Mandarins and bubble tips for clowns

[onnenmd]

Let me start out with this: I appolpogize if this has been covered before, but I couldn't find the answer.

I have a mandarin goby/dragonet in my tank and want to get a bubble tip anemone for my 75g tank. I have about 320 watts from a power compact. I hear that Mandarins dont mix with anemones because they are slow and are vulnerable to the anemone. I have also heard and read that bubble tips are the least aggresive of anemones.

Any tips, hints, pointers, do's, dont's, I wish I hadn't done that's, this might work, etc..

Appreciate the help from everyone's knowledge and expertise!!

 

[OrionN]

BTA will never eat any fish. Your Mandarin is safe with BTA.
Wait until your tank is establish first before adding an Mandarin. They are very hardy and easy to care fore but will only eat live food and requires lots of pods to live. There will be people who said that their Mandarin eats frozen food but these are rare abnormalities, not the norm.

 

[onnenmd]

thank you. My tank is over run with pods!!!! I should be good. I have had my tank up for about 3 years, but neglected it for a while. I just sat there running with live rock which made critters get out of control.

Anyone else have an opinion on this?

 

[Ryanqk]

I have a BTA and i used to have a mandarin, but he didnt get enough food, they can mix fine most fish know not to blunder into a anenome. The mandarin will be fine with an LTA, BTA, condy, pretty much any of those are fine. Just make sure you have the copepod population.

 

[onnenmd]

Thank you. I just tried target feeding my mandarin for the first time today with frozen brine shrimp...........it ate about 3-4 of the shrimp!!!!!!!!! This is great news!!!!!!

Does it sound like my lights would support a BTA?

 

[OrionN]

Your light is fine for BTA.
Try frozen Mysis shrimp instead of brine shrimp. I think mysis are much better.