Mandarin Dragonet

[OrionN]

If they are not clearly label captive bred then they are wild caught.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I love mandys & have 2 pairs... (2 diff tanks same system) 1 biota+ wild & another I purchased from AquaCorals as a pair... I can’t say enough good things about pair I purchased from AquaCorals; as stated on her site, they don’t leave until they are eating pe mysis and I can say, without a doubt, mine do. The other pair probably grab from my broadcast feeding but I’ve never seen them eat officially from my doing. I agree that a copepod population & established tank is essential but getting one to eat pe mysis is doable; I’d just let AquaCorals do the hard work

I love mandys & have 2 pairs... (2 diff tanks same system) 1 biota+ wild & another I purchased from AquaCorals as a pair... I can’t say enough good things about the pair I purchased from AquaCorals; as stated on her site, they don’t leave until they are eating pe mysis and I can say, without a doubt, mine do. The other pair probably grab from my broadcast feeding but I’ve never seen them eat officially from my doing. I agree that a copepod population & established tank is essential but getting one to eat pe mysis is doable; I’d just let AquaCorals do the hard work

I bit the bullet, looked up that company you spoke of and ordered one haha. Only downside is hes getting shipped across the country. Do you target feed them, since they're slower? I have to target feed my Puffer.

 

[Earl Karl]

They are not captive bred anymore as it is a waste of time. Years ago, they were a hot topic due to them eating frozen, but they quickly got shut down because of their metabolism, making feeding frozen unviable. You would need to feed them a minimum of 4 times a day if feeding frozen, which not many people have the time for.

 

[DSC reef]

They are not captive bred anymore as it is a waste of time. Years ago, they were a hot topic due to them eating frozen, but they quickly got shut down because of their metabolism, making feeding frozen unviable. You would need to feed them a minimum of 4 times a day if feeding frozen, which not many people have the time for.

+1 Our pair ate frozen but it was a full time job for us. Plus buying pods monthly adds up quickly. Beautiful fish though if you can provide the proper care

 

[secret_reefer337]

I had mine for almost a year. The first couple of months I do buy live pods to supplement. Then they started eating pellets. They are fat and I think happy. Then one day, had a power black out for almost 18 hours and I don’t have a back up. All my fish died including the mandarins (they are pair) except for the clownfish. But it is possible that they will learn how to eat pellets or frozen.

 

[DJF]

I bit the bullet, looked up that company you spoke of and ordered one haha. Only downside is hes getting shipped across the country. Do you target feed them, since they're slower? I have to target feed my Puffer.

Mine was shipped literally across the US from Maine to San Diego CA; they arrived as healthy as if they were purchased down the street- I don’t target feed (they are reclusive eaters) just broadcast the pe mysis & at first you might not see them eat but eventually they will associate you as “the mysis guy”; the site has awesome info & she has an obviously love mandarins, I doubt you’ll be disappointed- congrats!

 

[DJF]

They are not captive bred anymore as it is a waste of time. Years ago, they were a hot topic due to them eating frozen, but they quickly got shut down because of their metabolism, making feeding frozen unviable. You would need to feed them a minimum of 4 times a day if feeding frozen, which not many people have the time for.

Are the ones from algae barn (biota sourced) not captive bred or available anymore? I got mine from there las yr

 

[MichaelReefer]

Mine was shipped literally across the US from Maine to San Diego CA; they arrived as healthy as if they were purchased down the street- I don’t target feed (they are reclusive eaters) just broadcast the pe mysis & at first you might not see them eat but eventually they will associate you as “the mysis guy”; the site has awesome info & she has an obviously love mandarins, I doubt you’ll be disappointed- congrats!

I'm in Sacramento here, so basically same distance haha.

Should I only feed PE Mysis? I was thinking about getting some of Rods Food to feed to the whole tank

 

[Earl Karl]

Are the ones from algae barn (biota sourced) not captive bred or available anymore? I got mine from there las yr

They will occasionally breed them, just not as much as before.

 

[DJF]

I'm in Sacramento here, so basically same distance haha.

Should I only feed PE Mysis? I was thinking about getting some of Rods Food to feed to the whole tank

Imho I’d count on pe mysis only until I observe different; maybe feed the tank a tad before letting loose on the mysis so the tank mates aren’t as voracious towards the 2nd round-

 

[OrionN]

Calling all Dragon Owners:
Visit this thread so you can see other people Dragons and show off yours

Let's see those Mandarin

This is such a beautiful fish. I would love to see more picture of them. Here is mine, not really a great picture but OK. Keep them coming.

www.reef2reef.com

 

[User]

If you don't want to be a slave to your Mandarin, then the most important question is:
How big is your tank? if <75 then no go. If > 75 then:
Are you willing to forgo certain fishes due to the fish been a food competitor to Mandarin? How much you forgo depends on how big is your tank and how you set it up. If yes then
Are you willing to set up the tank with Mandarin in mind? If yes then you can get one or a pair depends on how big our tank is. You can keep a pair in 90+ gal tank, if you set it up right and not adding much food competitors.

If you are willing to be a slave to your mandarin, then you can get a pair. Size of the tank does not mater that much.

I don't (target) feed my mandarins and they are healthy and spawn all the time, at least 2 times a week.

What fish are considered competition for dragonets?

I have a 180 with basement sump, 300 g total volume, and culture phyto, pods, BBS, grindal and white worms. Was hoping for a green dragonet pair and a ruby red dragonet pair if I could find them. I dont consider growing live food for them being their ‘slave’ but I’d hate to invest the time and effort just to find out one of the other inhabitants is getting all the food before them

Any thoughts?

 

[OrionN]

Mostly small angels and some of the wrasses. Not the fairy and flasher wrasses but most likely f the other wrasse. If you see a fish pecking at the rocks they are likely food competitor of Mandarin.

 

[User]

Mostly small angels and some of the wrasses. Not the fairy and flasher wrasses but most likely f the other wrasse. If you see a fish pecking at the rocks they are likely food competitor of Mandarin.

Ok, sounds good.

I do have a mccoskers and a carpenters in QT as we speak- and they went NUTS for BBS that I started feeding today. And white worms were slurped down like spaghetti. So they are devouring the live foods I’m culturing in anticipation of getting the dragonets . I’m also looking for a compatible fairy wrasse. Not plans for angels in thevtank

Thanks for the info!

 

[Phil D.]

FI you call AZ Reef Monster in Mesa, AZ, the one owner, Ash, could tell you how she gets them to eat frozen. I got mine from them and he's a pig whenever I feed the tank. He's very active chasing the food down.

 

[DJF]

What fish are considered competition for dragonets?

I have a 180 with basement sump, 300 g total volume, and culture phyto, pods, BBS, grindal and white worms. Was hoping for a green dragonet pair and a ruby red dragonet pair if I could find them. I dont consider growing live food for them being their ‘slave’ but I’d hate to invest the time and effort just to find out one of the other inhabitants is getting all the food before them

Any thoughts?

Don’t do the Ruby & mandarin pair- 2 male dragonets regardless of species is not likely to end well.

 

[User]

Don’t do the Ruby & mandarin pair- 2 male dragonets regardless of species is not likely to end well.

I wasn’t aware there would be issues between males of different species. Hmm, I’ll need to look into that.

Thanks

 

[Paul B]

Here are some of those fish at my feeder. My mandarins live about 8 or 10 years and spawn constantly as do ruby reds.
I never bought a pod.

 

[OrionN]

Paul.
The Ruby Red and the Scooter are females? Did you have two Male dragonets in the tank or just 1 male and others are females?
Are there any faster moving fish in that tank?
TIA

 

[Paul B]

There are a breeding pair of mandarins and a mating pair of ruby reds. No problems between them. They all ignore each other.

There is only one male of each species.