Have a scooter blemmy can I add a ruby mandarin

dave barber · Apr 3, 2017

I have 65 gal tank with 10 gal refuge
Approx 75 lbs live rock
Have small algae scrubber in refuge
Will this tank support arguably mandarins
In tank is yellow golly
2 clounds( spellings)
Bangi Cardinal
A couple blue chromic
A coral beauty

Thanks for input

MicroPico · Apr 3, 2017

Truthfully, I would not recommend it. You would need quite alot of live rock to support enough of a pod population for mandarins. The tank must be "aged" (I'd say over a year +). Mandarins eat methodically, "all day long". They have a tendency to slowly starve to death in newer tanks which cannot support enough of the food they depend on to survive. They are slow eaters which don't do well with species which are competitive for their food sources.

dave barber · Apr 3, 2017

MicroPico said:
Truthfully, I would not recommend it. You would need quite alot of live rock to support enough of a pod population for mandarins. The tank must be "aged" (I'd say over a year +). Mandarins eat methodically, "all day long". They have a tendency to slowly starve to death in newer tanks which cannot support enough of the food they depend on to survive. They are slow eaters which don't do well with species which are competitive for their food sources.

thanks for your input
was at the local fish store and the ruby maderine is such a striking color
so I thought I would ask the form to get some other input
the store said where not sure
the tank is about 1 1/2 years old

so what you are saying is that if i get this fish
it might die as well as the scooter blemmy

thanks again

Paul B · Apr 3, 2017

I have ruby reds, mandarins and scooter bleenies as well as bluestripe pipefish in the same tank. But I feed them with a feeder that I designed. Your tank is a little small so they will not live on foraging alone.
Here is a video.

saltyfilmfolks · Apr 3, 2017

Yes. Its fine. Been there done that. Ruby's are tiny and take to frozen much easier as well.

dave barber · Apr 3, 2017

T

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yes. Its fine. Been there done that. Ruby's are tiny and take to frozen much easier as well.

thanks for your reply
How big was your tank
Should I reseed Refug
Or is that a waste of money

Thank you

dave barber · Apr 3, 2017

Can you

Paul B said:
I have ruby reds, mandarins and scooter bleenies as well as bluestripe pipefish in the same tank. But I feed them with a feeder that I designed. Your tank is a little small so they will not live on foraging alone.
Here is a video.

explain your design
And does it cost much to feed them

saltyfilmfolks · Apr 3, 2017

dave barber said:
T

thanks for your reply
How big was your tank
Should I reseed Refug
Or is that a waste of money

Thank you

55g. Currently w a Mandarin and a ruby Pair
I also had a green Psychedelic and a scooter in my 30. Had a 30g w a scooter and mandy too.
Keep an eye on the bugs and replenish from time to time. I also sprinkle flake food and coral frenzy on my chato for the pods. works well. I have a couple rock I move back and forth from sump to tank. and will also put some chato in the for a day too. seed the DT at night with 60% and 40% for the fuge.