Who Gives A Fish Forums

Setting up a marine nano, fingers crossed.
I'd love to have a mandarin as the main showpiece, specifically in my orca tl550 tank.
I'm aware they need an established tank, so I'd wait 6 months before introducing one.
However, I'm unsure if I should get one at all.
I'd obviously culture copepods and whatnot, but I want to hear your thoughts.
Do you think a newbie like me could give a mandarin the best life possible?
I'm going back and forth on this, thanks in advance for your input.

If you can get your hands on a tank-bred juvie that's already munching on frozen, like the ones TMC occasionally have, and you're willing to culture pods and feed it regularly, then I'd say give it a shot. But if you can't commit to all that, I'd advise against it.

No worries if I sound clueless, but what's TMC?
Thanks for the input though, I'll def look into it more.
Think I'll get the tank up and running first, then start planning the fishy side of things.

I believe TMC is a major supplier for fish, the ones that local fish stores usually buy from. I've also considered getting a mandarin, but I decided against it due to their low survival rates in captivity, unless you're lucky enough to find one that's already feeding on frozen, like Seffie mentioned.

flintix9 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 12:55 pm I believe TMC is a major supplier for fish, the ones that local fish stores usually buy from. I've also considered getting a mandarin, but I decided against it due to their low survival rates in captivity, unless you're lucky enough to find one that's already feeding on frozen, like Seffie mentioned.

TMC's indeed a big wholesaler that many local fish stores buy from.

It's likely that you'd have to order one, as Victor mentioned.

I think I'll hold off for now.
Don't want to risk mistreating a mandarin or putting other fish in danger.
Back to planning the tank setup, got some more research to do.

YF

I wouldn't dismiss the idea of getting a mandarin straight away, just consider putting it on hold for a bit. Wait and see how your tank develops, leave a space for one, and then you can make a final decision when you're ready. I've been pretty lucky with mine, she's nice and healthy, but like seffie said, she's tank-bred and eats frozen, which makes a big difference. If you're prepared to put in the work, it's definitely possible to have one. TMC, by the way, is Tropical Marine Centre - you can check them out at their website.