Mandarin - To add or not to add?

[paddyob]

I want to add a Spotted Mandarin to my tank. 4' - 70G display with approx 30G in sump/fuge.

Current stock

Yellow Tang
Coral Beauty
Sixline Wrasse
2 x Ocellaris Clowns
Tailspot Blenny
Firefish
Neon Goby
Lyretail Anthias (male)


Anyone think this might be an issue?

[reefwars]

maybe with the sixline at first i know mine doesnt like my mandarin but it settled down after a week.my six is a terror to new fish lol

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by reefwars

maybe with the sixline at first i know mine doesnt like my mandarin but it settled down after a week.my six is a terror to new fish lol

Thats my biggest concern.... as my sixline is big. I have had him about 3 yrs or so. FAT.

Possibly worried about the tang as well.

[Wayne]

I have Tangs (semi-aggressive), Six Line, and Saddle back clowns (females very territorial) that don't even look at my Green Spotted Mandrin. So one vote for you being safe.

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Wayne

I have Tangs (semi-aggressive), Six Line, and Saddle back clowns (females very territorial) that don't even look at my Green Spotted Mandrin. So one vote for you being safe.

my sixline and my mandarin get along extremely well ive even noticed them nose to nose hunting for food, it was the initial introduction that was tough.i added my mandarin during the night when the wrasse was sleeping.

the wrasse bothered my black clowns alot worse to the point where he chased them out of the tank, since the mandarins tend to swim closer to the bed it survived the fight.

within a week they were buddies, the mandarin would slowly explore more real estate .


i think the yellow tang would be fine as mandarins are small and can hide in small places where as tangs cant get in there so well with their barb.and its all about not being seen, if they have a place to hide when tings get violent then they have a better chance of surving the "new guy" hastings


id say go for it patrick, maybe work out a deal with whoever you buy it from that if it gets harassed you can bring it back and try something else?? cheers

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Wayne

I have Tangs (semi-aggressive), Six Line, and Saddle back clowns (females very territorial) that don't even look at my Green Spotted Mandrin. So one vote for you being safe.

But, I have had issues adding other fish. So it's cautionary if you know what I mean.

[naesco]

There is another issue other than compatibility and that is starvation.

There is no way that a small tank such as yours can maintain a pod population to keep the mandarin alive. The six line is already going after the same food.

You can only hope that the mandarin will accept fish food and that is a risky decision to make. Please don't do it.

Now would be a good time to consider upgrading your tank to a 6 footer to accommodate the yellow tang you already have (your tank is far too small for tangs) and when the new tank matures add a mated pair of mandarins.

Good Luck
Wayne

[paddyob]

I generally agree with you, but you are so wrong and uninformed on this.

I kept a spotted in a 20g for 2.5 years. No fuge. Only died due to tank crash... Which killed all fish.

I currently have a mandarin in my 20 downstairs. With hob fuge. Since May last year and she is fat and fine.

A 4' - 70 is more than adequate.

I am asking about fish compatibility here. Not your opinions in system size. My tank is fine.

Thanks for your thoughts, but I 100% disagree. As will MANY others.


And no. There is no upgrade coming. Ever.

Originally Posted by naesco

There is another issue other than compatibility and that is starvation.

There is no way that a small tank such as yours can maintain a pod population to keep the mandarin alive. The six line is already going after the same food.

You can only hope that the mandarin will accept fish food and that is a risky decision to make. Please don't do it.

Now would be a good time to consider upgrading your tank to a 6 footer to accommodate the yellow tang you already have (your tank is far too small for tangs) and when the new tank matures add a mated pair of mandarins.

Good Luck
Wayne

[mattdean]

I'm not going to comment on the size of tank, but I would be concerned about the competition for food. You mandarin in the 20g has no competitors for pods, I'm assuming. With you water volume, I would, at the very least, be supplementing with reef pods regularly (meaning at least ne bottle every 2 months). I have a 125 with a 55 sump/fuge and I put a bottle of pods in at every other month and I still don't see a lot of pods in my system. I have Leopard Wrasses as well as the mandarin, so the pod population is being hammered.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by mattdean

I'm not going to comment on the size of tank, but I would be concerned about the competition for food. You mandarin in the 20g has no competitors for pods, I'm assuming. With you water volume, I would, at the very least, be supplementing with reef pods regularly (meaning at least ne bottle every 2 months). I have a 125 with a 55 sump/fuge and I put a bottle of pods in at every other month and I still don't see a lot of pods in my system. I have Leopard Wrasses as well as the mandarin, so the pod population is being hammered.

When my tank lights go off..... the pods take over.

I am actually amazed at how many I have. They absolutely cover everything. Its amazing to watch them.

My tank has been set for about a year and a half. My sixline has not been able to deplete the stock at all.