Fish compatibility w/mandarin

[Coffman34]

Okay, so I have had my mandarin for about a month now. The problem is, we barely see him. He always hides in the rockwork. If he does come out of the rock as soon as one of us walks by then he darts back into the rocks.

My questions is, could he be stressed by his other tank inhabitants?

I have a fire shrimp, which has somewhat of an attitude. He killed his sibling that I brought him home with, and on a few occasions he has attacked the mandarin when the mandarin swam through his hole.

We also have 2 green chromis. One hides most of the time, while the other swims openly in the water column. I have never observed these two fighting amongst each other or with the mandarin.

Should I be getting rid of any of these things because a mandarin is the focus of my tank.

Coffman

 

[SlowCobra]

Mandarins hide... its what they do. They are not an open water swimmer.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

They remain mostly in the rockwork and pop out from time to time. The only fish that will fight with a manderin is another manderin of the same sex.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Actually to finish your answer. To get a manderin to be more active, get another manderin of the opposite sex. They are distinguished by the spike on the top fin, which is male I think. Most likely they will follow each other around the tank, and may be out in view more often. There is a chance that they will fight and not get along, and you must make sure you have enough pods to sustain 2 of them.

 

[customanimalart]

My Mandarin hides as well. On rare occasions he comes out. He is very timid and shy. If he sees me watching him, he hides.
I mostly seem him on feeding times.
Mine is funny, because everytime he comes out of hiding for the morning feedings, his head is covered in sand. They sometimes find a place and bury themselves at night. I have no idea where mine sleeps, even after 7 months.

 

[Coffman34]

Okay. Thanks for all the info. Just wasn't for sure. I'll just have to start sneaking up on her more.

 

[josephatmbibank]

some gobys also mess with mandarin bc they are swimming arounf the goby's home.

-Joseph

 

[customanimalart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11020555#post11020555 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Coffman34
Okay. Thanks for all the info. Just wasn't for sure. I'll just have to start sneaking up on her more.

are we talking about the one in your avatar? Looks like a female as there is not a spike on her dorsal fin. Just an observation.

 

[Coffman34]

Yea. The one in my avatar. I think it's a female also. Thanks guys.

 

[customanimalart]

Here is my guy. Pardon the not so perfect photography.

 

[Coffman34]

See, that's the reason I thought mine was acting different. I can't get any pics like that. Did you just sit and wait for him to come out, or just catch him at the right moment?

 

[thor32766]

sixlines are the only ones I know of that might mess with them.

 

[customanimalart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11025509#post11025509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Coffman34
See, that's the reason I thought mine was acting different. I can't get any pics like that. Did you just sit and wait for him to come out, or just catch him at the right moment?

It was purely by accident. I was walking through the room and he was surprisingly out and about. So I got the camera and stood way back so he wouldn't hide and got some shots of him.
It was all timing.:rollface: And I have had him for over a year. lol!

 

[Subliminal]

I have a scooter blenny, which is like the mandarin's lil bro.

He's out and about all the time. I mean, sure, sometimes he's behind the rock pile, but I haven't ever noticed him scared of anything...just kind of minds its own business.

 

[-=Zepplock=-]

My mandarin is shy. When i set up my 50g i had to put rocks so that I have a lot of caves and runnels. But I did it so that I can see through the tunnels, now he has nowhere to hide. I can see him 80% of the time. He also comes out during actinics-only time of the light day.

 

[luke33]

I guess i got lucky with mine. It was in a reputable pet store here for 6mths and is use to people kids looking at him. He is out eating pods on my front glass most of the time. I can walk up to him and he just sits there and doesn't act like he cares. The more your around your tank the better it'll do shyness wise.

 

[hahnmeister]

Most wrasses will outcompete mandarins for pods, so if you want a manradin, that pack of fairy wrasses is out of the question.

 

[-=Zepplock=-]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11027474#post11027474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Most wrasses will outcompete mandarins for pods, so if you want a manradin, that pack of fairy wrasses is out of the question.

Yeap, I had to get rid of my 6 line in favor of a mandarin.

 

[Coffman34]

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11027474#post11027474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hahnmeister
Most wrasses will outcompete mandarins for pods, so if you want a manradin, that pack of fairy wrasses is out of the question.

Are you speaking of my Green Chromis? I didn't think they are wrasses. Do I need to get rid of them?

Coffman

 

[Kannin]

Try building a rubble pile out in the open (a little bit) where pods will grow. Maybe she will be attracted to it. Maybe plant some macro algae in it or near it so she will be a little protected.