Mandarin Feeding

[Chuck Spyropulos]

I know there are a few people out there that have successfully gotten their mandarins to eat prepared foods. I would like to get my pair to start eating prepared foods.

Please post any suggestions and experiences you can share. Thanks!:fish7

 

[Lil Shark]

I've recently noticed that my blue mandarin has taken to trying to chase frozen around the tank and is more active when I add garlic. Make the food look alive is my only suggestion. Their brains pick up on movement patterns.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Mandarins

I've recently noticed that my blue mandarin has taken to trying to chase frozen around the tank and is more active when I add garlic. Make the food look alive is my only suggestion. Their brains pick up on movement patterns.

I heard that they like tobiko too. Is there a method to feeding this or do you just dump it in your tank?

 

[Lil Shark]

It's a 350gal tank and I dont shut the pumps off. I just squirt the food (mysis/brine mix) and she comes right out. I actually just watched her eat pellet too.

Because their little fishy brains are wired to go for small things that move, just use a small current to move the food around, they will chase it. It might take them time to acclimate to the food itself, but they will. Fish really aren't that difficult. Stick with a food that is similar to pods so yours will take to it faster. Or just soak everything in garlic so it cant distinguish taste.

Another method i've heard of is dumping in tigger pods and food at the same time. The mandarins will just start eating everything. Never tried this though.

 

[delta]

I heard that they like tobiko too. Is there a method to feeding this or do you just dump it in your tank?

IME tobiko is like crack for mandarin fish

You can try and shoot it in the general direction but most of the time it just spooks them. Best to just feed the rest off tank at one end, then the tobiko around where the mandarin is.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Tobiko

IME tobiko is like crack for mandarin fish

You can try and shoot it in the general direction but most of the time it just spooks them. Best to just feed the rest off tank at one end, then the tobiko around where the mandarin is.

Thanks Greg. Is their a local source for tobiko? Or do I have to go to the sushi bar? BTW, I love tobiko topped with a quail egg. It's also good on ika (raw squid) with a quail egg on top. Hmmmm, maybe I have somethin in common with mandarins...


PS Does cyclopeze illicit the same feeding response as tobiko?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

It's a 350gal tank and I dont shut the pumps off. I just squirt the food (mysis/brine mix) and she comes right out. I actually just watched her eat pellet too.

Because their little fishy brains are wired to go for small things that move, just use a small current to move the food around, they will chase it. It might take them time to acclimate to the food itself, but they will. Fish really aren't that difficult. Stick with a food that is similar to pods so yours will take to it faster. Or just soak everything in garlic so it cant distinguish taste.

Another method i've heard of is dumping in tigger pods and food at the same time. The mandarins will just start eating everything. Never tried this though.

Hmmm...guess I'll head to Jays for some pods tonight. Thanks for the info.

 

[delta]

Thanks Greg. Is their a local source for tobiko? Or do I have to go to the sushi bar? BTW, I love tobiko topped with a quail egg. It's also good on ika (raw squid) with a quail egg on top. Hmmmm, maybe I have somethin in common with mandarins...


PS Does cyclopeze illicit the same feeding response as tobiko?

I get it at a local supermarket but it depends on who is making the sushi as
to who will sell some alone. I think market basket sell it.

Cyclopese doesn't work the same. Once they are eating prepared foods
P.E. mysis is the best for fattening them up.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Tobiko

Wow, I came across this article while researching tobiko:


http://www.chow.com/stories/10200


I never realized that it is processed... I always assumed that the tobiko on my inside out california roll was fresh and natural.

Tonight I bought some Lumpfish Roe. It looks exactly like red tobiko and is used as a cheap substitute for caviar. It really was cheap....less than $2 for a small jar.

Has anyone fed Lumpfish Roe or other roes besides tobiko to Mandarins?

 

[biggyclops]

i was using only live brine for a while gut loading them.. eventually i started mixing with the frozen brine and then started fading out the live brine.. took a few weeks but i eventually got it to eat only frozen brine..

 

[afboundguy]

I think it just takes time and patience... (or get one at the LFS that already eats frozen before you purchase like I did )

It's not mentioned but I'm assuming there are plenty of pods in the tank and this isn't necessary just something you'd like to do right?

 

[jbishop]

I know some people on here have had good luck with training them to eat prepared. I remember reading something about a soda bottle and a bunch of frozen.

I was lucky and got mine already eating prepared.

 

[afboundguy]

I know some people on here have had good luck with training them to eat prepared. I remember reading something about a soda bottle and a bunch of frozen.

I was lucky and got mine already eating prepared.

I've read that if you put food inside of a bottle that only the mandarin can fit in it will help... The opening will be too small for most fish. This helps because the mandarin's aren't fast swimmers and usually the frozen food will get gobbled up by other tankmates before he/she can eat. Putting foor in a bottle helps illiminate this problem...

 

[jbishop]

I've read that if you put food inside of a bottle that only the mandarin can fit in it will help... The opening will be too small for most fish. This helps because the mandarin's aren't fast swimmers and usually the frozen food will get gobbled up by other tankmates before he/she can eat. Putting foor in a bottle helps illiminate this problem...

I noticed when I accidentally trapped mine that his swimming motions stirred the food up like crazy and enticed him to eat. Kind of like waving a silverside in front of a lion.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Pods

I think it just takes time and patience... (or get one at the LFS that already eats frozen before you purchase like I did )

It's not mentioned but I'm assuming there are plenty of pods in the tank and this isn't necessary just something you'd like to do right?

Yes I have plenty of pods. I have a 50 gallon refugium where they are constantly breeding but I really want to fatten the little guys up. I also have a Xmas wrasse, a Leopard wrasse and the 2 Mandarins. So far they are all doing really well. The Leopard wrasse is getting fat since it eats everything, both prepared and live foods. I would like to see the mandarins do the same if possible.

All the suggestions here are great....please keep 'm coming!

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Tobiko

I went to an Asian Market in Lowell last night. Boy they had just about every fish in the sea in there....but no tobiko. I'll have to try DeMoulis as suggested by Greg.

Does fish roe of any kind work or does it have to be Tobiko? I know that many stores carry all kinds of cheap caviar but my Mandarins did not go for the Lumpfish roe.

 

[jamesdong009]

If you can't find any there, give Super 88 in Malden a call. I thought I saw some the last time I was there (in the frozen section)

 

[delta]

Tobiko works not sure of other fish roes. Tobiko is good for getting them to eat, But if you want a fat mandarin PE Mysis is the way to go
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...&Product_Code=MYSIS-8OZ&Category_Code=PISCINE

The other brands of Mysis just don't seem to work as well. The only issue with the Mysis is they have to be eating prepared. Best to start off the mandarin in a controlled environment with no food competition. Then once they are eating move them to your main tank

 

[biggyclops]

i have seen that bottle idea online somewhere.. i think it was frozen cyclopeez if i am not mistaken.. basically he made a bottle rig where only the mandarin could get in.. the problem was that some fish realized that they could wave their fins at it and stir the food out of the rig..

 

[this is me]

I just got a manderin(silly me) and every time I feed, it turns away from the food and goes hiding in the cave.
I've tried Market Basket and Hannaford in my area without any luck on the tobiko. Some don't even know what it is. I suppose I can find it in Chinatown but I haven't been there for years.