Can i Keep a Mandarin Goby

[Marvin]

Hello everyone!

I wanted to know if i would be able to keep a Mandarin Goby.

Tank Specs:

37g Aqua Via
35lbs LR
1 1/2" Crushed Coral Base
2 Clown Fish
1 Yellow Tang (I know this tank is too small)
1 Powder Blue Tang
1 Lawnmower Blenny
5 Snails

Tank is about 3 Months old

So what do you think? Yes or NO

Thanks

[slipknottin]

no

[Marvin]

Oh, one more thing.

If no, Why?

Sorry

[gcvt]

Well, the first problem is that you're extremely overstocked - neither of your tangs should be in a tank that small. Secondly, your tank is very young. Lastly, your tank isn't capable of sustaning a pod population large enough for a mandarin to survive. Mandarins require very large, mature tanks with lots of live rock and (preferably) a refugium for the pods to grow.

Mandarins are beautiful and interesting fish, but hard to keep alive without the proper setup.

[Cearbhaill]

In my reading I've seen it recommended that you have at least a 75 gallon tank, have it be at least a year old, have at least 150 lbs of live rock, a healthy mature refugium, and the Mandarin needs to be the only pod eater in the tank.

Mandarins eat, eat, eat all day long- they are constant grazers.
You need enough live rock to sustain a pod population big enough to support him long term.
Even if you have some pods in a smaller tank the Mandarin can consume most of them the first week- then what?

Pods are all a Mandarin eats- they will die a long slow death from starvation despite all the frozen and flake food that floats by them. They can't eat it.
Pods, pods, pods- you need lots and lots of pods!

[Marvin]

Thanks for the info.

I guess i wish i had a bigger tank!

I guess no Mandarin for me :(

[105man]

I was probably unusually lucky, because I have had a mandarin in my 54 gallon tank since I first set it up about 9 months ago and it's survived and always seems healthy.

Live rock, live sand, fluval 404, 18w UV, two Rio 600 phs, seaclone 100 skimmer.

[LT1OwnzYou]

I have heard mixed reviews on them. I have seen posts of people with 20 gallon tanks and no experience having great success with just overhang filters and standard lights. I have heard of them dieing in fully cycled tanks. Mostly cause of death is starvation. They eat copopods. If u have a good bit of decent live rock, there is a chance it will make it. I was determined to keep one alive, but my sharky thought otherwise. Only fish in the tank it messed it. Probably cause I wanted it alive so **** bad...ehhe. Live n learn. I havent heard anything about minimum tank size of 70+ gallons. I would think it would be fine in a 50 gallon, they only get a few inches long.

[gcvt]

Originally posted by LT1OwnzYou
...I havent heard anything about minimum tank size of 70+ gallons. I would think it would be fine in a 50 gallon, they only get a few inches long.

In this case, tank size has nothing to do with how big the fish might grow. It's all about having a tank large enough to fit enough live rock to sustain a pod population big enough for the mandarin.

On another note, it's not about simply getting a Mandarin to 'survive' - i.e. giving him only enough food so he doesn't die. They need a tank they can 'thrive' in.

[OrionGirl]

Agree with the above. Gorgeous fish, but they have no place in a new tank. Mine was the only fish in an invert tank, with about 200 pounds of live rock in the system. As juveniles, they refuse anything but pods--as adults, some will take to prepared foods, while others will not.

An important thing--even in healthy, mature tanks, these fish often die. Most frequently, this is because the fish has been starved during transport, and can no longer eat. They, as with most fish, can live for months on their fat reserves, but eventually die. So--if your tank is ready, and you are willing to support the dragonette, be patient in buying. Do not accept one that has a shrunken tummy--the tummy should be fat and bulgy. The fish should constantly be moving around, pecking at rocks and algae (hunting pods!)

[Marvin]

thanks everyone! I will wait before i pick up one of these guys.

[btoner43]

Ok, I admit it. I did a stupid thing. I bought one of these and didn't do enough research about them. The tank is loaded with live rock. He goes around pecking in the sand, and the live rock. He is constantly looking for food/eating. But, I can tell he has lost weight. He looks to skinny and its killing me because I'm pretty sure he's starving. I can't watch him die. The place I bought it doesn't take fish back. Not my normal LFS, again, my mistake. I've had him about 3 weeks and he keeps looking worse. Is there anything I can do? Please help.

[MonoSebaelover]

Need much more info like other tankmates, tanksize, how long established etc. For now just to add some weight (it won't last though) I would try substituting live brine and frozen mysis shrimp and see if he will take. I have a Spotted Mandarin in 120 Reef and he has been in there for 6 months and is very fat and happy. BTW, just because you have live rock does not automatically mean you have pods. In 3 weeks time it is highly possible he has depleted the source in a new tank. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.

[LT1OwnzYou]

Just out of curiosity, how many people kno fish stores that do return marine fish? I kno the 3 in my area dont. One does fish credit, but im not sure what all is entailed. The rest have a strict no return policy. My trigger has been sick for a week and a half now, and i dont have any alternative but to hope he gets better. The rest of my fish remain healthy. I did however scrap my 10 gallon tank and go back to the 5 1/2. water is crystal clear. used fully cycled tank water, and sand.

[slipknottin]

Some mandarins can be trained to accept frozen/freeze dried foods.

Start it off with some brine shrimp to get it eating and see if you can coax it into eating frozen foods.

[mogurnda]

As a desperate measure, you might think of ordering amphipods/mysis from a place like Inland Aquatics.

[tricksterpup]

Another site that sells Mysid shrimp is Sachs Systems Aquaculture (http://www.aquaculturestore.com/specials.html). They sell them in lots of a 100 to 2000. They also sell many different amphipods at their site.


jim

[gadfly]

I have had a Mandarin Goby for many months who seems to be doing quite well all things considered. I got him from the LFS with a hole in his dorsal fin. That healed up nicely.

I have a small 25 gallon micro reef with a bit of live rock. He tends to swim around and peck on everything. Perhaps amphipod supplementation would be a good idea - however - he appears healthy. Admittedly, they are not recommended for small aquariums due also to fluctuations in water quality.

I have seen them get ridiculously large in bigger tanks.
(Pterosynchiropis splendidus)