Mandarin dragonet tankmates?

[Fish_are_friends]

Hey, I’m new to the forum and aquarium hobby. Me and my family are trying to get a saltwater aquarium, and was I wondering if things like clown fish, hermit crabs porcelain crabs, and others could be kept with a mandarin dragonet.

 

[bluemon]

Hey, I’m new to the forum and aquarium hobby. Me and my family are trying to get a saltwater aquarium, and was I wondering if things like clown fish, hermit crabs porcelain crabs, and others could be kept with a mandarin dragonet.

I would rethink a mandarin if you are new to the hobby.

They need a really well established tank, as they really only feed on small live bugs we call pods (copepods, amphipods, etc).

You can get one that accepts frozen food but that alone cannot keep a mandarin fat and healthy.

Unless you are willing to throw in a bottle of pods every week for $$, I would skip.

 

[slingfox]

A mandarin is a beautiful fish. It should get along without issue with the tank mates you list. To keep a mandarin successfully the tank needs to be large enough and mature. You may also want to avoid other pod eaters like wrasses depending on tank size and maturity. Captive bred (eg, from Biota) should also increase the likelihood of success.

 

[Fish_are_friends]

I would rethink a mandarin if you are new to the hobby.

They need a really well established tank, as they really only feed on small live bugs we call pods (copepods, amphipods, etc).

You can get one that accepts frozen food but that alone cannot keep a mandarin fat and healthy.

Unless you are willing to throw in a bottle of pods every week for $$, I would skip.

Ok, thank you! I knew they aren’t good for new hobbyists, but I was willing to give it a try and read somewhere the challenge is having a stable supply of copepods. Will probably have to put off getting one until I’m more experienced

 

[Fish_are_friends]

A mandarin is a beautiful fish. It should get along without issue with the tank mates you list. To keep a mandarin successfully the tank needs to be large enough and mature. You may also want to avoid other pod eaters like wrasses depending on tank size and maturity. Captive bred (eg, from Biota) should also increase the likelihood of success.

I was ever planning on getting wild caught fish, I find it cruel and wrong, unless you can’t get it any other way and need to breed them. Good to know I can keep it with those.

 

[Reeferbadness]

I've had one for 5+ years... tank mates are not an issue - even my more aggressive fish simply leave mine alone. Eating, on the other hand, is an issue. I added our to my 200g tank after about 6 months. I also added pods and have a refugium. He doesn't eat any mysis or pellets, only the pods that he gets scavenging around the tank.

 

[D'sreef]

I would agree with everyone the mandarin is not the most beginner friendly of fish. Definitely need to make sure you find a regular source of pods, or start your own culture, or both as you start. It will be surprising how fast that they and clear a tank of pods. I have never successfully got one to eat frozen, but most of the ones I kept were before captive breed were widely available.

 

[anizato]

since i got the royal gamma and the goby she has been more out and about, i was thinking of adding another free swimming/floating fish but the tank is too small for that, i would add something chill like a cardinal as well of you can.