Scooter blenny (mandarin) and green madarin

seldin · 10/28/2009, 07:23 AM

I have a 55 gallon reef that is maybe 3 years old, with 4 inch live sand bed and 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon.

I bought a small scooter blenny 6 months ago and a green mandarin in the summer. My scooter blenny eats all the time by chewing my established live sand and also my frozen mysis. After about 3 months, my manderin, who is much more shy is now, being seen around the tank.

My question, is after 6 months in my tank for the scooter, I figure he is doing fine. I am also guessing ( right or wrong), that if my green mandarin was not eating, that she would be dead already. So do think it is safe to say, the green mandarin is doing okay? So do you think, that by 3 months, either my Green manderin is eating or not.

I feed frozen fish food 2-3 times a week with a mixture of dry food. Lot's of variety. Whatever, I feed, some fish like and others don't. However, by mixing it up, I figure they are all getting something they like with the variety.

Thank you,

sra127 · 10/28/2009, 07:45 AM

hows the belly on the mandarin? you ever see him eat prepared foods?? mine only eats live stuff, but i have a 90 with 30 gal fuge with a huge ball of cheato and lr....hes fat and happy, along with my 6line and my yellow coris...

seldin · 10/28/2009, 08:07 AM

...hows the belly on the mandarin? you ever see him eat prepared foods?? ...

SRA,

The mandarin has a thinner tail area and I don't see her eat often. Belly, no where near as fat as the scooter blenny...

The scooter, is all over the tank and eats "constantly" the live sand as well as food I place in tank. I do see the mandarin eat sand, but not as often.

Thank you,

Playa-1 · 10/28/2009, 08:23 AM

So do think it is safe to say, the green mandarin is doing okay?
No, I don't think it's safe to say that the green mandarin is going to make it. You might try some frozen blood worms. I think your tank is a bit small to support these two fish especially if they are not taking prepared foods. It sounds like the Scooter Blenny is doing ok.

wetWolger · 10/28/2009, 12:24 PM

it can take a VERY long time to slowly starve to death. If he is only getting 90% of what it takes to stay alive, it could take a year before he actually dies from starvation.....a year of being nothing but hungry is no life I would want to live

ludnix · 10/28/2009, 12:33 PM

I've had good luck with small sinking pellets. They don't get blown away be the current so the mandarins can actually eat it.

fox2589 · 10/28/2009, 12:38 PM

i dont know if you know this or not but both of those fish survive primarily on pods..and IMO your tank cant support both of them or either of them long term.-drew

RobbyVonAwesome · 10/28/2009, 12:51 PM

I agree with others, that your tank simply is not large enough to support a pod population that can sustain both of those fishes long term. I would chose ONE and stick with that, and even then you'd be doing best to add live pods every month or so.

seldin · 10/28/2009, 12:54 PM

My frozen food consists of blood worms, mysis, also what I make such as clams, sardine and other fish on sale. I also started giving live tiger pods, but don't see fish clamoring for them, as the advertisement says.

Basically, each type of fish, does not seem to like all of the same food. Some fish like mysis, while I don't see the sinking pellets being eaten by anyone but crabs and worms.

So the tank is fed a mixture of a bunch of frozen, dry and live tiger pods.

vikubz · 10/28/2009, 09:08 PM

Do you have any chaeto going in your fuge? I have noticed that by adding a little phytoplankton every few days I maintain a nice pod population, but I have a 75g with a 55g sump/fuge and this is enough to keep 1 mandarin nice and plump. Trade one of the dragonets for another fish. I'd rather have one happy, healthy fish than two miserable fish.

seldin · 10/29/2009, 06:11 AM

In my refugium I have live rock, chaeto and another type of macro algae. I have tons of pods all over my glass and tank. Whenever I clean my filter I also see them in there.

PS. I love my Scooter Blenny, but only realized he was a mandarin after I bought the dragonet and saw how similar their body types are. Then, when I researched, I realized my mistake.

I think the green mandarin looks prettier, however, my Scooter blenny has lots of personality. He goes all over the tank, hangs on the glass, goes everywhere. Awesome fish.

Playa-1 · 10/29/2009, 06:27 AM

I have a much larger tank, sump and fuge with what appears to be a ton of pods. I would be uncomfortable keeping your two fish in my tank much less yours. What is the pod population like in the DT?

seldin · 10/29/2009, 08:02 AM

Please remember, I have over 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon and over 4 inch deep sand bed. I also feed live tiger pods weekly. However, I don't see any of fish going after those. Maybe they go after them, when I don't see.

Display tank has lot's of pods. For over a year, I kept some chaeto in display tank.

10/28/2009, 07:23 AM	#1
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Scooter blenny (mandarin) and green madarin I have a 55 gallon reef that is maybe 3 years old, with 4 inch live sand bed and 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon. I bought a small scooter blenny 6 months ago and a green mandarin in the summer. My scooter blenny eats all the time by chewing my established live sand and also my frozen mysis. After about 3 months, my manderin, who is much more shy is now, being seen around the tank. My question, is after 6 months in my tank for the scooter, I figure he is doing fine. I am also guessing ( right or wrong), that if my green mandarin was not eating, that she would be dead already. So do think it is safe to say, the green mandarin is doing okay? So do you think, that by 3 months, either my Green manderin is eating or not. I feed frozen fish food 2-3 times a week with a mixture of dry food. Lot's of variety. Whatever, I feed, some fish like and others don't. However, by mixing it up, I figure they are all getting something they like with the variety. Thank you, __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

10/28/2009, 08:07 AM	#3
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	...hows the belly on the mandarin? you ever see him eat prepared foods?? ... SRA, The mandarin has a thinner tail area and I don't see her eat often. Belly, no where near as fat as the scooter blenny... The scooter, is all over the tank and eats "constantly" the live sand as well as food I place in tank. I do see the mandarin eat sand, but not as often. Thank you, __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

10/28/2009, 12:24 PM	#5
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	it can take a VERY long time to slowly starve to death. If he is only getting 90% of what it takes to stay alive, it could take a year before he actually dies from starvation.....a year of being nothing but hungry is no life I would want to live __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

10/28/2009, 12:33 PM	#6
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I've had good luck with small sinking pellets. They don't get blown away be the current so the mandarins can actually eat it. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

10/28/2009, 12:38 PM	#7
fox2589 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 557	i dont know if you know this or not but both of those fish survive primarily on pods..and IMO your tank cant support both of them or either of them long term.-drew __________________ Back in the game.and no its not the first time haha. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder,20 gallon sump,bubble magus nac 6,eheim 1250 return,175 halide on lumenarc mini.

10/28/2009, 07:45 AM	#2
sra127 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 673	hows the belly on the mandarin? you ever see him eat prepared foods?? mine only eats live stuff, but i have a 90 with 30 gal fuge with a huge ball of cheato and lr....hes fat and happy, along with my 6line and my yellow coris...

10/28/2009, 08:23 AM	#4
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	So do think it is safe to say, the green mandarin is doing okay? No, I don't think it's safe to say that the green mandarin is going to make it. You might try some frozen blood worms. I think your tank is a bit small to support these two fish especially if they are not taking prepared foods. It sounds like the Scooter Blenny is doing ok.

10/28/2009, 12:51 PM	#8
RobbyVonAwesome Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 394	I agree with others, that your tank simply is not large enough to support a pod population that can sustain both of those fishes long term. I would chose ONE and stick with that, and even then you'd be doing best to add live pods every month or so.

10/28/2009, 12:54 PM	#9
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	My frozen food consists of blood worms, mysis, also what I make such as clams, sardine and other fish on sale. I also started giving live tiger pods, but don't see fish clamoring for them, as the advertisement says. Basically, each type of fish, does not seem to like all of the same food. Some fish like mysis, while I don't see the sinking pellets being eaten by anyone but crabs and worms. So the tank is fed a mixture of a bunch of frozen, dry and live tiger pods. __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

10/28/2009, 09:08 PM	#10
vikubz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cedar Falls, IA Posts: 599	Do you have any chaeto going in your fuge? I have noticed that by adding a little phytoplankton every few days I maintain a nice pod population, but I have a 75g with a 55g sump/fuge and this is enough to keep 1 mandarin nice and plump. Trade one of the dragonets for another fish. I'd rather have one happy, healthy fish than two miserable fish.

10/29/2009, 06:11 AM	#11
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	In my refugium I have live rock, chaeto and another type of macro algae. I have tons of pods all over my glass and tank. Whenever I clean my filter I also see them in there. PS. I love my Scooter Blenny, but only realized he was a mandarin after I bought the dragonet and saw how similar their body types are. Then, when I researched, I realized my mistake. I think the green mandarin looks prettier, however, my Scooter blenny has lots of personality. He goes all over the tank, hangs on the glass, goes everywhere. Awesome fish. __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller. Last edited by seldin; 10/29/2009 at 06:35 AM.

10/29/2009, 06:27 AM	#12
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I have a much larger tank, sump and fuge with what appears to be a ton of pods. I would be uncomfortable keeping your two fish in my tank much less yours. What is the pod population like in the DT?

10/29/2009, 08:02 AM	#13
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Please remember, I have over 1.5 lbs of live rock per gallon and over 4 inch deep sand bed. I also feed live tiger pods weekly. However, I don't see any of fish going after those. Maybe they go after them, when I don't see. Display tank has lot's of pods. For over a year, I kept some chaeto in display tank. __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.