Mandarin goby

Today I went to my LFS and noticed this mandarin I have been watching for the past 8 months He is a green spotted mandarin, and is in a 29 gallon, to demonstrate how to properly train them to eat prepared foods. I was very surprised to see him alive after 1 month but let alone 8? They have trained him first on frozen mysis and brine, and then slowly over the last few months switched him onto pellets and flakes,with the occasional copepods still obviously, but seeing this is just astonishing! I had always hear this is impossible, but infact they have several for sale I have seen being trained in the same manner! Obviously This is a huge commitment still, to make sure he gets enough to eat, but I am convinced, if you are dedicated, you could keep one in a smaller tank, in fact I have been researching and heard several success stories. This is very good to hear, that eventually once my tank is established, I may be able to support one, provided I take the right steps.

Anyone else heard or seen this?

 

No I haven't but I know they need to be in a tank that has been established for some time,I think it's great that they are doing good and especially at a lfs...I want to get some mandarins down the line but I know there's alot to consider,they are very beautiful creatures

 

Definitely, I'm setting up a pod farm and breeding nudis in my tank to just for added live foods lots of work.

 

The problem keeping a Mandarin in such a small tank even one who accepts prepared foods is that this fish will eventually clean the entire pod population out of a small tank in short order, meaning it will eventually only be feeding on prepared foods. The problem with that as I see it is you would have to feed it so often tank maintenance will be a nightmare. Add to this if you have any other fish in the tank the competition for food will be great. Mandarins are slow non aggresive feeders. There are many people who have tried Mandarins in small tanks on this forum and there rate of success has not been good. It can take months for these fish to starve to death. Heres a good link.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/fish-month/mandarin-dragonette-fotm-may-08-a-47991.html
Buying pods all the time would be quite expensive. Farming your own would probably be your best option but it would require some work.

 

hmmm. well I have heard this as well, which is why I havent gotten one myself. I would love one and I have a high pod count, but as you said that can be cleaned up quite quickly... I would love a nice fish for my 20g, I am just not sure what to add, currently I only have 1 Ocellaris, and some invert, I don't want a 2nd Ocellaris.. But I am not sure what to get next.. I would love to get a yasha, but they are difficult to come by where I live

 

Hi Nanoman. My tank isn't much bigger then yours. 26g Here's my stock at the moment.
1 occy clown aptly named Cujo.
1 Orange Fire fish-gotta mesh top on my tank
1 Yellowtail Fang Blenny. I love Blennys most of all
1 Tangroa Goby/Randall pistol shrimp
And soon to come is my last, White Banded Possum Wrasse.
A few others you may wanna check out are: Chalk Bass, Orange Lined Cardinals. All these fish make for a great community tank. Stay small at under 3" and have lots of color and wonderful personalities

 

thanks for the reply!

 

I have seen and herd of some people doing this but be for warned that it is a gamble and may of may not work. I tried in my 20 gallon and it seemed to be working but my female chocked on a pice of sand or somthing and I havent tried since.