Mandarin in a tank with established leopard wrasses?

[snorvich]

I would like to introduce a mandarin into a tank with established leopard wrasses as well as a "scooter blenny" (Synchiropus ocellatus). Do you think it would be intimidated? (240 gallon tank, 40 gallon refugium) The Synchiropus ocellatus is not harassed at all.

 

[fullmonti]

I had a leopard & a mandarin in a established 180. They did fine for well over a year, then the mandarin just stop moving around, he just sat in one place & died. Before that he was fat & happy. I think if your tank is established should be good.

Jim

 

[davocean]

I would bet in that size tank you probably won't have any problems, a tank half that size would be iffy.

 

[BL1]

I've got 3 leopards and a mandarin in a 75 together for about 6-7 months now. The mandarin was in the tank for 3 months before the leopards were added. So far, I haven't seen any issues with them. The wrasses have never even given the mandarin a second look.

 

[goodtimes2]

My understanding is that mandarins have some type of protective slime. I have never seen any fish harass a mandarin except another mandarin even if they compete for the same food source. All my fish ignores my mandarin. Does anyone have any kind of fish that harass their mandarin ?

 

[crvz]

In my less than established 300 gallon system, I had a problem when I added too many pod grazers. I would probably have had different results if my tank was more mature, but after adding a pair of canary wrasses to the tank, the mandarin disappeared. I'm thinking more on the side of available food source, though. I dont suspect you would have aggression issues.

 

[snorvich]

In my less than established 300 gallon system, I had a problem when I added too many pod grazers. I would probably have had different results if my tank was more mature, but after adding a pair of canary wrasses to the tank, the mandarin disappeared. I'm thinking more on the side of available food source, though. I dont suspect you would have aggression issues.

Thanks. Obviously my leopards eat pods as does my scooter. Still, there should be plenty (40 gallon established refugium) in that sized tank.

 

[Dizzle63]

What species of leopard? I know that ornatus and negrosensis can be somewhat aggressive with other wrasses. This may also apply to any other fish that share their food supply.

 

[inselaffe]

I had a Macropharyngodon meleagris who was fine with eveything but a manderin it used to just bite chunks out of his fins and wouln't let him out the corner of the tank. I cought the wrasse and sold it to a friend who had a 6'x3'x3' thinking that it might of been my tank size that was the problem and the wrasse did the same in his tank. Both manderins were male and it leaves the female alone. The wrasse is also a female. This could just be a one off ***** of a wrasse though.

 

[inselaffe]

I should of added that he also has a geoffroy, ornatus and a pair of bipartitus (m&f) with no trouble

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Thanks. Obviously my leopards eat pods as does my scooter. Still, there should be plenty (40 gallon established refugium) in that sized tank.

agreed.

I had 5 leopards and a spawning pair of mandarins in my 220 years ago. Lots of pods is the key. If you don't have enough the Mandarins will starve. I've never seen aggression between Macropharyngodon and Mandarins.

 

[29reef]

At least for me my leopard is very interested in any kind of food I put into the tank. I think there would be no problem adding a dragonet to the tank. I would actually be a little more concerned with the scooter blenny, as the Mandarin is more of a threat to it's food source. This causes a problem if there's not enough pods to go around. Like any other situation ample food and space seem to be the key to success.

 

[snorvich]

Thanks Brian. Should be plenty for all.