Goby and mandarin coexist?

EricandBrandi · 06/15/2011, 07:46 PM

I have a pink spotted goby in my 110 gal. I'm going fish shopping this weekend and the mandarin is a beautiful fish. My question is will I have a problem between the mandarin and my goby? I have about 120 pounds of live rock with plenty of hiding places, which also raises a question, would I ever see the mandarin or would he hide all the time? Thanks for any help.

ColaAddict · 06/15/2011, 08:12 PM

I have a yellow watchman goby and a spotted mandarin in a 28gal nano, so I think you should be fine.

Lynnmw1208 · 06/15/2011, 08:55 PM

Isn't a pink spotted goby a sand-sifting one? If so they wouldn't be compatible because the goby will eat all of the mandarin's food which is primarily pods. Mandarins are really slow eaters.

EricandBrandi · 06/15/2011, 09:24 PM

Thanks for the input. Yes he is a sand sifting goby. With a tank my size would there not be enough for both?

msaleem · 06/16/2011, 01:06 AM

"I think" you should be fine..

Lynnmw1208 · 06/16/2011, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricandBrandi

Thanks for the input. Yes he is a sand sifting goby. With a tank my size would there not be enough for both?

I don't even think a tank my size would be good for that pair. Gobies are more voracious eaters than mandarins. I have one mandarin in my 125 gallon and I think that's enough for only her. You gotta remember that the goby will clean out most of the pods from the sand. I'd have to say a really large tank would be able to hold them both comfortably, say a 180 gallon maybe.

EricandBrandi · 06/16/2011, 05:07 AM

Thanks for the input. As much as I hate to I will pass on the mandarin.

Sk8r · 06/16/2011, 08:37 AM

set up a fuge and you'll be fine. A mature fuge can keep everybody happy; and while I'm sure the sand-sifting gobies eat a pod if they happen to swallow it, they nosh mainly on detritus and regular food that gets down to them. I keep a mandy and scooter in a 50 with gobies, but I have a 30 gallon mature and packed fuge.

EricandBrandi · 06/16/2011, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the idea Sk8r. I will look into that option and maybe in time I can have both the goby and mandarin.

joegoersch · 06/18/2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricandBrandi

Thanks for the idea Sk8r. I will look into that option and maybe in time I can have both the goby and mandarin.

I'm starting to grow my own algae and copepods. Do mandarins like bigger pods like trigger pods or are they happy with little ones ?

ColaAddict · 06/18/2011, 12:16 PM

I have both copepods and amphipods in my tank and fuge. The amphipods are nice because they get big and can't be eaten by the mandarin, which helps them from getting wiped out by the mandarin. The mandarin only eats the little amphipods he can catch, plus the copepods. Getting really porous rocks like Pukani rocks from BRS helps alot, because the pods have tons of places to hide and reproduce.

Glazner · 06/18/2011, 12:21 PM

You can always buy a bottle of Pods for like $15 if you are concerned. Maybe 3 or bottles a year?? But FYI I don't see my mandarin much...

EricandBrandi · 06/19/2011, 09:07 PM

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I just saw a bottle of pods at the fish store this weekend and thought of that option. Joegoersch i did a lot of research about the mandarin and MCCOOL gave me this link, http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492650 It was so helpful and I believe the answer to your question about which pods mandarins prefer is answered by ZAITA,"Mandarins are zooplankton hunters. They spend 12-20 hours a day hunting for live prey from the rockwork in a tank snagging them when possible. It's not known what species of zooplankton the Mandarin will or will not eat. It's generally considered that they will feed off most benthic copepods, isopod and small amphipods." Hope that helps. Thanks again everyone for all the ideas. Maybe I could still have a mandarin once I am sure I have a good enough pod population.

06/15/2011, 07:46 PM	#1
EricandBrandi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Tx Posts: 92	Goby and mandarin coexist? I have a pink spotted goby in my 110 gal. I'm going fish shopping this weekend and the mandarin is a beautiful fish. My question is will I have a problem between the mandarin and my goby? I have about 120 pounds of live rock with plenty of hiding places, which also raises a question, would I ever see the mandarin or would he hide all the time? Thanks for any help.

06/15/2011, 08:55 PM	#3
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	Isn't a pink spotted goby a sand-sifting one? If so they wouldn't be compatible because the goby will eat all of the mandarin's food which is primarily pods. Mandarins are really slow eaters. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

06/16/2011, 08:37 AM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	set up a fuge and you'll be fine. A mature fuge can keep everybody happy; and while I'm sure the sand-sifting gobies eat a pod if they happen to swallow it, they nosh mainly on detritus and regular food that gets down to them. I keep a mandy and scooter in a 50 with gobies, but I have a 30 gallon mature and packed fuge. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

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06/15/2011, 08:12 PM	#2
ColaAddict Moved On Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northbrook Posts: 370	I have a yellow watchman goby and a spotted mandarin in a 28gal nano, so I think you should be fine.

06/15/2011, 09:24 PM	#4
EricandBrandi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Tx Posts: 92	Thanks for the input. Yes he is a sand sifting goby. With a tank my size would there not be enough for both?

06/16/2011, 01:06 AM	#5
msaleem Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: long island, NY Posts: 134	"I think" you should be fine..

06/16/2011, 05:07 AM	#7
EricandBrandi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Tx Posts: 92	Thanks for the input. As much as I hate to I will pass on the mandarin.

06/16/2011, 04:11 PM	#9
EricandBrandi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Tx Posts: 92	Thanks for the idea Sk8r. I will look into that option and maybe in time I can have both the goby and mandarin.

06/18/2011, 12:16 PM	#11
ColaAddict Moved On Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Northbrook Posts: 370	I have both copepods and amphipods in my tank and fuge. The amphipods are nice because they get big and can't be eaten by the mandarin, which helps them from getting wiped out by the mandarin. The mandarin only eats the little amphipods he can catch, plus the copepods. Getting really porous rocks like Pukani rocks from BRS helps alot, because the pods have tons of places to hide and reproduce.

06/18/2011, 12:21 PM	#12
Glazner Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 407	You can always buy a bottle of Pods for like $15 if you are concerned. Maybe 3 or bottles a year?? But FYI I don't see my mandarin much...

06/19/2011, 09:07 PM	#13
EricandBrandi Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Hillsboro, Tx Posts: 92	Thanks for the ideas everyone. I just saw a bottle of pods at the fish store this weekend and thought of that option. Joegoersch i did a lot of research about the mandarin and MCCOOL gave me this link, http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1492650 It was so helpful and I believe the answer to your question about which pods mandarins prefer is answered by ZAITA,"Mandarins are zooplankton hunters. They spend 12-20 hours a day hunting for live prey from the rockwork in a tank snagging them when possible. It's not known what species of zooplankton the Mandarin will or will not eat. It's generally considered that they will feed off most benthic copepods, isopod and small amphipods." Hope that helps. Thanks again everyone for all the ideas. Maybe I could still have a mandarin once I am sure I have a good enough pod population.