Tanaka Pygmy Wrasse + 2 Mandarin Dragonet!

[Habachi_Grill]

Who has experience and would be open to share about a tank rehoming multiple dragonets and a possum wrasse! Or multiple species competing for same food source (pods)?

Context: Innovative Marine Peninsula 14 Gal

I brought home 2 wild mandarins! Was able to get them to eat live + frozen brine, baby brine shrimp, white worms, copepod culture fairly quickly within the first 2 days. It's always been on my dream list of fish to include a tanaka pygmy wrasse into my home but I was a bit anxious on pod population obviously for such a small tank. It just so happens that I come across a local vendor that carried this specimen that has already been quarantine for the last 8 weeks on mysis and brine shrimp. Not every day you see a tanaka pygmy wrasse let alone a specimen that has already gone through extensive quarantine as what I am told. I believe I will be fine since they will get a taste of the good stuff with me (home cultured baby brine, white worms, copepod). I just wanted to see if anyone has attempted and how did it work out?

I culture tigger pods and harvest every 7 days.
I culture baby brine shrimp every couple of days. On alternate days I harvest white worm sample
On lazy days they get regular brine and frozen brine mixed

 

[Lasse]

The tanaka is - IMO - the most sensitive and delicate species of the three known species. If this is in good condition and used of frozen old artemia/ frozen cyclops - I would give it a try.

I have had possum wrasses together with many other pod eating species in a 80 gallon tank.

At the moment I have one Wetmorella nigropinnata, two red scooter blennies, 2 sailfin blennies, 3 yellow wrasses, 1 Macropharyngodon meleagris, many different gobies, mimic filefish, 1 Chelmon rostratus, 2 Assessor macneilli, 2 Manonichthys alleni and a lot of damsels. It has plenty of competing fish with other words.

However - its a shy fish and need a lot of hiding places. If you buy it - you probably will not spot it for a long time - it takes a long time before they use to dare showing up at bright daylight

Sincerely Lasse

 

[homer1475]

I would not put that many specific pod eaters in a 14G tank.

You cannot put anywhere near enough rock in the tank to give the pods safe places to breed.

 

[Lasse]

I would not put that many specific pod eaters in a 14G tank.

You cannot put anywhere near enough rock in the tank to give the pods safe places to breed.

If already used of frozen adult artemia - I do not see any problems. However I would add frozen freshwater cyclops too.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Mflores888]

I have 3 possums, 2 mandarins, and 3 wrasses that eat pods and stuff and they haven't starved yet.

All of them are eating pellets and frozen food so I think it helps with the pod consumption.

 

[Habachi_Grill]

The tanaka is - IMO - the most sensitive and delicate species of the three known species. If this is in good condition and used of frozen old artemia/ frozen cyclops - I would give it a try.

I have had possum wrasses together with many other pod eating species in a 80 gallon tank.

At the moment I have one Wetmorella nigropinnata, two red scooter blennies, 2 sailfin blennies, 3 yellow wrasses, 1 Macropharyngodon meleagris, many different gobies, mimic filefish, 1 Chelmon rostratus, 2 Assessor macneilli, 2 Manonichthys alleni and a lot of damsels. It has plenty of competing fish with other words.

However - its a shy fish and need a lot of hiding places. If you buy it - you probably will not spot it for a long time - it takes a long time before they use to dare showing up at bright daylight

Sincerely Lasse

Thanks for the reply! I've been on the hunt for this specimen for almost 2 years so I couldn't pass up the opportunity! In terms of livestock, its 2 Mandarin and the pygmy wrasse to come so very peaceful tank~

 

[Habachi_Grill]

I would not put that many specific pod eaters in a 14G tank.

You cannot put anywhere near enough rock in the tank to give the pods safe places to breed.

Definitely no way for pods to breed, but that's why I culture on the side and add weekly

 

[Habachi_Grill]

If already used of frozen adult artemia - I do not see any problems. However I would add frozen freshwater cyclops too.

Sincerely Lasse

Noted! I think they have a pretty wide selection of foods as is but doesn't hurt to give that a try as well!

 

[Habachi_Grill]

I have 3 possums, 2 mandarins, and 3 wrasses that eat pods and stuff and they haven't starved yet.

All of them are eating pellets and frozen food so I think it helps with the pod consumption.

Amazing! What size is your tank if you don't mind me asking? Please send over pictures!

 

[blaxsun]

Well, if you don't mind supplementing pods or if you can get the mandarins switched over to frozen you'll be fine. I have a half dozen wrasses and one mandarin in my tank and they're doing great - but I probably have 150lbs+ of rock in the 160-gallon display.

 

[Habachi_Grill]

Dream fish

 

[Lasse]

Congratulations

Sincerely Lasse