Mandarin behavior??

[Green_Reefer]

I added a 1.5" green mandarin to my 75g a week ago, when introduced he cruised around the surface of the tank , got caught in the vortex of an mp40, cycloned around for a few seconds and then got stuck against the side grate of the mp40. Luckily I was able to quickly shut down the pump and pull him off the grate. I released him back into the rockwork and slowed the mp40's for a day.

Every night after light's out the mandarin now comes out and cruises around in the flow at the surface of the tank, curls up into a U shape and rides the flow from my returns and mp40's. It will even allow itself to get caught in the cyclone created by the mp40 and spin around before swimming out of it....... :wildone: The mandarin has done this for 7 days straight, starting about 30 mins after lights out and continues for 30-90 mins.

The mandarin displays normal behaviour and activity during the day in the tank as it hunts actively. He displays no fear of any other of the livestock in the tank and none of the fish pay any attention to him whatsoever.

Has my fish become corrupted by his strange introduction or not?? Anyone have a mandarin that displays strange behaviors?

 

[Lynnmw1208]

My mandarin basically sticks to the rocks, I have never seen her up near the surface at all. She doesn't even like to come out in the open. Maybe there is too much flow for it?

 

[Green_Reefer]

It does fine with higher flow during the day. It is happening like clockwork every night, she is choosing to do this.

 

[klepto]

Every night after light's out the mandarin now comes out and cruises around in the flow at the surface of the tank, curls up into a U shape and rides the flow from my returns and mp40's. It will even allow itself to get caught in the cyclone created by the mp40 and spin around before swimming out of it....... :wildone: The mandarin has done this for 7 days straight, starting about 30 mins after lights out and continues for 30-90 mins.

I have kept two mandarins (S. picturatus) that acted very similar. I think the behavior is probably due to the lighting change. Mandarinfish rise into the water column and spawn near the surface in the wild. I believe spawning is triggered by dusk/dawn transitions. My best guess is that this instinct is responsible for the behavior you are noticing. Hopefully someone with more experience can confirm/refute my suggestion.

 

[phishyreef]

I noticed this same behavior about 24hrs after adding a Vortechmp40 to my 90. Pretty wild to watch:jester: I thought he was dying at 1st, then he eventually snapped out of it, and swam back into the rocks!!!

 

[snorvich]

Mandarinfish rise into the water column and spawn

They rise approximately 18 inches in the wild.

near the surface in the wild. I believe spawning is triggered by dusk/dawn transitions.

Mandarins spawn in the last light of day which will be nearly dark. However without two, no spawning will occur

My best guess is that this instinct is responsible for the behavior you are noticing. Hopefully someone with more experience can confirm/refute my suggestion.

But I have no clue about why the OP has one going for rides. I have spent 40 hours in the ocean photographing mandarin mating and fighting rituals.