Mandarin with eggs, Nutritional requirements met?

[Alexraptor]

Am I correct in assuming that female Mandarins ONLY produce eggs when their nutritional needs are being fully met?

[ThRoewer]

It definitely means that she gets enough food.
Food quality is another issue altogether. Though with mandarins that live off the pods in a tank it's usually nothing to worry about.

[Alexraptor]

Yeah, I kept her in a 10 gallon tank for a little over a year with great success, healthy pod population but also supportive feeding a few times a week with lobster eggs.
Upgraded to a 25 gallon tank a couple of months ago, and now i've pretty much stopped feeding her, and she's constantly producing eggs now feeding almost exclusively on pods in the tank.
Just wanted to make sure I was not making incorrect assumptions and lulling myself into a false sense of security.

[ThRoewer]

Do you have her alone or is there also a male?

[Alexraptor]

Alone, I upgraded to a 25 so that I can eventually get her a companion.

[ThRoewer]

If it was me I would add a male.

[Alexraptor]

Thats kind of what I implied lol.

[horseplay]

Maybe you can share some secret on keeping it in such a small tank while the fish is only feeding on pods. Do you have the tank filled with rock? I would definitely like to replicate your success.

[Dkuhlmann]

LMAO TheRoewer and Horseplay you are caught... Hook, line and sinker LMAO :D :lol: :dance:

[Alexraptor]

Maybe you can share some secret on keeping it in such a small tank while the fish is only feeding on pods. Do you have the tank filled with rock? I would definitely like to replicate your success.

Moderate amount of rock, very fine live sand, LOTS of macroalgae, and HIGH nutrient levels.
http://aquatic.alexraptor.com/?attachment_id=506

[horseplay]

Thanks. That's a nice planted setup. I have a 20g refugium that is full of macro. The macro can definitely host a lot more pods than rocks can.

[Dkuhlmann]

Horseplay, I'm sure it was intended for Throewer ;)