Mandarin Dragonet Dorsal Fin Extension

[EvanDeVita]

Hi all,
I’ve had a Ruby Mandarin Dragonet for about two months in my IM 30 gallon (long). It eats mysis readily and is healthy as can be. He is very active (for a mandarin), and isn’t picked on by any fish. It has never fully extended its dorsal fin though. I’m only guessing that he’s a mail. Does anyone know why Mandarins fully extend their fins? Does there need to be a second mandarin for it to ‘show off’? Any insight would be great

 

[najer]

Hi all,
I’ve had a Ruby Mandarin Dragonet for about two months in my IM 30 gallon (long). It eats mysis readily and is healthy as can be. He is very active (for a mandarin), and isn’t picked on by any fish. It has never fully extended its dorsal fin though. I’m only guessing that he’s a mail. Does anyone know why Mandarins fully extend their fins? Does there need to be a second mandarin for it to ‘show off’? Any insight would be great

Ime if they have no reason to display they won't so yours sounds pretty chilled.

 

[EvanDeVita]

Ime if they have no reason to display they won't so yours sounds pretty chilled.

Thanks!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Adding a female would cause him to display but having two mandarins in a 30 would put massive strain on the pod population and probably wouldn’t be sustainable. I’ve heard some people have good luck by adding a small goby (watchman, Dracula, hifin, etc) that the mandarin begins to display for.

 

[najer]

Adding a female would cause him to display but having two mandarins in a 30 would put massive strain on the pod population and probably wouldn’t be sustainable. I’ve heard some people have good luck by adding a small goby (watchman, Dracula, hifin, etc) that the mandarin begins to display for.

Exactly this, the only time my female green displays is when my cave goby boy is close, they get on great.

 

[EvanDeVita]

Adding a female would cause him to display but having two mandarins in a 30 would put massive strain on the pod population and probably wouldn’t be sustainable. I’ve heard some people have good luck by adding a small goby (watchman, Dracula, hifin, etc) that the mandarin begins to display for.

I'll have to test that out! I wasn't really planning on getting a female unless I know for certain mine's a male AND I need to see her eating mysis. Is it possible for one of those gobies to coexist with a Dusky Jawfish? (live in same burrow)

 

[PicassoClown04]

I'll have to test that out! I wasn't really planning on getting a female unless I know for certain mine's a male AND I need to see her eating mysis. Is it possible for one of those gobies to coexist with a Dusky Jawfish? (live in same burrow)

Not sure, maybe just taping a picture of a female to the side of the tank could work as a test. I don’t think two sand dwellers would be good in a tank of that size unless it’s a shallow tank with a large footprint

 

[EvanDeVita]

Not sure, maybe just taping a picture of a female to the side of the tank could work as a test. I don’t think two sand dwellers would be good in a tank of that size unless it’s a shallow tank with a large footprint

It is a shallow tank with a large foot print (the pic below is from over 9 months ago

 

[Maritimer]

You could also try holding a mirror up to the glass, and see if the mandarin will display to its reflection . . .

~B.

 

[mort]

I think this is more of a maturity thing. The male mandarins I've seen have all displayed their dorsal pretty regularly even when on their own (I guess just in case there is a lovely lady hanging around).
I also notice that they do this when stretching their mouths, so you might just be missing it.

 

[OrionN]

I have a pair of mandarin in my tank. The male display often in the late afternoon and morning in front of the tank all the time even when the female is elsewhere. When she is in the mood and engorged with eggs she would joint him and they spawn. Some time they would have false (dry) run when she is not ready to spawn. I can easily tell on the day when they spawn becasue she would be so engorged that it look like she just swallow an egg.
For the green Mandarin, I don't think the female is needed for the male to display. He is just try to impress and hope that if any female near by they will see him. Put up a mirror will put them in fighting mode, which is similar but there are differences.
It seem to me Ruby Dragonet are not as territorial as Green or Target Mandarin.

 

[EvanDeVita]

I have a pair of mandarin in my tank. The male display often in the late afternoon and morning in front of the tank all the time even when the female is elsewhere. When she is in the mood and engorged with eggs she would joint him and they spawn. Some time they would have false (dry) run when she is not ready to spawn. I can easily tell on the day when they spawn becasue she would be so engorged that it look like she just swallow an egg.
For the green Mandarin, I don't think the female is needed for the male to display. He is just try to impress and hope that if any female near by they will see him. Put up a mirror will put them in fighting mode, which is similar but there are differences.
It seem to me Ruby Dragonet are not as territorial as Green or Target Mandarin.

This was super helpful. My Ruby doesn’t have fins that extends nearly as high as yours.. is it possible I sexes him wrong? If you zoom in you can kinda see the fins. I’ve never seen him get as fat as your females does before spawning.

 

[Jedi1199]

It is a shallow tank with a large foot print (the pic below is from over 9 months ago

Apologies for going off topic, but that pic cracks me up... I have a cat that looks almost exactly like that.. Fortunately, he still hasn't figured out that he can jump on top of the tank yet... Fingers crossed he never does.

Beautiful tank and love the gobys..

Cheers,
Steve

 

[vetteguy53081]

High dorsal is male.

 

[dochou]

This was super helpful. My Ruby doesn’t have fins that extends nearly as high as yours.. is it possible I sexes him wrong? If you zoom in you can kinda see the fins. I’ve never seen him get as fat as your females does before spawning.

This looks like a female to me.

 

[z4chburris]

I bought this little guy from Biota as a male. I figured he might be to young, and the dorsal fin hasn’t grown out yet. But now I’m beginning to think he is a she seeing your males.

 

[OrionN]

This was super helpful. My Ruby doesn’t have fins that extends nearly as high as yours.. is it possible I sexes him wrong? If you zoom in you can kinda see the fins. I’ve never seen him get as fat as your females does before spawning.

This is a male

I bought this little guy from Biota as a male. I figured he might be to young, and the dorsal fin hasn’t grown out yet. But now I’m beginning to think he is a she seeing your males.

This is a male also