Mandarin Gobys

[MrMeanyHead]

I wanna preface this by don’t be an butt because I know this is a stupid question.
However, I want to know if it’s possible to keep a mandarin goby in a nano tank, IF, you are dosing with copepods on a consistent basis and as well it is tank raised and eats frozen food.

Again don’t be an butt be constructive or tell me if you think it would work.
Thank you.

 

[Fish Fan]

First, look for the aquacultured Mandarins from Biota Marine, these will eat pellets and other prepared foods, making them a lot easier to keep.

Mandarin Fish

Synchiropus splendidus-Biota’s captive-bred mandarins are incredibly beautiful in coloration and readily feed on prepared diets. Wild caught mandarins are poor aquarium inhabitants and an overwhelming number die in the aquarium trade each year even in ideal conditions. Since mandarins are a...

shop.thebiotagroup.com

Still, I wouldn't keep one in less than 30-40 gallons. They are active fish, always hopping around the rocks looking for food. I think they need real estate as much as they need a constant food source.

Slightly smaller but similar are scooter blenies, which might be a better fit for smaller nano tanks.

Good luck!

 

[Marine Betta]

I wanna preface this by don’t be an butt because I know this is a stupid question.
However, I want to know if it’s possible to keep a mandarin goby in a nano tank, IF, you are dosing with copepods on a consistent basis and as well it is tank raised and eats frozen food.

Again don’t be an butt be constructive or tell me if you think it would work.
Thank you.

Yes, it can work, but it’s not the easiest thing. Even captive bred mandarins need a constant supply of pods unless you have a drip line of food. I would add a refugium, dose pods at least once a month like you said, and add more live rock than you think you need. Do not add any tank mates that would compete for pods (dottybacks and wrasses for example).

I think 30 gallons is the absolute smallest I would go, but they typically do better in aquariums 75+ gallons.

 

[BryanM]

I just asked Biota if they had any long term success stories where they were only fed flake foods.... We'll see what they come back with.

My wife wants one pretty bad, but not with the extra feeding work.

 

[MrMeanyHead]

First, look for the aquacultured Mandarins from Biota Marine, these will eat pellets and other prepared foods, making them a lot easier to keep.

Mandarin Fish

Synchiropus splendidus-Biota’s captive-bred mandarins are incredibly beautiful in coloration and readily feed on prepared diets. Wild caught mandarins are poor aquarium inhabitants and an overwhelming number die in the aquarium trade each year even in ideal conditions. Since mandarins are a...

shop.thebiotagroup.com

Still, I wouldn't keep one in less than 30-40 gallons. They are active fish, always hopping around the rocks looking for food. I think they need real estate as much as they need a constant food source.

Slightly smaller but similar are scooter blenies, which might be a better fit for smaller nano tanks.

Good luck!

How much space would you say is needed for a mandarin or a scooter blenny

 

[Fish Fan]

How much space would you say is needed for a mandarin or a scooter blenny

I think typically about 40 gallons minimum, and assuming you get one of the aquacultured fish. Larger is definitely better for these fish as they need constant food sources to peck at throughout the day.

 

[Freenow54]

I wanna preface this by don’t be an butt because I know this is a stupid question.
However, I want to know if it’s possible to keep a mandarin goby in a nano tank, IF, you are dosing with copepods on a consistent basis and as well it is tank raised and eats frozen food.

Again don’t be an butt be constructive or tell me if you think it would work.
Thank you.

Look into raising white worms seems dead easy . You can buy them , and just keep them fed look on Paul Bs thread him and Atoll do it , Atoll has a feeding video the fish go nuts

 

[DewDew92]

In my limited knowledge i would say the bigger space you can give them the better. Had one in a 20g many years ago and ended up rehoming him as it obviously wasnt thriving. This is my guy now in my 75g and i think hes happy and healthy enough. That being said i would ask yourself how much do you really want one and how much effort your willing to put in more importantly. I target feed him minimum twice a day in a quiet corner and he knows exactly what the pippet is and comes straight over to it as hes not quick enough on the broadcast feed. Im lucky with what he eats, i feed him mysis, brine shrimp both mixed with TDO chromo boost B2 and Artemia bottled then dose pods once a week but the tank has a healthy population anyway but he is always on the go so just to make sure. Good luck if you do get one though, brilliant little guys!

 

[MrMeanyHead]

In my limited knowledge i would say the bigger space you can give them the better. Had one in a 20g many years ago and ended up rehoming him as it obviously wasnt thriving. This is my guy now in my 75g and i think hes happy and healthy enough. That being said i would ask yourself how much do you really want one and how much effort your willing to put in more importantly. I target feed him minimum twice a day in a quiet corner and he knows exactly what the pippet is and comes straight over to it as hes not quick enough on the broadcast feed. Im lucky with what he eats, i feed him mysis, brine shrimp both mixed with TDO chromo boost B2 and Artemia bottled then dose pods once a week but the tank has a healthy population anyway but he is always on the go so just to make sure. Good luck if you do get one though, brilliant little guys!

so you would not recommend for smaller tanks, do you think other dragonets would be good for a smaller system

 

[MrMeanyHead]

I think typically about 40 gallons minimum, and assuming you get one of the aquacultured fish. Larger is definitely better for these fish as they need constant food sources to peck at throughout the day.

do you think you could do a different dragonet in a nano or is it just not possible

 

[Fish Fan]

do you think you could do a different dragonet in a nano or is it just not possible

What size tank do you have?

I think something like a scooter blennie might be alright in like a 30 gallon. The problem is that they are all specialist feeders, and you need to provide enough rock work to provide a constant source of food. Finding tank-reared fish that accept prepared foods can help, but even then some times they go back to only eating live 'pods.

 

[Mebbid]

To my understanding, scooters have an even worse time eating prepared food than mandarins

 

[Bucrob]

To my understanding, scooters have an even worse time eating prepared food than mandarins

I've had a red scooter blenny for over 4 months now and he has never not eaten frozen. The problem comes to the food actually getting to him since he's in a tank with chromis, clowns, tangs, and wrasses that all hog the food but if he can find the food on the floor or floating by him he will surely eat it.

 

[Bucrob]

I wanna preface this by don’t be an butt because I know this is a stupid question.
However, I want to know if it’s possible to keep a mandarin goby in a nano tank, IF, you are dosing with copepods on a consistent basis and as well it is tank raised and eats frozen food.

Again don’t be an butt be constructive or tell me if you think it would work.
Thank you.

In your situation, you could probably get away with a captive bred mandarin if you have a lots of rock in the tank. If the "nano" is a peninsula or lagoon style tank rather than a cube even better since that allows more space for rock and for him to hop around.

 

[MrMeanyHead]

Unfortunately it sounds like I’ll have to pass on the all of the dragonets for now. Maybe once I upgrade my tank or get more experience I’ll try as I currently have a 13.5 gallon.
I found a great video of someone who has been successful raising mandarins in small tanks(9-15 gallons) and getting them to eat frozen foods. So if anyone wants that just let me know I’ll put a link to the video.
Thank you for all the help it was greatly appreciated.

 

[Denst]

I have had a scooter in my 30g for a couple of weeks now to help with flat worms, they have deffinetly dropped, he also eats anything frozen that drifts in front of him ( mysis and brine mostly).
Might have got lucky though, he seems happy enough

 

[hbboarder87]

The Mandarin I have from biota is eating my sis and new life spectrum pellets the smallest ones. The ones that come from biota are pretty small. I honestly don’t think you’ll have an issue in a nano with one.

 

[MrMeanyHead]

The Mandarin I have from biota is eating my sis and new life spectrum pellets the smallest ones. The ones that come from biota are pretty small. I honestly don’t think you’ll have an issue in a nano with one.

How long have you had it and in what tank size. I just don’t think a 13.5 gallon will be enough

 

[DillyP]

I had a spotted mandarin in my fluval 13.5 for about a year before he got upgraded, established pods already in there and 3 separate 1 gallon containers for cultivating pods. Even with the 90 he's in now I still wouldn't do it without my Refugium and the pod cultures split and added bi monthly. If you see your mandarin out he should be hunting and eating pods almost constantly!! (Wild caught of course)

 

[MrMeanyHead]

I had a spotted mandarin in my fluval 13.5 for about a year before he got upgraded, established pods already in there and 3 separate 1 gallon containers for cultivating pods. Even with the 90 he's in now I still wouldn't do it without my Refugium and the pod cultures split and added bi monthly. If you see your mandarin out he should be hunting and eating pods almost constantly!! (Wild caught of course)

I have another 3 gallon tank I could use to breed pods. Would you say it was a lot of work. Also do you think it would be a good long term home for him. As I wouldn’t be able to upgrade for 3-4 years at the earliest.