New Mandarins

[smtarr]

I forgot to tell all you guys. I was at Dave's in Gardiner the other day and he had 2 of the CUTEST green Mandarins you ever saw. They are doing GREAT eating live brine shrimp as well as the pods in my tank. During the day they go their separate ways but near lights off they come together and swim together around each other, don't know if this is spawning or not. I know they are male and female because when I feed them they spread their dorsal fins and the female is a little bigger as well as more red. The male is more blue and they bother no one and no one bothers them. They are a great addition to my tank. I haven't named them yet but want to name them something oriental, maybe the couple on the blue willow design plates. Sue

 

[Driftwood]

I have read some about mandarins. They are definately spawning. Do they release a small 'puff' of smoky fluid near the top of the water? I had a pair that wouldn't do the dance, but they shot the cloudy stuff all over the tank...

Have fun, they are beautiful fish.

 

[smtarr]

I'll watch closer, I haven't noticed the puff of fluid yet. I just put in a vase with a small opening to make it easier to feed 'Koong' female, and 'Chang' male. I have chromis in the tank and they swim fast and everyone loves brine shrimp. So far only little 'Dory' my yellow tailed damsel has found the brine shrimp in the vase but the mandarins are curious so only a matter of time till they discover their personal 'dining room'. I do love to watch them. They ARE beautiful fish, I can see them across the room even though they are small. Sue