question for mandarin owners

[Lynnmw1208]

So I decided on getting myself a green mandarin and I was watching her (at least I think it's a her) today as she is so interesting and she is the only fish in my tank :lol: Anyway, while I was watching, some white stuff came out from her and floated away like a cloud. Was that pee? lol It just took me by surprise as it looked exactly what clams release when they spawn. here's a link to the video of her in my build thread in case you didn't see it (it's not of the weird white stuff) http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1917666&page=3

she is just diligently going around the tank eating the pods

 

[davocean]

She is a he, and he's do that.
Your vid said private when I clicked on it.

 

[Angel*Fish]

How old is your tank? Sometimes early on there is a huge pod bloom and people mistake that to mean their tank is ready for a mandarin. Your tank is very pretty, but that's not much rock and not much place in the main tank for pods to hide and reproduce to keep your supply going.

I see an over flow, so if you have a refugium, that will help greatly. Whether you have one or not, I would buy a big bunch of chaeto. The main tank is not an ideal place for it, but chaeto is a perfect place for pods. Some build piles of rubble in their tank where they can breed.

 

[davocean]

OK, vid played this time.
It does look like a female, but I've never seen a female blow that smokey looking oil like that, makes me wonder if the spike got cut short or something?
I do agree w/ what rock is in there looks minimal, and despite having what looks like a lot of pods can change pretty quickly.
Add up 1-3 pods per minute, because that's how much they normally consume.
Hopefully your fuge/sump has alot more rock and chaeto.

 

[KJoFan]

Does she eat frozen? I just had some bad luck with a mandarin that ate frozen. I completely under estimated how many pods they actually eat/need!

Not trying to discourage at all, just relating my experience. Good luck!

 

[MikeandNicole]

It is a female and ours releases that stuff from time to time. Have not firgured out what it is. My theory (could be totally wrong so don't take this as gospel) is that generally when I see her do that it is right after picking through the sand for pods. My theory is that it is just their way of discharging sand and whatnot. At first I thought it had to do with spawning behavior (I have a male as well and they spawn), but I don't think it does. Again just a theory.

 

[snorvich]

It does look like a circumsized male (clipped dorsal fin) but my eyes are not good enough to say for sure. A very healthy specimen. Your tank may not be mature enough for this fish; consider adding chaeto. The mandarin is simply discharging the waste material from having grabbed a copepod. Very normal and makes them look like they are smoking.

 

[davocean]

Yeah weird, I've had a couple spawning pairs and never saw the females do that, just the male, and sometimes when he was just looking at me and flashing his dorsal spike, so I thought like a male showing off or scare tactic thing, but I guess the pod/sand sifting does make sense.

 

[Sapooloo]

It is a female and ours releases that stuff from time to time. Have not firgured out what it is. My theory (could be totally wrong so don't take this as gospel) is that generally when I see her do that it is right after picking through the sand for pods. My theory is that it is just their way of discharging sand and whatnot. At first I thought it had to do with spawning behavior (I have a male as well and they spawn), but I don't think it does. Again just a theory.

i have a female that does the same thing. i was thinking the same thing

 

[Angel*Fish]

I'm glad we got the sexing issue out of the way -lol.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

thanks for the replies everyone! I will just assume that was waste material whether it be sand or pods.

I do have chaeto in my sump so no worries for that and I am going to try supplemental feedings as well.

I believe this is a female as it doesn't look like the dorsal was cut or anything and she is quite small yet. When do the males start to show their dorsal spike? this one seems fairly young so I wonder if it's just not showing yet. nevertheless this one seems really healthy so I don't mind what it is

 

[njudson]

my mandarin releases puffs of sand all the time

 

[Angel*Fish]

Well good luck - adding a mandarin 29 days after you start cycling your tank is not usually a good idea.

 

[snorvich]

Well good luck - adding a mandarin 29 days after you start cycling your tank is not usually a good idea.

Very true. Copepods will not be sufficiently populated.