Culture help for a mandarin?

[BContos]

I am waiting on the supplies to get here to set up a copepod/phyto culture and trying to figure out which species I should get to start with. I am thinking Apocyclops would be a good choice but not sure. I have aquacultered rock that came with amazing diversity and also have added the "Snackle Box" from Dinkins so I know there is a diverse population going but with the mandarin in the near future (going with a captive bred so hoping for luck there) I want to be prepared in case the pair never takes to frozen/pellets or needs some supplementation

 

[CO2TLEY]

@Reef By Steele and @Ocean_Queenie are the experts

 

[Reef By Steele Verified Sponsor]

@Reef By Steele and @Ocean_Queenie are the experts

Thanks for the shout out. Apocyclops would be my number one choice for your needs, at least to start. Number 1 they are very likely to colonize with reasonable water quality. 2 they are larger than tisbes my #2 choice. If you later decide that they are well established and keeping a population even with the Mandarins, then you might choose to switch to Tigriopus. Tigs are much less likely to colonize which is a reason to culture, as they are bigger and jump around they get preyed upon which I believe is one reason they do not establish as well as the others.

 

[BContos]

Thanks for the shout out. Apocyclops would be my number one choice for your needs, at least to start. Number 1 they are very likely to colonize with reasonable water quality. 2 they are larger than tisbes my #2 choice. If you later decide that they are well established and keeping a population even with the Mandarins, then you might choose to switch to Tigriopus. Tigs are much less likely to colonize which is a reason to culture, as they are bigger and jump around they get preyed upon which I believe is one reason they do not establish as well as the others.

Thank you!