Multiple dragonettes in one tank?

Daniel@R2R · Nov 9, 2013

I know it's a bad idea to have two of the same kind of dragonette (of the same gender and species) in one tank, but is it a bad idea if they are different species? I have a green dragonette, and I'd like to add a mated pair of red dragonettes to my 180. The one I have is super FAT, so I know food is not a problem.

gacolt · Nov 9, 2013

i have a bonded pair of mandarin dragonets and a scooter blenny in my 120g tank and there doing great fat and happy i do add pods to my tank once a month.my mandarins are spawning right now.i dont a problem there some of the most gentle fish you can put in a tank just have to keep the pods in good numbers

DontMakeNoSense · Nov 9, 2013

I have 2 males one red and a green in my tank. My local shop told me the red was a female and found out later it wasn't. Still have to take it back. Mine kind of get along but they will nip at one another. Have seen them swim together. If it's male and female go for it if not I wouldn't do it.

Eienna · Nov 9, 2013

Greens and reds are color morphs of the same species, so you could easily run into trouble.

I know dragonets occasionally hybridize, too, which means they do (at least some of the time) recognize other dragonet species as conspecifics.

However, in a 180g tank I would expect there to be plenty of territory to go around. You shouldn't have issues in that size beyond a few initial squabbles while they figure out who owns what.

tektite · Nov 9, 2013

Is the green male or female?

They're the same species, just one has more red, so if the green is a male I would not do it, personally. If the green is female there is much less chance of problems.

bct15 · Nov 9, 2013

No, you can not do it. A 180 is not big enough and one of the males will harass the other one to the point it will just stay in one spot and whither away. You can have one male with one female, that is it.