

I'm gonna let others give their advice on feeding. I waited almost a year before adding mine and he was a skinny one when I did. I've had him about 2 months now and he fattening nicely. Though he is a pods only sort. Won't touch anything else I add to the tank.

Allquatics. I just picked up 1/4 lb this morning. I'm not sure if I wiped them out or not. I could give you some if you want.
Are you raising pods?

 

[jgraz]

Allquatics. I just picked up 1/4 lb this morning. I'm not sure if I wiped them out or not. I could give you some if you want.
Are you raising pods?

In gonna head over there. Not sure how ill keep them alive but that's another thread. I haven tried raising pods yet. After seeing my wrasses fat all day everyday from hunting I figured I would give it a try. I've seen no decline in pods so I guess I just have plenty to go around.

 

[NikkiT]

Culturing pods is pretty easy.
Get yourself a glass container. Pour in 1/2 bottle of tigger pods. Add 1 cup tank water, and a couple of pellets or a small pinch of flake.
Put it on your window sill. Wait 2-3 weeks.
It will turn green.
Every week to two weeks, harvest pods, and top the container off with fresh & more tank water.
My cultures tend to run for about 3 months, then crash, but I could be a lot more vigilant with them than I am. My current culture has been running since the week aquarium care center opened.

 

[dirtycontour]

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered 1000 pods from Reefs2go. If I think I can keep a constant pod population, I'm gonna pull the trigger on a Mandy.