Mandarins eat peppermint shrimp larvae?

I have read that Mandarin Dragonets will eat Peppermint Shrimp larvae- is
this accurate?
Is it *dependably* accurate- meaning will all Mandarins eat them or just the
odd fish here and there?

If it is true- might anyone care to speculate how many adult shrimp would be
needed to steadily support one Mandarin?
A pair of Mandarins?
Or would other reef inhabitants beat them to the larvae?
Or are larvae not produced often enough to be of any use at all?


--
Toni

Mandarines will eat any type of larvae as long as it is about the size
of a pod. Shrimp will not breed fast enough to keep a mandarine alive.
The only way to feed a mandarine is to make sure that you have a good
pod population in your tank. Pods are what they feed on in nature as
well. Pods are small inverts that look like little bugs. They are
visible in your tank if your tank has been running for a while. You
probably shouldn't get a mandarine unless you can see the pods. In my
opinion, your tank should be about a year old before even thinking of
getting a Mandarine. Mandarines are some of the more difficult to keep
fish.


--
reefman MC
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Actually, I think the peppermint shrimp will compete with the Mandarin for
food more than they will provide it.

"Toni" wrote in message
ink.net...
I have read that Mandarin Dragonets will eat Peppermint Shrimp larvae- is
this accurate?
Is it *dependably* accurate- meaning will all Mandarins eat them or just
the
odd fish here and there?

If it is true- might anyone care to speculate how many adult shrimp would
be
needed to steadily support one Mandarin?
A pair of Mandarins?
Or would other reef inhabitants beat them to the larvae?
Or are larvae not produced often enough to be of any use at all?


--
Toni

"PaulB" wrote in message
.com...
Actually, I think the peppermint shrimp will compete with the Mandarin for
food more than they will provide it.


I am not sure about that, tho. My Peppermint Shrimp mostly scavanage for
uneaten / meaty / algae or any plant / other stuff [non movable or attack
back]. Most Mandrin I see will try to catch pod or any small live critter or
moving about that is not bigger than it mouth.

CapFusion,...

I think most crustaceans will eat any small worms or crustaceans they can
catch.

"CapFusion" CapeFussion...@hotmail..,com wrote in message
...

"PaulB" wrote in message
.com...
Actually, I think the peppermint shrimp will compete with the Mandarin
for
food more than they will provide it.


I am not sure about that, tho. My Peppermint Shrimp mostly scavanage for
uneaten / meaty / algae or any plant / other stuff [non movable or attack
back]. Most Mandrin I see will try to catch pod or any small live critter
or
moving about that is not bigger than it mouth.

CapFusion,...