Starry Blenny chasing mandarin

[JAMreef]

I finally bought a mandarin for my tank after holding out all this time for my tank to hit the year mark! I acclimated him yesterday and he is already hopping around the tank pecking at pods.

After all the research and preparation for making the tank “perfect” for him my starry blenny is chasing him around the tank. I didn’t even consider this being a problem since they are a different size and body shape.

Has anyone had a starry blenny with a mandarin before? Will he let up or should I place the blenny in quarantine until the mandarin establishes himself? (Tank is 75 gallon)

 

[Adamantium]

I finally bought a mandarin for my tank after holding out all this time for my tank to hit the year mark! I acclimated him yesterday and he is already hopping around the tank pecking at pods.

After all the research and preparation for making the tank “perfect” for him my starry blenny is chasing him around the tank. I didn’t even consider this being a problem since they are a different size and body shape.

Has anyone had a starry blenny with a mandarin before? Will he let up or should I place the blenny in quarantine until the mandarin establishes himself? (Tank is 75 gallon)

I had the same exact issue. Ended up bringing the Blenny back to the LFS, since the mandarin had been there for years.

My understanding is that they’re both detritivores, so the blenny sees the mandarin as competition for food.

 

[JAMreef]

I had the same exact issue. Ended up bringing the Blenny back to the LFS, since the mandarin had been there for years.

My understanding is that they’re both detritivores, so the blenny sees the mandarin as competition for food.

I hate to say it, even though I’ve had the blenny for well over a year (in a biocube) I would not hesitate to take him out over the mandarin.

I hope this does not turn out to be the case though. I’m just wondering at what point do I take him out. How long do I wait to see if the blenny will leave the mandarin alone?

 

[JAMreef]

I had the same exact issue. Ended up bringing the Blenny back to the LFS, since the mandarin had been there for years.

My understanding is that they’re both detritivores, so the blenny sees the mandarin as competition for food.

Do you think taking the blenny out and placing him in quarantine to reintroduce at a later time might work?

 

[Adamantium]

Do you think taking the blenny out and placing him in quarantine to reintroduce at a later time might work?

I really doubt it. Mine was the reverse (blenny introduced second), and the blenny was still relentless.

Is the mandarin eating prepared foods?

 

[JAMreef]

I really doubt it. Mine was the reverse (blenny introduced second), and the blenny was still relentless.

Is the mandarin eating prepared foods?

When I ordered it from my LFS they told me the mandarin was captive bred. Not sure if that meant it was also eating prepared foods. He’s also only been in the tank for 24 hours and I have yet to see it eat anything other than pods.

Food should not be an issue since I’ve been putting pods in the tank for some time.

 

[KrisReef]

Don’t wait until the Starry rips the Mandarin a knew tail fin. If it is being relentless it will not stop.

 

[JAMreef]

Don’t wait until the Starry rips the Mandarin a knew tail fin. If it is being relentless it will not stop.

Definitely hasn’t reached that point. I would not stand by and allow that to carry on.

Blenny has chased him a couple times today. For the past couple hours it seems the blenny has gone the other way when the mandarin has approached him. I haven’t had any aggression in my tank since I try to choose peaceful tank mates. Was just surprised the blenny was acting so out of character.

 

[Tchung23]

When I ordered it from my LFS they told me the mandarin was captive bred. Not sure if that meant it was also eating prepared foods. He’s also only been in the tank for 24 hours and I have yet to see it eat anything other than pods.

Food should not be an issue since I’ve been putting pods in the tank for some time.

If it's captive bred it is most likely very small les than an inch in size. I would be very careful that the mandarin doesn't get beat up.

 

[JAMreef]

If it's captive bred it is most likely very small les than an inch in size. I would be very careful that the mandarin doesn't get beat up.

Thank you, will do. I made sure I ordered a medium sized mandarin. He came in and is about 1 1/2” - 2”.

 

[Afaylenerich88]

Rule number 1, no. More than 1 goby in the tank at a time. Gobys fight other gobys end 9f story gobys will also fight any other fish. Get rid of the mandarin. It's too peaceful for your choice of tank mates

 

[nereefpat]

Rule number 1, no. More than 1 goby in the tank at a time. Gobys fight other gobys end 9f story gobys will also fight any other fish. Get rid of the mandarin. It's too peaceful for your choice of tank mates

I think I see your point, but neither a starry blenny nor a mandarin are gobies.

 

[Cell]

I had a starry and a mandy together in a 55 gallon just fine. But if your particular starry decided it doesn't like the mandarin, I doubt it changes it's mind.

 

[Paheej]

I'll echo here on the removal of the Starry Blenny - I had one for about three months and he harrassed my Yasha Goby relentlessly - they look cool but they are aggressive ******s. Would not recommend for community tank.

 

[jgirardnrg]

My Starry Blenny did the same thing when I added a Tailspin Blenny. The aggression went on for about a week and stopped in my case.

 

[Afaylenerich88]

Ther called mandarin* gobys I have one. The blenny is still a cousin of the goby.. they are genetically related scientifically speaking.
They both stem from the same genius. Have just evolved differently due to environment.
Thus making blenny more or less a sub category of goby.
Anyways I hope it works out.
I'd feed the blenny more but make sure your mandarin isnt lethargic either if the blenny notices he can have the upper hand he will take it for sure. It can work in larger aquariums. My orange spotted blenny/goby was a serial killer. It even managed to kill 2 of my royals in my 120gal.

You can view my mandarin goby here.

 

[JAMreef]

Ther called mandarin* gobys I have one. The blenny is still a cousin of the goby.. they are genetically related scientifically speaking.
They both stem from the same genius. Have just evolved differently due to environment.
Thus making blenny more or less a sub category of goby.
Anyways I hope it works out.
I'd feed the blenny more but make sure your mandarin isnt lethargic either if the blenny notices he can have the upper hand he will take it for sure. It can work in larger aquariums. My orange spotted blenny/goby was a serial killer. It even managed to kill 2 of my royals in my 120gal.

You can view my mandarin goby here.

Thanks for the post. Beautiful fish! The mandarin and the starry blenny coexist in my tank just fine now. They are tolerant of each other. If the mandarin comes to close to my starry blenny, he will just move to another rock. The chasing stopped after a day of two.

 

[Afaylenerich88]

I try to help educate anyone I can, to help form a clear path to success. I can only give advice on what I've already learned the hard way for lack of better words.
This is seen alot with tangs. People just throw a gem tang and a yellow tang and purple tang together. Forgetting the fact they are still zebrasoma genius.
It's our fault ultimately as hobbyist for the miss guided information. Because success comes at different levels in the hobbie. But if you form the clear path to that success you will benefit from it most And your live stock will too.

If we stopped and thought out our plans for a few more hours I'm sure we would all have different tanks fosure. Glad it's working out for you! You must have the secret sauce
And know patience and knowledge is the path to success

 

[jaganshi066]

I'll echo here on the removal of the Starry Blenny - I had one for about three months and he harrassed my Yasha Goby relentlessly - they look cool but they are aggressive ******s. Would not recommend for community tank.

I agree, another guy made a post regarding blennies and they are just aggressive. In my opinion even more than dwarf angels, once it goes after the fish it’s like a shark that hasn’t eaten for a long time.

 

[Kyuubi]

I try to help educate anyone I can, to help form a clear path to success. I can only give advice on what I've already learned the hard way for lack of better words.
This is seen alot with tangs. People just throw a gem tang and a yellow tang and purple tang together. Forgetting the fact they are still zebrasoma genius.
It's our fault ultimately as hobbyist for the miss guided information. Because success comes at different levels in the hobbie. But if you form the clear path to that success you will benefit from it most And your live stock will too.

If we stopped and thought out our plans for a few more hours I'm sure we would all have different tanks fosure. Glad it's working out for you! You must have the secret sauce
And know patience and knowledge is the path to success

Ther called mandarin* gobys I have one. The blenny is still a cousin of the goby.. they are genetically related scientifically speaking.
They both stem from the same genius. Have just evolved differently due to environment.
Thus making blenny more or less a sub category of goby.
Anyways I hope it works out.
I'd feed the blenny more but make sure your mandarin isnt lethargic either if the blenny notices he can have the upper hand he will take it for sure. It can work in larger aquariums. My orange spotted blenny/goby was a serial killer. It even managed to kill 2 of my royals in my 120gal.

You can view my mandarin goby here.

From what I’ve read, they are now called Mandarin Dragonets because they were classified wrong.