Mandarin w/ Maroons?

KLR · Jul 17, 2011

I have a pair of maroon clowns in my 40gal long tank and I would like to get a mandarin goby to help control smaller pests over producing. Copepods,fw's,etc.

I was wondering if the maroons would kill or beat up the mandarin?

I use to have a shrimp goby and they didnt bother him at all. The goby got some disease and went on:sad:

Btw I do plan on these maroons laying eggs and such. Please take that into consideration with your reply.

The sizes of them are

Female-3
Male-2-2.5 in

skinz78 · Jul 17, 2011

I haven't ever had an issue but my Clowns aren't mature yet.

KLR · Jul 17, 2011

Yea thats what I was wondering,if when they were mature and hopefully a mated /breeding pair,that they would get overly aggressive..

clowns101 · Jul 17, 2011

I will say its almost a gurantee that when they get to breeding age they will be nasty. For now,its generally not a problem,you can try it,and see what happens,Im sure if the shrimp is fine,then the fish will be fine. BUT,also keep in mind if the fish want to start breeding,they will remove anything that they dont like,if they dont like that fish,its gone.

KLR · Jul 17, 2011

Ok, there are a good amount of places for it to hide, if I got a mandarin. I dont want to get it to kill it,but I dont know what other way I can control the tiny creatures..There are so many,they are irritating my zoas...

clowns101 · Jul 17, 2011

Not sure,but Im sure there are ways to remove them,haha

KLR · Jul 17, 2011

I would rather use a fish tho,most of the "kill off" chemicals end up with a bunc hof tiny dead bodies,which if you dont get out they let toxins in the tank and I really dont want that to happen in my,FINALLY,sps able,reef tank..

clowns101 · Jul 17, 2011

lol,I didnt mean a chemical!haha...to harsh!lol

m and m · Jul 17, 2011

I use to have the nastiest maroon clown. Actually bit me one time where It actually drew blood.

Aquaph8 · Jul 17, 2011

I think it will probably be fine for the most part. Ive noticed even my aggressive fish seem to leave the madarin alone. If your looking for something to help with pests, you might be better off with a yellow corris wrasse.

mgdmirage · Jul 17, 2011

My Occy clowns are mature and they are the devil in my 40 breeder, they attack most everything except my Blenny and Hector's Goby. Maroon's from what i've heard are way more aggressive so i'd be scared with such a timid fish such as a mandarin.