Compatibility?

CCLARK5785 · 09/12/2007, 02:30 PM

I have a 29g tank about 1 yrs old. I have only had a yellow tail damsel and tomato clown in there the whole time. I would like to add a spotted mandarin and a goby. Will this work?

bertoni · 09/12/2007, 02:33 PM

The spotted mandarin might have trouble getting enough food in a 29g tank. Many of them survive only with lots of live food, which isn't going to be easy in a 29g tank.

What type of goby was being considered?

CCLARK5785 · 09/12/2007, 02:35 PM

orange spotted

bertoni · 09/12/2007, 02:37 PM

That fish should be okay, although they can make a mess by tossing the substrate around. Personal choice.

Tswifty · 09/12/2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
The spotted mandarin might have trouble getting enough food in a 29g tank. Many of them survive only with lots of live food, which isn't going to be easy in a 29g tank.

What type of goby was being considered?

I second this thought... Mandarin's need lots of live rock in an established environment to survive for a lengthy period of time, because they hunt organisms living on the rock. This is why they are one of the most common losses in a new aquarium. I've been told that a tank should be set up anywhere from a year to two years before attempting to house them. However there are, as with anything, exceptions to the rule:

1. Lot's of live rock. I have one in my 20 gallon tank, and he is doing fine. I also, added one to my 55 gallon tank after 6 months... he did great, and was growing quite rapidly until I added an eel and he misteriously disappeared (stupid rookie mistake on my part). However, point being I have lots of love rock in both tanks.

2. Some Mandarin's will accept frozen food (The one in my 20g takes frozen brine shrimp). Next time your at your LFS ask them if they take frozen food, or if they can drop some in. Many LFS's I have dealt with, and know the trouble with these fish, and often times will work to get them to accept frozen food.

Anyway, best case scenario... find one that will take frozen food, and you'll be fine.

Best of luck!

ILoveReefer · 09/12/2007, 04:27 PM

Listen to Tswifty8 he's right. I wouldn't add a mandarin to a 29g unless he accepts frozen. There's a good chance the fish will starve if he doesn't.

09/12/2007, 02:30 PM	#1
CCLARK5785 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: anchorage alaska Posts: 9	Compatibility? I have a 29g tank about 1 yrs old. I have only had a yellow tail damsel and tomato clown in there the whole time. I would like to add a spotted mandarin and a goby. Will this work?

09/12/2007, 02:33 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The spotted mandarin might have trouble getting enough food in a 29g tank. Many of them survive only with lots of live food, which isn't going to be easy in a 29g tank. What type of goby was being considered? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/12/2007, 02:37 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That fish should be okay, although they can make a mess by tossing the substrate around. Personal choice. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/12/2007, 02:35 PM	#3
CCLARK5785 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: anchorage alaska Posts: 9	orange spotted

09/12/2007, 04:27 PM	#6
ILoveReefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cheektowaga Posts: 851	Listen to Tswifty8 he's right. I wouldn't add a mandarin to a 29g unless he accepts frozen. There's a good chance the fish will starve if he doesn't.