Which animals eat copepods?

bigjohn · 06-23-2004, 12:42 PM

I am starting to get a decent pod population in my system since I added macroalgae. I have always wanted to keep a mandarin goby, but I am wondering if any of my current inhabitants would out compete the mandarin for pods.

Currently in my 135 gallong display, I have,

Naso Tang
Yellow Tang
Bicolor Angel
Purple Dottyback
Watchman Goby
Longfin Wrasse
2 False Perculas
Yellow Tail Damsel

Pistol Shrimp
Coral Banded Shrimp

In general, which fish (or inverts) aggressively hunt and consume pods??

ruhspolostar · 06-23-2004, 12:47 PM

The Dottyback can be pretty agressive & may harrass the shy mandarin & the mandarin my not take a liking to him either, a scooter blenny is a bit more hardier & they eat pods...

also they have awesome personallities

Clownfishman · 06-23-2004, 06:59 PM

I agree, scooter blenny, make sure you have plenty of pods though...

Clownfishman · 06-23-2004, 06:59 PM

I agree, scooter blenny, make sure you have plenty of pods though...

bigjohn · 06-23-2004, 08:23 PM

Thanks for the replies, but I'm not specifically looking for a fish to eat pods. I am more interested in getting a Mandarin Goby, and I want to be sure that I don't have (or don't later get) a fish that will hog all the pods.

ruhspolostar · 06-23-2004, 08:46 PM

start by ditching the damsels

WilyGuy · 06-23-2004, 09:18 PM

Find a Mandarin from a reputable LFS that is eating something else. I have heard they will eat other things and have even taken frozen food. Have the LFS show you that he eats it. YES, you most definitely want a good quantity of pods.

I am in agreement though with the Dottyback hassling him into a corner. If it is that important, the Damsel and Dottyback may need to go.

ruhspolostar · 06-24-2004, 01:45 AM

yeah my orange spotted gobbie harrassed my mandarin until he starved

tims · 06-24-2004, 06:26 AM

i agree,

the mandrin will eat your pods up and clear them from the tank in no time at all, if you can train him to eat frozen food or pick up one that does that would be the best. the Goby will pick on him a bit, but you have a rather large tank so if there is a spot the the goby calls home and the mandarin stay away from it....

CountryBoy0524 · 06-24-2004, 08:07 AM

Instead of telling you things that you didn't ask about, I will answer your question specifically.

Gobies are sand and rock dwelling carnivores that will eat copepods and amphipods. I had a Yellow Watchman goby that frequently picked things off the rock and sand.

Keep this in mind, most small carnivore fish will eat copepods and amphipods if they find them.

Hope that helps.

Goofy · 06-24-2004, 08:56 AM

IMO, Mandarins are sitting in the LFS waiting for their demise. If it eats dead food at the LFS then get it. Otherwise you will probably be it's grim reaper.

Alan

ruhspolostar · 06-24-2004, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Instead of telling you things that you didn't ask about, I will answer your question specifically.

dont get testy we are all just trying to help eachother, and evryonce in a while we make mistakes, thats what this forum is about not showing that your smarter than everyon else

& goofy is right most mandarins unless under the care of experienced aquarists & in large tank w/ LOTS of LR will die off whithin a year, but they are so darn gorgeous

theduker25 · 06-24-2004, 11:57 AM

Don't get a sixline wrasse. They are cool also, but will outcompete the mandarine for food.

Phishnoob · 06-24-2004, 12:12 PM

I had pods crawling all over, but my tank was too new and there was only 60 lb of LR. My mandarin ate all the pods really fast then starved. Unless there is a big mature tank with lots of rock and no competitors I would not try it again.

I have a yellow watchman goby that jumped into my in tank refugium with Cheato and some rock to live in the pod farm and won't come out now. He is a pod eating machine.

BoomerMn · 06-24-2004, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryBoy0524

Instead of telling you things that you didn't ask about, I will answer your question specifically.

Gobies are sand and rock dwelling carnivores that will eat copepods and amphipods. I had a Yellow Watchman goby

Well, if one wants to be snippy, then maybe you should get your facts straight first. A Mandarin is not Goby but a Dragonet, a completely different family than Gobies. Second, one often needs to tell of things not specifically asked. Third, where did you answer him "specifically". Are you saying that those other fish and inverts don't eat pods ? Finally, he knows they eat pods. So why did you even bother replying ?

John

You may have problems with the Damsel and Dottyback. The only thing you have going here for you, other than all the pods for the Mandarin, is that their "skin" produces a toxic slime, that often keeps other fish away once they have had a taste. As far as pods go, the most aggressive one on your list is the Watchman, but Mandarins are much more aggressive at eating pods and often hunt most of the time. If you get one try to keep the Watchman fed, which unlike the Mandarin will accept may types of food you put in the tank. That will produce less competition for the Mandarin. "Sometimes" Mandarins will also eat brine shrimp or other small worms, you put in the tank but may times they just refuse to eat them. Then there is the last question others have mentioned, "how long is he going to last". He will need lots of hidding places and huge pod pop to last long. I think for now you should wait, maybe another year and think about it again.