Mandarin Dragonet Shenanigans!

[Ksturg]

I checked on my pod population last night with a flashlight and noticed my mandarin was motionless in the sand. Didnt see any movement not even gills. So I was certain he was dead I at the time was very disappointed! Got up for work look in the tank again and my clownfish had completely covered him in sand ( they are jerks!) he was motionless no gills moving no find no nothing. I called my wife to scoop him out of the tank for me so he didn't rot in there. She tried to get him but the clowns would not let her get close to the mandarin to get him out. ( now they aren't being jerks). I told her to leave him I would get him when I got home from work so I get home from work and he is gone. I figured the powerhead blew him under a rock so I would be able to get him. So as I'm looking for him here he comes up over the rock and just stares at me I was so happy. I'm so glad those clowns wouldn't let her get close to him cause I would have flushed him. I've found out today that not everything is what it seems with saltwater animals. Shenanigans I tell you!

 

[Efranco]

wow...mine did somthing similar last night...he was in a corner just laying in the sand...I didnt see any heavy breathing but he would not move, even when i would touch him, i figured he would be a lost by morning but hes back to normal and on the hunt

 

[Ksturg]

I've done some reasearch and they like to do that that's how they sleep...I've read where some people will have theirs float to the top of the tank and look dead then swim off.

 

[mort]

Fairly normal for a dragonet but not something you know until you keep them. My scooter does the sand thing, burying in the sand with just it's eyes poking out.

 

[Ksturg]

Fairly normal for a dragonet but not something you know until you keep them. My scooter does the sand thing, burying in the sand with just it's eyes poking out.

The mandarin is a strange fish that is for sure!