Fish Stocking Questions

[benpoole28]

I have had a mandarin for 6 months and he is fat as a pig, despite never adding a single pod to my tank. I hatch a teaspoon of brine shrimp eggs a week and put them in all at once. He loves them, and it is much cheaper than pods.

 

[bulkrate]

benpoole28;966989 wrote: I have had a mandarin for 6 months and he is fat as a pig, despite never adding a single pod to my tank. I hatch a teaspoon of brine shrimp eggs a week and put them in all at once. He loves them, and it is much cheaper than pods.

Agreed on the price! I think picoreefguy came across a DIY brine shrimp feeder I've been tempted to build & try out with some decapsulated brine shrimp eggs - if it works it would be nice to have another means to keep the fish fed on a continuous basis.

 

[straydog]

I have had a scooter blenny in my 7.5 gallon for the last 6 months with no problems. It has been on pellets since day one. I feed it twice a day, morning and evening, enough that it can feed throughout the day.

 

[tonymission]

Nice post, BR!
$200 a year doesn't sound so bad compared to my sps addiction. :/

 

[bulkrate]

Thanks!

I don't know why the "can't have a mandarin in less than a xx gallon" thing gets my goat... maybe it's just that stating so ignores the last few years of findings and several published articles in respected hobby magazines. By the rights of what's been accepted over the past few decades my tank shouldn't exist, let alone thrive.

Makes me wonder how many other people have missed out/been discouraged from a hobby that can be such a source of joy and wonder by what we routinely read & hear, accept and repeat as fact. Not saying that everyone stop, drop everything and go add a mandarin to their tank... far from it. But it can be plausibly done if that's what's desired, you're willing to do the research and put in the effort.

Attempted threadjacking aside - to the OP, MRMRBURKE:

Have you considered adding some invertebrates? A couple of mated porcelain anemone crabs & a rock flower anemone wouldn't set you back much (they're appearing more & more at local sponsor's stores) and add some real interest to the tank. It would also not rule out adding a clownfish later as clowns tend to leave rock flower anemones alone (but might could evict the crabs from something like a bubble tip).

 

[mrmrburke]

BulkRate;967157 wrote: Thanks!

I don't know why the "can't have a mandarin in less than a xx gallon" thing gets my goat... maybe it's just that stating so ignores the last few years of findings and several published articles in respected hobby magazines. By the rights of what's been accepted over the past few decades my tank shouldn't exist, let alone thrive.

Makes me wonder how many other people have missed out/been discouraged from a hobby that can be such a source of joy and wonder by what we routinely read & hear, accept and repeat as fact. Not saying that everyone stop, drop everything and go add a mandarin to their tank... far from it. But it can be plausibly done if that's what's desired, you're willing to do the research and put in the effort.

Attempted threadjacking aside - to the OP, MRMRBURKE:

Have you considered adding some invertebrates? A couple of mated porcelain anemone crabs & a rock flower anemone wouldn't set you back much (they're appearing more & more at local sponsor's stores) and add some real interest to the tank. It would also not rule out adding a clownfish later as clowns tend to leave rock flower anemones alone (but might could evict the crabs from something like a bubble tip).

thanks for the wise words of wisdom you have been super helpful. I actually got a free rock flower anemone with a cuc pack i bought when i first set up my tank. It was super badly bleached almost to the point of no return, but now 8 monthsish later he's regaining color and fast. About a month ago he started showing signs of turning an ugly brown in certain areas now greens and blues are getting brighter and brighter each day with red shining through as well.

I also have a small rbta in there that has been loving life for a good while. I have always considered a clown, but i know how territorial they can get and I don't know if my current fish will be happy with them still researching which clown id like to add.

 

[bulkrate]

It's a scary, scary day for the world when my thoughts and speech are regarded as "wise".