biota mandarin help

[jadedog]

Good afternoon,

I just received my "XL biota" mandarin today my plan was to release him in my main tank. I was expecting him to be a bit bigger and I've read a couple post about Bangai Cardinals eating small mandarins. I happen to have a full grown Bangai Cardinal that loves to chase my other fish away from him if there in his area. He's more of a bluffer but after reading some post I'm kinda worried. I have a extra tank in my basement I could setup but I know the mandarin would fair way better in the main setup.

 

[Baldyreef]

Good afternoon,

I just received my "XL biota" mandarin today my plan was to release him in my main tank. I was expecting him to be a bit bigger and I've read a couple post about Bangai Cardinals eating small mandarins. I happen to have a full grown Bangai Cardinal that loves to chase my other fish away from him if there in his area. He's more of a bluffer but after reading some post I'm kinda worried. I have a extra tank in my basement I could setup but I know the mandarin would fair way better in the main setup.

how big is the mandarin?

 

[jadedog]

how big is the mandarin?

Probably 1" to 1.5"

 

[Baldyreef]

they should be fine with each other then, that size even for a full grown bangaii cardinal wont fit in its mouth

 

[jadedog]

they should be fine with each other then, that size even for a full grown bangaii cardinal wont fit in its mouth

Ok I think I'll give it a shot. I do have a royal gramma that was about 2 inches when I introduced it and the bangai only ever chased him if he got to close but the gramma was definitely thicker then the mandarin.

 

[kevgib67]

I put one in less than an inch with a lot of big fish including the same cardinal and now it’s 2 1/2 inches. They have a toxic slime coat that protects them from being eaten.

 

[jadedog]

I put one in less than an inch with a lot of big fish including the same cardinal and now it’s 2 1/2 inches. They have a toxic slime coat that protects them from being eaten.

Did you use a acclimation box? If so how long did you use it for.

 

[kevgib67]

Did you use a acclimation box? If so how long did you use it for.

The first one was from Dr. Reef, instructions were to plop it in and it swam into the rocks. The second one was from an LFS when me and my sons were at a frag swap in Cleveland. He was drip acclimated and plopped in.

 

[jadedog]

The first one was from Dr. Reef, instructions were to plop it in and it swam into the rocks. The second one was from an LFS when me and my sons were at a frag swap in Cleveland. He was drip acclimated and plopped in.

Gorgeous mandarins! I think I will set mine free tonight and hope for the best. He doesn't get a chance to get many pods locked in the acclimation box.

 

[kevgib67]

Gorgeous mandarins! I think I will set mine free tonight and hope for the best. He doesn't get a chance to get many pods locked in the acclimation box.

Good luck, it will be fine! You do have a lot of rock and hiding spots?

 

[jadedog]

Good luck, it will be fine! You do have a lot of rock and hiding spots?

Yes I have a lot of overhangs and a few caves. I added a lot more rock in his anticipation and I have a few jars of copepods that I plan on dosing tonight. The only fish that worries me is the Bangai but I am hopeful.

 

[kevgib67]

Yes I have a lot of overhangs and a few caves. I added a lot more rock in his anticipation and I have a few jars of copepods that I plan on dosing tonight. The only fish that worries me is the Bangai but I am hopeful.

You’ll be fine and don’t worry about the cardinal!

 

[UncommonSense]

It’s worth noting that mandarins have a mucous coating which is unpleasant in flavor (bitter, if memory serves me right), this allows them to be left relatively undisturbed in tanks with much larger fish!

(In fact, a local reefing buddy has several in his tank with multiple large tangs, angels, cardinals, and a 6”+ wrasse!)