Another Mandrian Goby question

[JAMreef]

I have a Red Sea 350, I’m pretty much at capacity at this point as far as fish are concerned :
2 Lye tail anthias
Starry blenny
Green clown goby
2 clown fish
Melanarus wrasse
Leopard wrasse
Brittle star, snails, hermit crabs, cleaner shrimp, blood shrimp

The tank has been running for about 8 months now. My question is regarding food competition with the leopard wrasse and mandarin goby. I was wondering if I were to spend the extra money on a Biota goby that was being raised ready to eat frozen food if it would get enough food with the leopard wrasse. I have my leopard wrasse eating frozen food too. Can I have both of these guys in the same tank as long as they are both being supplemented with frozen food? Will the mandarin get enough pods?

FYI I plan on waiting for the tank to hit the year mark before I consider getting one. Just thinking ahead.

 

[Arthacker87]

If you find a mandarin that eats frozen or pellets then awesome but they can eat a couple hundred pods a day from what I remember. And that wrasse grazes all day on pods as well, plus the wrasse is probably a faster swimmer and eater. They can be hard to keep in a newer tank without competition. Is there a sump you can scoop pods out of or alternate him between the sump and display to let pods reproduce?

 

[Arthacker87]

If you are waiting 4 more months id plan ahead and get a big pod population going. Weather its a diff tank or sump or whatever.

 

[JAMreef]

If you find a mandarin that eats frozen or pellets then awesome but they can eat a couple hundred pods a day from what I remember. And that wrasse grazes all day on pods as well, plus the wrasse is probably a faster swimmer and eater. They can be hard to keep in a newer tank without competition. Is there a sump you can scoop pods out of or alternate him between the sump and display to let pods reproduce?

Yes, the wrasse picks at the rocks all day. I do have a sump , and have briefly read up on reproduction of pods. Do you believe the tank will not be able to sustain enough pods without me adding pods regularly, even with them both be eating frozen food?

 

[JAMreef]

If you are waiting 4 more months id plan ahead and get a big pod population going. Weather its a diff tank or sump or whatever.

I plan on waiting. I’m in no big hurry to add the goby. I have always wanted one and have waited this long so I want things to be perfect.

I will definitely look into supplementing pods then.

 

[Arthacker87]

I think best case if they eat frozen you'll still have to spot feed but having a good population of pods will definitely help a ton. I think both will be the best as cliche and dumb as it sounds. I had one and tank wasn't ready. Made me sad I hate losing fish

 

[Phil D.]

I have a mandarin that eats frozen and a six line, they both are happy and healthy and fat! I put pods every other month and so far no problems. I got my mandarin from Live Aquaria.

 

[JAMreef]

I have a mandarin that eats frozen and a six line, they both are happy and healthy and fat! I put pods every other month and so far no problems. I got my mandarin from Live Aquaria.

How big is your tank?

 

[Phil D.]

I have a Red Sea Max E-260 and the main DT is 69g while the sump is 12g

 

[JAMreef]

I have a Red Sea Max E-260 and the main DT is 69g while the sump is 12g

Nice! Do you just dump a bottle of pods in the sump? I have rocks in mine will that work for them to breed in?

 

[Paul B]

I would not get a mandarin just yet. Your tank is to new and no matter how many pods or frozen food you buy, that fish needs to hunt all day and the food you may supply will not be enough yet.

 

[JAMreef]

I would not get a mandarin just yet. Your tank is to new and no matter how many pods or frozen food you buy, that fish needs to hunt all day and the food you may supply will not be enough yet.

Very cute pic. No, I have no intention of getting one yet, I still want to wait a couple of months. I was just preparing, I didn’t even know if it was a good idea to have a leopard wrasse and goby in the same tank since they both hunt pods.

 

[Paul B]

A leopard wrasse is OK as they are much easier and will also eat normal food like most fish.

 

[OrionN]

Leopard and Melanurus wrasses will eat other prepared food. My Leopards, Vrolik, Melanurus and Radiant wrasses eat everything, but they also hunt pods all day (Flame angels too) and will compete with the Mandarin for food. They will be fat from the food you feed your tank while your Mandarin will struggle some what to get enough food. I think If you don't add any more pod hunters (even if they eat prepared food) your Mandarin should be OK.

 

[Phil D.]

Nice! Do you just dump a bottle of pods in the sump? I have rocks in mine will that work for them to breed in?

I have a long gravel wash tube that I put against the rocks in my DT and dump the bottle into it so the pods can go into the rocks. I do this at night after the light have gone into lunar mode.

 

[OrionN]

My Sixline Pair attacked and kill the female of my Mandarin pair. They coordinated the attack and pecked her eyes out in the span of about 10 seconds, then they completely ignored her and went on their business and she starved.
This is in a 420 gal tank. Both pairs were living with each other, doing great for just less than 2 years.

 

[afboundguy]

If you are waiting 4 more months id plan ahead and get a big pod population going. Weather its a diff tank or sump or whatever.

I agree that you're making the correct decision in waiting. In the meantime you could start a phyto and pod culture and get those cranking so you can put pods in the tank. Dosing phyto in the tank could also help the pod population in the tank.

And if and when you're ready definitely get a captive bred one for sure...

 

[JAMreef]

My Sixline Pair attacked and kill the female of my Mandarin pair. They coordinated the attack and pecked her eyes out in the span of about 10 seconds, then they completely ignored her and went on their business and she starved.
This is in a 420 gal tank. Both pairs were living with each other, doing great for just less than 2 years.

Omg that’s awful!

 

[JAMreef]

Leopard and Melanurus wrasses will eat other prepared food. My Leopards, Vrolik, Melanurus and Radiant wrasses eat everything, but they also hunt pods all day (Flame angels too) and will compete with the Mandarin for food. They will be fat from the food you feed your tank while your Mandarin will struggle some what to get enough food. I think If you don't add any more pod hunters (even if they eat prepared food) your Mandarin should be OK.

What a very fat little guy you have! They are so beautiful. I have always wanted one.

I will definitely start adding to my pod population.

 

[JAMreef]

Leopard and Melanurus wrasses will eat other prepared food. My Leopards, Vrolik, Melanurus and Radiant wrasses eat everything, but they also hunt pods all day (Flame angels too) and will compete with the Mandarin for food. They will be fat from the food you feed your tank while your Mandarin will struggle some what to get enough food. I think If you don't add any more pod hunters (even if they eat prepared food) your Mandarin should be OK.

Okay, I just reread what you posted, I should be okay even if I don’t add the pods... as long as both are eating frozen. Am I reading that correctly?

My leopard wrasses was eating frozen at the lfs which is why I brought her home. Absolutely beautiful fish. I’ve had her now for about 3 months. The mandarin will be my last fish I add.