Mandarin dragonet (goby)

[Brandonsegula]

So I’ve been looking to get one of these guys for some time I’ve talked to a lot of people and read a lot of things saying don’t qT they will just die and just to add them straight to your DT. Is this true?

 

[Zack K]

That is true. Manderain Dragontets have a thick slime coat so they have a VERY strong immunity to Diseases such butt Ich and Velvet. Now with that being said i believe they CAN still be carriers of the disease. Lets have someone like @Humblefish or @Maritimer verify. Just a friendly tip when shopping around for a dragonet, It is best to look for one that is actively cruising over the rockwork searching for food and eating some type of frozen. The success rate is much higher when they have accepted frozen.

 

[Brandonsegula]

That is true. Manderain Dragontets have a thick slime coat so they have a VERY strong immunity to Diseases such *** Ich and Velvet. Now with that being said i believe they CAN still be carriers of the disease. Lets have someone like @Humblefish or @Maritimer verify. Just a friendly tip when shopping around for a dragonet, It is best to look for one that is actively cruising over the rockwork searching for food and eating some type of frozen. The success rate is much higher when they have accepted frozen.

Understood. My biggest fear is velvet.

 

[Maritimer]

Dragonets can carry parasitic diseases such as ich or velvet inside their gills - while they're probably a lower risk than most fish, they're still a risk. One of the best frozen foods to try on a mandarin seems to be Nutramar's OVA. Another option would be to use one of Paul B.'s baby-brine-shrimp feeders, and fill it several times daily for the duration.

~Bruce

 

[Humblefish]

As mentioned above, although Dragonets have a strong resistance to disease that does not preclude them from being carriers of parasites & worms.

I've always QTd them using CP: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

And then Prazipro either before or after CP: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prazipro.247598/

For nourishment, I usually feed this 5-6x daily: https://www.marinedepot.com/Nutrama...Coral_Food-Nutramar-NM3151-FIFDFZFSFP-vi.html

They usually enter the DT a little skinny, but bounce back quickly once pods are back on the all-you-can-eat buffet.

 

[Brandonsegula]

As mentioned above, although Dragonets have a strong resistance to disease that does not preclude them from being carriers of parasites & worms.

I've always QTd them using CP: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

And then Prazipro either before or after CP: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/prazipro.247598/

For nourishment, I usually feed this 5-6x daily: https://www.marinedepot.com/Nutrama...Coral_Food-Nutramar-NM3151-FIFDFZFSFP-vi.html

They usually enter the DT a little skinny, but bounce back quickly once pods are back on the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Thank you for your help!!!!

 

[Brandonsegula]

Dragonets can carry parasitic diseases such as ich or velvet inside their gills - while they're probably a lower risk than most fish, they're still a risk. One of the best frozen foods to try on a mandarin seems to be Nutramar's OVA. Another option would be to use one of Paul B.'s baby-brine-shrimp feeders, and fill it several times daily for the duration.

~Bruce

Thank you for your help!!