Dragonet, Mandarin health

Mjpisanti · Apr 10, 2014

Hello all! I apparently have tons of amphipods in my 75g fish only tank. They must have come in on a rock and multiplied because theyre everywhere at night and all over my filters and plumbing. Does this mean I can get a mandarin since I know that they eat copapods and amphipods? Also my substrate is crushed coral not sand which I know they prefer, is this a problem or would the mandarin be fine with amphipods and a coral substrate? Final question is if the mandarin would fight with my algae blenny who I've had for a few weeks now. Sorry, I don't mean to sound inexperienced but ive never had a mandarin and always wanted one, so since I started finding all the amphipods I got excited but if my tank is not ideal for the mandarin I will not get one. Thanks!

gtbarsi · Apr 10, 2014

How old is the tank?

Mjpisanti · Apr 10, 2014

About two years

STL · Apr 10, 2014

I've had a Mandarin Dragonette for about a year and a half now - he's healthy, chubby and a busy little guy. My tank is bigger (180G), though, and I do have a refugium in the sump. Do you see copepods (little white specs) on your glass at night?

Your substrate should be ok - I have rougher grained sand, and he doesn't really spend any time by the sand bed. Rather, he spends his time pecking/vacuuming at the rocks and the glass.

Your tank's age should not be a problem. My tank was about a year old when I got the fish.

As for compatibility, I can't speak to the specific blenny you have, but none of the other fish in the tank pay any attention to him all, including a Molly Miller Blenny and a Citron Goby (closest body shape of any of my fish). And he ignores absolutely everything but whatever rock he's trolling.

I did have a scare a couple months back when I hadn't seen the Mandarin for a few weeks (he's kinda cryptic - he comes out from time to time, but since he ignores prepared foods he has no interest in me at all). Fortunately, I thought to check the overflows. He was stuck inside one (despite it being screened off) and had likely been in there for a quite a while. I got him out and was relieved that he was both alive and remarkably healthy. I guess there are a lot of pods in the overflow and it doesn't involve much swimming to catch them.

These are awesome fish, I'd say go for it if you see ample copepods at night. But be prepared to boost your pod population if you stop seeing the little white dots on the glass at night.

Mjpisanti · Apr 10, 2014

I don't have copapods i have amphipods

gtbarsi · Apr 11, 2014

Copapods are much smaller than amphipods, if you have one you probably have the other. Given the age of your tank I would say your are probably safe. If you want to be sure go buy some copapods and add 1/2 to your display at night when the lights are off and 1/2 to your fuge (if you have one). Give it a couple of weeks to establish themselves and then you can add a Mandarin.

If your tank was new I would tell you to wait 6 at least 6 months to a year but yours is 2 years old and probably already has a good population of these guys that are so small they can not be seen with out substantial magnification. Watch your new friend carefully and insure he does not go hungry. There are several threads that show what a starving Mandarin looks like compared to a well fed Mandarin.

Good Luck, but I doubt you will need it as long as you pick a healthy specimen to add to your tank...

Mjpisanti · Apr 11, 2014

Ohh i see. Alright thanks a lot i appreciate it

Paul B · Apr 11, 2014

Mandarins.

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-discussion/106089-thoughts-mandarins.html

reeffirstaid · Apr 11, 2014

The amount of amphipods in your display, isn't what to gauge when deciding on a mandarinfish. In time, a mandarinfish, will leave the display clear of any amphipods and eventually starve. The question is, do you have a refugium or sump, that can sustain and replenish the display with amphipods, as the mandarin eats them?

shred5 · Apr 11, 2014

Mjpisanti said:
I don't have copapods i have amphipods

Mandarins dont eat amphipods they eat copepods. They are mostly too large for them too eat...

Mjpisanti · Apr 11, 2014

reeffirstaid said:
The amount of amphipods in your display, isn't what to gauge when deciding on a mandarinfish. In time, a mandarinfish, will leave the display clear of any amphipods and eventually starve. The question is, do you have a refugium or sump, that can sustain and replenish the display with amphipods, as the mandarin eats them?

Yes i have a refugium set up for about a month or.two switched.over from a wet dry

Swine · Apr 11, 2014

shred5 said:
Mandarins dont eat amphipods they eat copepods. They are mostly too large for them too eat...

Say that to my 6" mandarin haha

Tab28 · Apr 13, 2014

If you do get a mandarin only one male in a tank. Males fight with each other. Algae blenny and mandarins are ok. I have the two of them in my nano with no issues.

Only purchase one that is fat. Has a budda belly. If the stomach is concave it is not eating. Many lfs have them but they are not eating and may not survive. They also can get use to frozen brine and blood worms. All my mandarins over years of having them, eat frozen. Mandarins like all dragonets eat very slowly. Even if they will eat frozen a piggish aggressive eater will devour all food before they have enough time to get what they need.