Radiant wrasse housed with a Mandarin?

Hey guys,

I have a 135 reef aquarium that is 6 years old with a mandarin that is equally as old. Wondering if adding a radiant wrasse would be alright. I have a fair amount of rockwork and hoping that the wrasse and mandarin will have enough food without the mandarin starving.

Thanks!

 

I have 3 wrasse in my 125 and plenty of pods left. Including a 4 inch melarunus.

 

That's pretty encouraging. My worry is that since the mandarin is a slow mover he might get out-competed.

 

I personally wouldn't do it. Why take a chance on killing the Mandarin?

 

i agree. i wouldn't add the competition unless the mandarin is eating what you feed.

 

Thanks guys.

I should note that the mandarin does eat frozen food but only if he happens to have it float right by him.

It sure is a delicate situation....

 

yes, your tank could very well have the pod population to support both. i just know that if i had a 6 year old mandarin, i wouldn't want to risk it unless i was absolutely sure. By the way, congrats on the six year old mandarin.

karma for considering the mandarin and not just blindly adding the fish because you want it........probably why you have a six year old mandarin.

 

I wouldn't do it either. It might work, but I believe odds are the radiant will out-compete the mandarin eventually.

 

Nothing I've read about this fish gives any indication that it could NOT be kept with a Mandarin Dragonet. No where does it say that this fish eats massive amounts if any copods. So I'm confused about the replies? According to the info found in the links below this Wrasse would be just fine housed in a 135 with a Mandarin.
Radient Wrasse
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Radiant Wrasse
Radiant Wrasse, Orangehead Wrasse - Halichoeres iridis
FreshMarine.com - Radiant Wrasse - Halichoeres iridis - Buy Cheap Radiant Wrasse at Wholesale

 

As always, my replies come from nothing more than my own personal experiences. In this case, not with halichoeres iridis but with halichoeres melanurus, haliocheres chrysus, and halichoeres ornatissumus. Each of which hunt or hunted non-stop in my tank.....the canary jumped. Like i said earlier, this does not mean certain failure but i wouldn't risk adding a fish that i think will out compete the mandarin if pods are limited.