Mandarin Size

[jerrod]

How big should a Mandarin be before adding to a stocked tank.

I have a fully stocked 280 gallon with the following fish below. I have a female mandarin that I've had for 2 months that is approx 1-1 1/4" long. Currently she is in my frag tank after isolation. Due to her size I am skittish about adding her to the main display. I have a male Mandarin that is 2 1/2" long that ive had for about 2 years I am trying to see if they will pair up. The other mandarin gets left alone and the only bullies I have in the tank are my devil spawned damsels. Mandarins are the fish that got me into this hobby and are still my favorite so would love to see them both in the tank.

Current stock:
Talbot damsel x2
Dussumieri tang x1
Desjardini Tang x1
Blue Hippo Tang x1
Blue throat trigger (f) 1
Blue chromis x2
Copperband butterfly x1
Clownfish x1
Pyramid butterfly x1
Lyretail anthia (M) x1
Midas Blenny x1

 

[littlefoxx]

Why are you afraid to add them to the display?

 

[Tired]

Mandarins are poisonous, so tend to be left alone by bullies. Except each other, sometimes.

 

[jerrod]

Why are you afraid to add them to the display?

Mainly due to size. Never had a fish that small in the tank.

 

[littlefoxx]

Mainly due to size. Never had a fish that small in the tank.

Oh. You should be fine! My male and female get left alone. The male has taken to even sitting on one of my eel’s heads… they are poisonous with their slime coat so as someone else said they are usually left alone

 

[jerrod]

Mandarins are poisonous, so tend to be left alone by bullies. Except each other, sometimes.

I never knew that. I knew about the mucous membrane but didn't realize it was toxic.

 

[jerrod]

Awesome. I'll add her in tomorrow.

 

[littlefoxx]

I never knew that. I knew about the mucous membrane but didn't realize it was toxic.

Yep! As my boyfriend once put it “god tells you an animal is poisonous when they are beautiful and brightly colored” lol. This was when we saw a poison dart frog!

 

[jerrod]

I’ve always lived by the same theory just never applied it to fish as they can be quite colorful. Definitely did when it came to sea slugs though.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I put a mandarin from ORA into my 180 gallon fully stocked. Not one issue. And that guy was/is still tiny! He came in at about 3/4”. He’s grown a little but still the smallest fish I have

 

[Tired]

Bright color alone isn't a reliable identifier of poison in reef fish, as many of them are brightly colored either for camouflage or social signalling, but bright, sharply contrasting colors in striking patterns are still a fairly good indicator of poison. And then some relatively non-bright ones are toxic as well- clown gobies are, and clown gobies include a black and a white-with-black species.

 

[littlefoxx]

Bright color alone isn't a reliable identifier of poison in reef fish, as many of them are brightly colored either for camouflage or social signalling, but bright, sharply contrasting colors in striking patterns are still a fairly good indicator of poison. And then some relatively non-bright ones are toxic as well- clown gobies are, and clown gobies include a black and a white-with-black species.

I know I was making a joke

 

[jerrod]

Thanks for the help everybody. I added the female to the tank and the Mandarins already found each other. There was a little squaring up at first but no nipping and they've been next to each other all morning.

 

[littlefoxx]

Thanks for the help everybody. I added the female to the tank and the Mandarins already found each other. There was a little squaring up at first but no nipping and they've been next to each other all morning.

Awe!