Mandarin Dragonette

[cale_tino]

So I just got a mandarin dragonet about two days ago he’s in my 40gal and he has just stays in the spot, he’s in the corner of my tank he moves around, but he doesn’t go far from it, he’s pretty small and definitely skinny I can’t tell if he’s eating, I do have a pretty good pod population. dose he just need to get used to tank before he starts moving around and looking for food or should I be worried?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So I just got a mandarin dragonet about two days ago he’s in my 40gal and he has just stays in the spot, he’s in the corner of my tank he moves around, but he doesn’t go far from it, he’s pretty small and definitely skinny I can’t tell if he’s eating, I do have a pretty good pod population. dose he just need to get used to tank before he starts moving around and looking for food or should I be worried?

Hard to say with just the info you provided. Are there other fish in the tank that might be bullying it? Was it wild caught or captive bred? Will it eat prepared foods?

 

[cale_tino]

Hard to say with just the info you provided. Are there other fish in the tank that might be bullying it? Was it wild caught or captive bred? Will it eat prepared foods?

I have no idea if it’s wild or not. The fish that I have don’t seem to pay attention to him and he hasn’t taken any prepared food.

 

[Cheese Griller]

How much rock is in your tank? Mandarins need an extensive rock scape to forage, and to hide in for cover.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A short video will help... the fish should be constantly cruising the rocks all day, and you should see it picking at the rocks every few seconds. He might be sick, but need a short video and more info on your tank

 

[belize fisher]

Hard to say with just the info you provided. Are there other fish in the tank that might be bullying it? Was it wild caught or captive bred? Will it eat prepared foods?

how many blood worms per single feeding should my mandarin dragonette eat?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

how many blood worms per single feeding should my mandarin dragonette eat?

They eat copepods

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

They eat copepods

And they don't do "single feedings"; they graze all day.

 

[belize fisher]

And they don't do "single feedings"; they graze all day.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Great, then ask the author of the podcast.

I stand by my comment.

 

[belize fisher]

Great, then ask the author of the podcast.

I stand by my comment.

i can't figure out how to do that. sorry you're vexed,i'm just trying to learn.

 

[Uncle99]

That’s very interesting!
Makes good sense to me.
Mine transitioned without help, but took months.

 

[PotatoPig]

Some people have success getting these fish to eat prepared foods, but it’s not easy or guaranteed.

Note that in the video he says it takes him about 2 weeks of specialized and controlled feeding to get these fish eating prepared foods.

Another challenge- note that he appears to run a single species tank, or one with very few other fish. Feeding mandarins in a tank with other fish is difficult because they aren’t nearly as quick at snapping it up and eat at a much more leisurely pace than most other commonly kept fish - so they can miss out.

By far the best way to successfully keep a dragonet is to have adequate rockwork and/or refugium capacity to ensure a food supply. Once you do that they’re a very easy and low maintenance fish to keep.

 

[belize fisher]

That’s very interesting!
Makes good sense to me.
Mine transitioned without help, but took months.

wow, mine took two days to eat the 'swirling' ones in the hatchling net and a week to eat the unmoving ones.he eats 6 or 7 blood worms twice a day in his own fluval 6 gal tank. he's getting fat but just wanted to be sure about amounts and times a day to feeds him.

 

[belize fisher]

wow, mine took two days to eat the 'swirling' ones in the hatchling net and a week to eat the unmoving ones.he eats 6 or 7 blood worms twice a day in his own fluval 6 gal tank. he's getting fat but just wanted to be sure about amounts and times a day to feeds him.

 

[Uncle99]

wow, mine took two days to eat the 'swirling' ones in the hatchling net and a week to eat the unmoving ones.he eats 6 or 7 blood worms twice a day in his own fluval 6 gal tank. he's getting fat but just wanted to be sure about amounts and times a day to feeds him.

Mine eat with everyone else, twice daily.

They magically appear when food his the water.

He (and she) pick the rocks all day and during twilight.

They do fine with just that….if they don’t look skinny, good chance, they are not going hungry.

 

[belize fisher]

Mine eat with everyone else, twice daily.

They magically appear when food his the water.

He (and she) pick the rocks all day and during twilight.

They do fine with just that….if they don’t look skinny, good chance, they are not going hungry.

thanks!

 

[Uncle99]

thanks!

They are Hunters!