Dragonets

DirtyDeeds · 02/14/2010, 05:59 PM

Hello all i got a 28 gal tank, got blood , cleaner, pistal shrimp 2 clown fish and a yellowwtachmen goby

i was tinking about buying one or maybe 2 of these bad boys

its been about 4 months in this hobby so far just wondering if its a easy fish

to care for and some other info you guys would like to share about the fish to

me that i should know about or why or why nots to buy it.

Korrine · 02/14/2010, 06:01 PM

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-09/fish/index.php

Not easy

Common Name:	Mandarin Dragonet, Psychedelic Mandarin, often incorrectly referred to as a Mandarin Goby (they are not gobies)
Scientific Name:	Synchiropus splendidus (syn. Pterosynchiropus splendidus)
Size:	~ 2" - 2.5"
Origin:	The mandarinfish is native to the Western Pacific ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia
Natural Habitat:	Generally found at depths of 1-20 m, preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs. Generally peaceful, but can be territorial toward similar species. Pairs have been known to breed in captivity (see picture below)
Feeding Requirements:	Despite their popularity in the aquarium trade, mandarinfish are considered difficult to keep as their feeding habits are very specific. Some fish never adapt to aquarium life, refusing to eat anything except live amphipods and copepods (as in the wild). Since these fish are grazers, greatest success in aquaria is shown when sufficient live food is available. Individuals that do acclimatize to aquarium food are considered to be quite hardy.
Difficulty Rating: (1 = easy - 5 = hard)	3 or 5 – In the right aquarium with sufficient live food, moderately difficult. In the wrong aquarium without adequate life rock and live food, very difficult..
Aggressiveness Rating: (1 = shy - 5 = nasty)	2- Generally a peaceful fish, but can be territorial and fight among their own species or similar species of the same sex..
Captive Requirements:	Temperature range: 72-84° F. Specific gravity: 1.023-1.026. Can be kept singly, in pairs or in groups. Very hardy fish in captivity in the right tank with sufficient live food.
Optional Requirements:	A 75-gallon tank or larger is recommended with many hiding places. Ideally a mature tank with a minimum of 75 lbs of live rock (not base rock). A refugium teaming with pods would be a huge source of live food for this fish, steadily providing nourishment as those pods make it into the main display.
Reef Tank Compatible:	Yes – a great addition to reef aquariums. Will often swim in the open once comfortable with its surroundings. Will hunt constantly looking for copepods and amphipods.
Notes:	One of my favorite all time fish They are very active and enjoyable to watch. Some are more reclusive than others. They tend to sleep on the sand during the night, and may turn very pale and even become half-submerged. This is normal, nothing to fear. These fish are highly resistant to diseases such as ich. They can not contract the disease Ichthyophthirius because they do not have the skin type that this common aquarium disease affects. You can identify a male mandarin by the long dorsal spine that rises up on its back; the female has no such spike. Keep in mind that a male's spike may have broken off due to fighting or handling, so look closely when trying to pair them.

Mr.leee · 02/14/2010, 06:05 PM

the only way you can have 1 or 2 in a 29g is if they eat frozen or pellets.

Tylt33 · 02/14/2010, 06:08 PM

Very difficult fish. Check out the Reef Fish forum on these boards- there is a primer that should be read before it is even attempted.

Korrine · 02/14/2010, 06:09 PM

Here it is

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492650

John Zillmer · 02/14/2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.leee

the only way you can have 1 or 2 in a 29g is if they eat frozen or pellets.

Even then, the amount you have to feed them in order to get them enough to eat amidst food competitors would everwhelm a system of that size, let alone overwhelm the long-term commitment of most people to 3x daily feedings.

DirtyDeeds · 02/14/2010, 06:39 PM

i dont want one anymore now

John Zillmer · 02/14/2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtyDeeds

i dont want one anymore now

Good.

Really, someday you should get one. Get a couple years experience, then set up a 75g or bigger, run it for a couple years, and then shop around for a healthy one (or a M/F pair!) that eats frozen food.

sedor · 02/14/2010, 06:58 PM

Good move not rushing out and picking one up. I am embarrassed to say earlier on in my reefkeeping experience I lost 2 in a row. They really need to be in a larger, more mature tank. By mature I mean over 1 year old. They are amazing looking fish though!

LakeGirl · 02/14/2010, 08:02 PM

In addition to too small of a tank, I believe your goby would compete for food with the dragonet. (assuming you could get the dragonet to eat frozen/pellet food).

I have a 125 with very few fish... my YWG and scooter blenny get into spats occassionally. Luckily, the scooter blenny has decided it likes frozen food and pellets. He's actually the aggressor, to the point I have to target feed the YWG...

They are cool fish... save it for your next tank!

eyesinthedrk · 02/14/2010, 09:33 PM

i have to disagree, if you have the dedication its can be done but as said its not simple, in truth id bet your shrimp would be the biggest competitors as they also spend all day picking the rocks, i had added a mandarine to my tank and it went down hill over the next few months my tank was over a year old and it had 2 pod piles in the corners and i hadnt seen amphipod 1 for a few months, i brought him back from the brink by hatching brine shrimp every other day and using a turkey baster to disperse them over the rocks, i had to do this for a few months to fatten him up and give the pods a chance to bounce back, its been well over 5 months since ive had to hatch brine for him,

that said in a 29 gal you will probably need to hatch baby brine for the entire duration but if you have the dedication it is possible to keep one

ctrl+f · 02/15/2010, 09:15 AM

Has anyone ever seen tank-bred mandarins for sale? They're such beautiful fish but I don't think I'd ever keep anything wild-caught.

Edit: I followed a link from the mandarin primer posted above which gave me my answer. Interesting article.

John Zillmer · 02/15/2010, 05:33 PM

Very cool article! AFAIK, there are no Synchiropus spp. being bred commercially.

I wonder how mortality rates on WC dragonettes would be if they were actually fed (!!!) during their time from collector, through holding facility and wholesaler and retailer, to end consumer. The only thing that kills these fish is starvation...

msmommy4 · 02/15/2010, 05:50 PM

So a 46g is not big enough because when i got to be a biggirl i was planning to get one maybe a year or so from now

anjiro · 02/15/2010, 05:59 PM

I dont really patrol these forums much, but I thought I would give my .02 on this thread, I have a biocube 29 which has been set up since December 08 so a little over a year. I have had a green mandarin in my tank for the last 7 months and she has almost doubled in size. I keep LR rubble in the back and Chaeto. I still see Pods on the glass, while the mandarin only hunts on the rock. I attribute her success and her fat little gut to feeding gut-loaded baby brine every weekend, so it is do-able and brine are fun to watch get devoured.

02/14/2010, 05:59 PM	#1
DirtyDeeds Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canada,Ontario,Hamilton Posts: 94	Dragonets Hello all i got a 28 gal tank, got blood , cleaner, pistal shrimp 2 clown fish and a yellowwtachmen goby i was tinking about buying one or maybe 2 of these bad boys its been about 4 months in this hobby so far just wondering if its a easy fish to care for and some other info you guys would like to share about the fish to me that i should know about or why or why nots to buy it.

02/14/2010, 06:09 PM	#5
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	Here it is http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492650 __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

02/14/2010, 06:58 PM	#9
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Good move not rushing out and picking one up. I am embarrassed to say earlier on in my reefkeeping experience I lost 2 in a row. They really need to be in a larger, more mature tank. By mature I mean over 1 year old. They are amazing looking fish though! __________________ Ryan

02/14/2010, 09:33 PM	#11
eyesinthedrk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Williamsport, PA Posts: 675	i have to disagree, if you have the dedication its can be done but as said its not simple, in truth id bet your shrimp would be the biggest competitors as they also spend all day picking the rocks, i had added a mandarine to my tank and it went down hill over the next few months my tank was over a year old and it had 2 pod piles in the corners and i hadnt seen amphipod 1 for a few months, i brought him back from the brink by hatching brine shrimp every other day and using a turkey baster to disperse them over the rocks, i had to do this for a few months to fatten him up and give the pods a chance to bounce back, its been well over 5 months since ive had to hatch brine for him, that said in a 29 gal you will probably need to hatch baby brine for the entire duration but if you have the dedication it is possible to keep one __________________ Everybody knows you never go full retard. Current Tank Info: SPS dominated, 125 gallon dt with 3 Apollo reef LED pendants, Apex Controler. 100 gal basement sump, 100 gallon basement fuge, euro reef skimmer, reef octopu s cr140 calcium reactor. Phos an reactor.

02/15/2010, 09:15 AM	#12
ctrl+f Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 174	Has anyone ever seen tank-bred mandarins for sale? They're such beautiful fish but I don't think I'd ever keep anything wild-caught. Edit: I followed a link from the mandarin primer posted above which gave me my answer. Interesting article. Last edited by ctrl+f; 02/15/2010 at 09:24 AM. Reason: answered my own question

02/14/2010, 06:05 PM	#3
Mr.leee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mn St.paul Posts: 184	the only way you can have 1 or 2 in a 29g is if they eat frozen or pellets.

02/14/2010, 06:08 PM	#4
Tylt33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,755	Very difficult fish. Check out the Reef Fish forum on these boards- there is a primer that should be read before it is even attempted.

02/14/2010, 06:39 PM	#7
DirtyDeeds Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canada,Ontario,Hamilton Posts: 94	i dont want one anymore now

02/14/2010, 08:02 PM	#10
LakeGirl Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 108	In addition to too small of a tank, I believe your goby would compete for food with the dragonet. (assuming you could get the dragonet to eat frozen/pellet food). I have a 125 with very few fish... my YWG and scooter blenny get into spats occassionally. Luckily, the scooter blenny has decided it likes frozen food and pellets. He's actually the aggressor, to the point I have to target feed the YWG... They are cool fish... save it for your next tank!

02/15/2010, 05:33 PM	#13
John Zillmer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 375	Very cool article! AFAIK, there are no Synchiropus spp. being bred commercially. I wonder how mortality rates on WC dragonettes would be if they were actually fed (!!!) during their time from collector, through holding facility and wholesaler and retailer, to end consumer. The only thing that kills these fish is starvation... __________________ Maybe there isn't any such thing as normativity -- but there should be. Current Tank Info: 90 g mixed reef, 40 g 'fuge, T5HO, Simplicity 240DC

02/15/2010, 05:50 PM	#14
msmommy4 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cleveland,OH Posts: 64	So a 46g is not big enough because when i got to be a biggirl i was planning to get one maybe a year or so from now

02/15/2010, 05:59 PM	#15
anjiro Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 12	I dont really patrol these forums much, but I thought I would give my .02 on this thread, I have a biocube 29 which has been set up since December 08 so a little over a year. I have had a green mandarin in my tank for the last 7 months and she has almost doubled in size. I keep LR rubble in the back and Chaeto. I still see Pods on the glass, while the mandarin only hunts on the rock. I attribute her success and her fat little gut to feeding gut-loaded baby brine every weekend, so it is do-able and brine are fun to watch get devoured.