Green Mandarin

[Ricey]

hi all,

just after a bit of info on the Green Mandarin (Synchiropus Splendidus)
are they difficult to care for and feed?
can one of these be kept with other blennies or gobies in a reef setup?

e.g.
yellow watchman goby
or algae blennie
or scooter blennie

thanks

 

[boshank23]

they are certainly not an easy fish to get to feed, most will only eat pod life they encounter in your tank. if you don't have alot of pod life its not a good idea.

not sure how they will do with your list of fish but i can see a couple that will compete for food so again perhaps not the best choice of tank mates.

 

[Ricey]

yeah thats what i was thinking.

i've read that their mouths are shaped to only eat pod life on live rock etc. would the algea blennie compete for pod life? i thought they only ate algea and vegie matter? (i could be wrong there though) i was more worried about possible aggression form the blennie/goby types?

pitty. they are amazing fish, and my LFS has loads of them.

 

[-Nemo-]

As said, most mandarins will not except frozen foods, though if you happen to find one that does, i suppose it could be worth a shot. Fat bellies in the lfs are a good sign to look for and always ask for the help to feed them and see which eats the frozen food. My lfs recently has had some that eat frozen foods (Been debating about getting one myself)
Most that die from starvation, do so around 6 months after being in the tank.

As for compatibility, aggression wise, Gobies would be fine, blennies it depends on the type. The two kinds you put down Scooter (which is really another type of Dragonet like the mandarin) would be fine, But they also eat the pods, so there may be some competition for food.
As for the algae (aka lawnmower) blenny, I have read that some people say they shouldn't be put together, while other have put them together and have had no problems. I suppose its just one of those things where it depends on the fish's personality.

If i have any incorrect information, someone can feel free to correct me, but everything I said is from what i've read.

 

[Lynden]

As said, most mandarins will not except frozen foods, though if you happen to find one that does, i suppose it could be worth a shot. Fat bellies in the lfs are a good sign to look for and always ask for the help to feed them and see which eats the frozen food. My lfs recently has had some that eat frozen foods (Been debating about getting one myself)
Most that die from starvation, do so around 6 months after being in the tank.

As for compatibility, aggression wise, Gobies would be fine, blennies it depends on the type. The two kinds you put down Scooter (which is really another type of Dragonet like the mandarin) would be fine, But they also eat the pods, so there may be some competition for food.
As for the algae (aka lawnmower) blenny, I have read that some people say they shouldn't be put together, while other have put them together and have had no problems. I suppose its just one of those things where it depends on the fish's personality.

If i have any incorrect information, someone can feel free to correct me, but everything I said is from what i've read.

Looks like good advice to me.

 

[N1z]

I would just like to add that i asked a LFS when i worked there for one day lol, what they feed them and he goes well we try but they dont eat but they usually sold before they die. So really i think its wrong selling madarins to their graves.

 

[Ricey]

n1z thats crazy!
bet your glad you dont work there anymore!
i think i would go mad if i worked in a place that has that attitude!

 

[Lord_Dante]

My LFS has loads of them. They all eat Frozen food. I've seen them feed. Was interested in getting one but I'll wait till I have a bigger tank with some established food as well as the frozen mix to supplement its diet.

 

[boshank23]

ok i have just bought a mandarin, she eats frozen baby mysis if i plonk them right in front of her. she was eating frozen in the shop, made sure i saw her take a bit before i took the plunge.

i found using a turkey baster with the food in does the job quite nicely, i am able to put the food at her mouth.