Can 1 have a mando without sand?

The Ugly Phase · Feb 18, 2026

Always wanted 1 of these and still do just this time i went BB if i start a fuge in my sump add plenty of pods let them breed could 1 have a mando with no sand?

Biokabe · Feb 18, 2026

The Ugly Phase said:
Always wanted 1 of these and still do just this time i went BB if i start a fuge in my sump add plenty of pods let them breed could 1 have a mando with no sand?

Assuming by mando you mean a mandarin... yes, sand is not at all a requirement for them.

The bigger issue is whether you have enough space for a large enough copepod population to keep your mandarin fed and happy. Sand helps a little bit with that, but it's more down to the overall volume of your rock and how many other pod-feeders you have.

The Ugly Phase · Feb 19, 2026

Biokabe said:
Assuming by mando you mean a mandarin... yes, sand is not at all a requirement for them.

The bigger issue is whether you have enough space for a large enough copepod population to keep your mandarin fed and happy. Sand helps a little bit with that, but it's more down to the overall volume of your rock and how many other pod-feeders you have.

90 gallon tank
i'm going to start a refuge in middle compartment its decent size
no other pod eaters

Biokabe · Feb 19, 2026

Then so long as you have an appropriate amount of rockwork for your tank, you should have more than enough real estate for pods. Just let your tank mature enough, and if you're concerned about it you can do an initial seeding of your sump and display tank to make sure there are pods in the system. 6-12 months after seeding your tank, you should have a robust enough population to support a mandarin.

winzig · Feb 20, 2026

My Biota mandarin eats much more than pods loves
mysis,pellets and flakes

slingfox · Feb 20, 2026

I have two Mandarin from Biota in my 110g display + 30g sump. The sump is a cryptic sump with a bunch of ceramic bio media in the middle chamber. I have two wrasse which compete for pods but the Mandarins are fat and happy.

DSC reef · Feb 20, 2026

Id try to buy a mandarin thats eating more than pods. Like suggested above, biota sells amazing mandarin's and they eat a variety of pellets and mysis. I had a mandarin for about 8 years and I got him on LRS foods and that made it much easier. I still supplied the tank with pods as I like watching him pick at the rock constantly, such a beautiful fish

steveschuerger · Feb 20, 2026

Found a “Mando”

W31Olds · Feb 20, 2026

You can also train them to some extent when you get them on foods other that PODS. Mine will queue up at the same place waiting for bits of frozen food every evening when I feed my entire tank.