Show off your Mandarin

[Mflores888]

Mandarins are some of my favorite fish

I tried it with 3 blue in the past and they all died because they didn't eat.

I then got a target mandarin who quickly ate pellets but it died when my tank crashed

Finally over a year ago I got a pair of biota mandarins for $85 and gave it a try. They have survived, grown and gotten some gorgeous colors

Let's see your mandarins, green, blue, red, wild or captive bred!

 

[Slocke]

I struggle to get good pictures but here are my Biota's:

 

[dstockwell]

Sweet

 

[Mflores888]

I struggle to get good pictures but here are my Biota's:

I think my male was smaller than the one you have there. Probably smaller than my nail when I got him. The female was so much larger and then one day the male tripled in size, it was crazy

 

[Lavey29]

Mine on a trachy

 

[Mflores888]

Mine on a trachy

Mine wasn't on the trachy but it does tend to patrol the Trachy more than any other coral. I wonder if its looking underneath for pods?

 

[SamsReef]

Nice and chunky. This one is wild Going strong for last 4 yrs. I do have a biota mandarin in my frag tank. She is a beauty after 2 yrs. Came in super small.

 

[MelancholyBlenny]

Heres my little dude, loves to hang out on this coral and his little cave above it.

 

[Gtinnel]

Here is a picture of my spotted mandarin that I took with an orange filter on my phone.

 

[Mflores888]

Here is a picture of my spotted mandarin that I took with an orange filter on my phone.

I remember when I had my flatworm problem this little dude took care of it in no time

 

[Gtinnel]

I remember when I had my flatworm problem this little dude took care of it in no time

I at one point had planaria flat worms. I’m not sure if it was the mandarin or my wrasse (or both) that got rid of them, but that is the reason I picked the spotted mandarin over the traditional green one. At first I didn’t like the look of the spotted as much, but mine has grown on me.

 

[Mflores888]

I at one point had planaria flat worms. I’m not sure if it was the mandarin or my wrasse (or both) that got rid of them, but that is the reason I picked the spotted mandarin over the traditional green one. At first I didn’t like the look of the spotted as much, but mine has grown on me.

I did the same thing with the spotted and a the yellow corris. I noticed the yellow would eat the big ones and the spotted took care of the small one's. They are definitely better for pest control

 

[Gtinnel]

I did the same thing with the spotted and a the yellow corris. I noticed the yellow would eat the big ones and the spotted took care of the small one's. They are definitely better for pest control

My wrasse was/is a melanarus. I’m not sure who fixed my issue since I never saw either one of them eat a flatworm, but someone took care of them for me.

 

[Mflores888]

My wrasse was/is a melanarus. I’m not sure who fixed my issue since I never saw either one of them eat a flatworm, but someone took care of them for me.

At least you got the problem solved.

This is why I keep various wrasses in the tank, best pest control available

 

[52728299]

This is my biota right after going in tank. Think he's doubled in size already. I'll have to take a better picture soon.

 

[ninjamyst]

For those that went with biota, how do you make sure other fish don't outcompete the Mandarin for pellets or frozen?? I have a 200g tank and would love a mandarin but I have like 20 fish including 5 wrasses that are very aggressive with food....

 

[52728299]

For those that went with biota, how do you make sure other fish don't outcompete the Mandarin for pellets or frozen?? I have a 200g tank and would love a mandarin but I have like 20 fish including 5 wrasses that are very aggressive with food....

I would turn off pumps, throw in some big fish food to the side away from the dragonete and then almost basically spot feed the guy. Usually tho I feed enough food where there's enough floating around that some will pass right by the dragonete, plenty to go around. I've been giving him frozen baby brine and tiny hatchery pellets, I also throw pods in just cause I know my tanks is on the small side and I'm paranoid about him starving.

 

[Slocke]

 

[las]

Mandarins are some of my favorite fish

I tried it with 3 blue in the past and they all died because they didn't eat.

I then got a target mandarin who quickly ate pellets but it died when my tank crashed

Finally over a year ago I got a pair of biota mandarins for $85 and gave it a try. They have survived, grown and gotten some gorgeous colors

Let's see your mandarins, green, blue, red, wild or captive bred!

Stunning colors! Are all biota’s this color or did you luck out?

 

[las]

Nice and chunky. This one is wild Going strong for last 4 yrs. I do have a biota mandarin in my frag tank. She is a beauty after 2 yrs. Came in super small.

How much has she grown in 2 years? Do you feed her or let her pick at pods on her own?