Mandarins fighting?

[jbaeza83]

Today I noticed my male mandarin chasing after my female mandarin. They have been in the tank for about a month and havent really done this before. Right now he cant even see her near because he will chase her. Any thoughts? It doesnt look like he is hurting her but just chases her and then leaves

Click to see the video, its on photobucket

 

[small alien]

Not uncommon. How big is the tank?

 

[jbaeza83]

Its a 60g cube

 

[snorvich]

Its a 60g cube

My speculation is that since a 60g cube is marginal for even one mandarin, let alone two, that the male mandarin is upset about a competitor for copepods being in his ecological niche. If you have any other copepod competitors, the food supply will be even further diminished.

 

[jbaeza83]

My speculation is that since a 60g cube is marginal for even one mandarin, let alone two, that the male mandarin is upset about a competitor for copepods being in his ecological niche. If you have any other copepod competitors, the food supply will be even further diminished.

Yeah I was told that 2 in 60g wasnt such a good idea but the thing is that both of them are eating mysis shrimp. So I dont think they are fighting for food. Also, I noticed that they started doing this about an hour after I fed them. I have been told that maybe the male is ready to mate but the female might not be? or do you think its still that they are competing for copepods?

 

[snorvich]

My mated pair (in a 350 gallon mature tank) also eat frozen (mysis, nutramar, etc) but mandarins eat constantly and I feed that tank only twice per day. Frozen is a good supplement but will not be sufficient to maintain them unless you spot feed multiple times per day.

 

[jbaeza83]

My mated pair (in a 350 gallon mature tank) also eat frozen (mysis, nutramar, etc) but mandarins eat constantly and I feed that tank only twice per day. Frozen is a good supplement but will not be sufficient to maintain them unless you spot feed multiple times per day.

I see, I will try to feed them a little more hopefully they will stop, if not I will probably have to remove one of them. Thank you very much snorvich

 

[snorvich]

I see, I will try to feed them a little more hopefully they will stop, if not I will probably have to remove one of them. Thank you very much snorvich

Increasing frequency is more likely to help than quantity. But the odds are against, unfortunately.