Scooter blenny vs mandarin dragonette

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I have always wanted a mandarin dragonette due to how amazing they look. But I have avoided them because their difficulty. However without any research I got myself a scooter blenny about 5 months ago. From my understanding both are very similar and dificult to keep because they have very similar dietary needs. I have never ran out of pods with this little guy in my 20g so does that mean at some point I could easily put this guy in a different tank and get a mandarin? I've never had a struggle with the scooter blenny eating and he has been an absolute delight. I do want a mandarin but if it is more dificult than a scooter blenny I'll hold off.

 

[suta4242]

While each tank is different, such a small system is unlikely to provide enough pods for a mandarin.

I think a scooter blenny is much more adaptable when it comes to feeding. It doesn’t need to rely on pods for most of its nutrition.

With mandarins, they seem to have a harder time getting enough food - even if they’ve learned to eat frozen or pellets other fish steal their food. And they really need to eat all day long to stay fat.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

While each tank is different, such a small system is unlikely to provide enough pods for a mandarin.

I think a scooter blenny is much more adaptable when it comes to feeding. It doesn’t need to rely on pods for most of its nutrition.

With mandarins, they seem to have a harder time getting enough food - even if they’ve learned to eat frozen or pellets other fish steal their food. And they really need to eat all day long to stay fat.

Hope that helps.

That does help. My scooter has adapted to eating anything I throw in (at least I think so because it isn't dead) because at one point I couldnt find any pods anywhere, and after a few months pods everywhere. I'm guessing he relies on them less now while a mandarin would not adapt as easy. Thank you

 

[Paul B]

I doubt a mandarin would fare too well in a 20 gallon tank, even if you fed it a few times a day.

 

[Bbfishb81]

I agree a bigger tank would be better for a mandarin. I would also suggest you seed the tank and do supplemental pod additions on a regular basis. But just my 2 cents on it.

 

[Lorenzo Angotti]

Hi, keep with the scooter blenney if you are not upgrading your tank for a larger one. Have had both fish but a Mandarin is more demanding, you would have to cultivate your own pods to keep your tank and sump stocked, as buying them in can become costly.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Thank you guys! No mandarins until I get a larger tank

 

[mta_morrow]

Thank you guys! No mandarins until I get a larger tank

Good call

 

[Jesterrace]

I doubt a mandarin would fare too well in a 20 gallon tank, even if you fed it a few times a day.

Agreed. I think part of it is simply the scale. A full grown scooter blenny is much smaller than a full grown mandarin. Mandarins when full grown and healthy are amazingly fat. I never realized until I went down to my LFS and saw a full sized spotted crawling around their 150 gallon display tank. The point is the larger the creature the more it eats. Definitely don't go beyond a Scooter Blenny for a 20 gallon tank.

 

[Paul B]

They can get fat, especially when they are pregnant.

 

[Mgex]

They can get fat, especially when they are pregnant.

Are they live bearers ?or oviparous

 

[Paul B]

They lay eggs while they are ascending. They don't build a nest or anything.

 

[Jesterrace]

They lay eggs while they are ascending. They don't build a nest or anything.

Have you successfully gotten any little ones from them?

 

[Paul B]

No, my tank is 125 gallons and I would never be able to catch any fry or even see them. You would need to do that in a separate tank.
I am pretty sure they could be raised and they are easy to get to spawn.

 

[AC1211]

A captive bred mandarin eating pellets would likely be fine for a swap but otherwise no either way the mandarin apears more delicate than the scooter blenny.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

A captive bred mandarin eating pellets would likely be fine for a swap but otherwise no either way the mandarin apears more delicate than the scooter blenny.

I have a captive bred madarin and he is still not eating pellets, or really frozen for that matter. They come very small, so small their mouths arent really large enough to accept prepared foods. Ive tried feeding TDO pellets B1 and up but he shows no interested. Also he goes right by frozen brine and mysis. If you can find a larger one that is aggressively eating prepared foods, then that might work. But, the captive bred madarins are not a sure fire to eat prepared foods by any means. Theyre probably raised on copepods and baby brine shrimp. Perhaps when they get a bit larger they will start to accept it, but I havent had good luck so far after a few months. He's out of QT now in the 150g and just eating pods.

 

[Mgex]

No, my tank is 125 gallons and I would never be able to catch any fry or even see them. You would need to do that in a separate tank.
I am pretty sure they could be raised and they are easy to get to spawn.

You could put them in a breeder net so you might be able to catch the eggs or could try and catch them and put them in a little 10or 20 gallon with sponge filter

 

[Paul B]

Yes I could. But all my paired fish spawn and many years ago I stopped raising fish. For mandarins I don't think the net would work. If you put a net in there they will not feel comfortable and you are not sure when they will release the eggs.
They could be on opposite sides of the tank then come together and immediately release eggs. You would have to do it ina spare tank, then just remove the parents.

I doubt they are hard to raise just time consuming like most tiny fish fry.
I am surprised very few people raise them.