Green Mandarin Compatibility

[Jon Tepper]

We've had a green mandarin female going on 3 months now. She has done absolutely wonderful and has grown nicely and eats pods all day.

I've been wanting to get her a friend, but I've been suggested that I get her a male, so they don't fight. I was looking at a spotted, but my local store just got 3 different green mandarins in that are huge!!!! I mean massive, never seen them this big.

If I get one of the giant ones, I know I'd need to get more copapods first before adding him.

What do you guys think? The first picture is mine and the second picture is one of the massive ones at the fish store.

 

[Jon Tepper]

Here's a better picture of mine with the dorsal fin fully extended. Female right?

 

[najer]

I would say you have a boy already, I have a small pair, others might think differently.

 

[Jon Tepper]

I would say you have a boy already, I have a small pair, others might think differently.

Did you see my second photo?

 

[najer]

Yes, if as you said your current one is small and still growing, with a little point like that it will continue to grow as the fish does!

 

[Eva Rose]

I think yours is young male with point just starting. You can ask experts but I read once that females (rounded dorsals/ no point) like to mate with males that are bigger (significantly bigger than the female) and don't always accept smaller juvi males readily.
Here you go
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/04/0423_mandarinfish_2.html
I've read this in several places. Maybe it could help you find a good match. I also read once large females can reject/beat on smaller juvi males.
Eventually your male Mandy will grow and look like the second photo. Ask others but you might want to try and get a female then.

 

[Baldguy]

If you don't have enough copepods to support two mandarins now adding more won't help unless you intend to keeping adding regularly. That would be expensive.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Man! The Mandarinfish at your LFS is HUGE! I can't call it a monster because all Mandarinfish are beautiful, but that fish [the picture from the LFS] is a beast!

- C. Smith

 

[Jon Tepper]

Man! The Mandarinfish at your LFS is HUGE! I can't call it a monster because all Mandarinfish are beautiful, but that fish [the picture from the LFS] is a beast!


- C. Smith

I know right!? I want it, but I'm afraid my pods won't regenerate quick enough. After all, he didn't get that monstrous by not smashing on pods lol.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Your's is definitely a boy. Finding a small female would be the best bet for getting a pr.