Mandarins Stink

[blaxsun]

Yes, mandarin dragonets do apparently really stink to other fish. I introduced a new male mandarin dragonet today and the bicolor wrasse (who's kind of a twat sometimes) decided to head over and give him a nip. Well, that was ill-advised. He beat a hasty retreat and was not at all expecting whatever he got a mouthful of. Two of my damsels also came over to check him out but stopped abruptly and settled for spinning around and flapping their tail in the mandarin's face. The mandarin could have given two *'s and just went about hunting copepods. Fish are funny sometimes... :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[homer1475]

In the wild, wild coloration like the mandarins mean to stay away.

As far as smell, I'm not sure, but they do have a really thick, some what toxic slime coat.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thought of the day: Skunk cory catfish are white with a black stripe. That's apparently how they got their name. However, when removed from the water, they actually stink!

Jay