Fish Questions

[Remmy]

Tank:
75 gallon
1 cardinal
1 yellow tang
1 spotted hawk fish
1 mandarin
Too much clean up crew
Been running since Jan 3, 2019

Corals:
1 torch

1) when we got our cardinals we were told they were peaceful. When doing more research it looks like they can be peaceful or agressive. We had two and the one killed the other after about a month. (After the fish was already dead it still would throw it up into the water and go after it) The remaining cardinal will also “fin check” our yellow tang. Would it be possible to put PJ cardinals with it or will it kill them too?

2) I took the best pictures I could of our mandarin. Does it look skinny or look like he is doing good? We have gotten lots of negative comments about adding one to such a new tank ( added about 5 weeks after tank was set up). We have added pods twice.

Thanks!

 

[Huff747]

I’m no help on 1, my cardinal killed the second as well but doesn’t bother anybody else. Would like to have a pair but too chicken to add another.

On 2 you could search for Paul B’s mandarin feeder and hatch baby brine shrimp. I’ve been hatching them and it’s really easy and the baby brine are apparently quite nutritious. Not sure what mandarin you have as I don’t see a picture but some will also eat frozen. I have a target mandarin that usually gets some frozen when I feed the tank. He’s not fast so the other fish get more but he definitely eats some and then I supplement with the baby brine and occasionally order more pods.

Link to Paul’s feeder http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/diy-target-feeder-mandarinfish-pipefish-2804/

 

[Flippers4pups]

The yellow tang will defend it's self, especially with a cardnial!

Negative comments about the Mandarin are, depending on what was said, valid. Adding pods isn't always sufficient to sustain one. I've had several over the years and it's hard to keep one fed, little alone alive very long without a mature system. Such a young tank as you have would be difficult to nearly impossible if the rock wasn't completely teaming with them.

From my long experience with Mandarin's, respectfully, I would return it to the LFS until your system is ready to sustain one. Sorry If it sounds negative.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Different cardinal species have different temperaments. PJ's are tolerant of each other, bangaiis are stone cold killers. Most cardinals leave other fish alone.

Mandarins need a more established tank so that the tank can sustain a pod population on it's own. A mandarin consumes thousands of pods in a week. More in one week than are provided in pod baggies.

 

[Remmy]

Sorry I forgot to add the pictures! If the mandarin starts to look skinny he will be brought back to the local LFS. He is really hard to get pictures of