Gozer_1

Green Mandarin
(Synchiropus splendidus)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...cfm?pCatId=551

I was wondering if anyone is keeping one of these and, if so, can you tell me if they will eat Featherduster worms? It's my understanding that they feed primarily on copepods and such. Everything I have read says they will eat "natural prey on live rock and live sand". I would like to know what "natural prey" is. They are one of the prettiest fish ever. I would like to have one but I really like featherdusters, and don't want to find my thriving population suddenly vanishing.

sgould

I believe agsansoo has a mandarin. I'd love to hear his comments on them too. I think they are absolutely gorgeous fish!

agsansoo

I know they eat worms ... not sure about Featherduster worms. Sadly my mandarin died last week, just after my first batch of clown fry hatched. Still not sure why he died, he was not thin. They primarily just eat copepods. Even with a 10 gallon refugium, the copepod population raises and falls over a month. As for amphipods, my tank is crawling with these. The wife calls them saltwater cockroaches LOL. I never saw my mandarin eat amphipods, just copepods. I feed him copepods (that I buy at the LFS), live brine shrimp, live baby brine shrimp (which I hatch every other day) and sometimes flying fish eggs.

If you want to buy one. Have the LFS worker feed him live brine shrimp in front of you. If he eats ... He will most likely eat anything floating by him !

I came close to buying another mandarin this week ... but changed my mind. I think I will take a break from them until I get better at raising baby clowns.

Gozer_1

I'm sorry to hear about your fish. I am definitely not ready for one. I will have one though, I'm debating between the spotted and the striped. I think the striped has better color. I think I'll wait till I finish my refugium project. Phase One - New Stand is happening next week, by the way. Sounds to be best if I have as much copepod habitat as possible. Thats cool, I think my favorite part of the reef environment is all the tiny little things going on when you look closer. Corals and such are beautiful, but the "street level" view is amazing. The Mandarin and a couple green chromis are the only fish I plan to add. I have a cinnamon clown now. The Mandarin is gonna be my "OK I have honed my skills. Now I am worthy" fish.

des

i have both a feather duster and a Green Mandarin and have had no problems

chris2

I've had my mandarin for a few months now, and he is definitely the conversation piece of the tank. And don't believe the hype, they're easy to care for and have an unbelievably thick slime coat to protect them. He hops around all day scooping up my mysis shrimp or bloodworm leftovers. Two quick examples of just how strong he is...

I have a 40g tank with a Fluval 405 on it and came home one day to find him stuck to the intake. I freaked and stuck my hand in the tank and nudged him off. I was so worried because he was actually bulged out from the places the intake had a hold of him. An hour or so went by and he was fine. Good as new.

I was moving some rocks to vaccuum and didn't want him in the way, so I put my hand in to nudge him towards the corner, and he actually jumped into my hand. My wife took a great shot of him sitting there. I slowly picked him up and let him go into the corner.

Mandarins are great fish. If I had more tanks, I would put one in every single one. If you do get one, advice to remember. They have nocturnal camoflauge and turn gray when the lights go out. Needless to say I didn't know that and freaked the first morning.

Gozer_1

WOW, that is really neat. I don't know if I'm gonna get one or not. I have since gotten more fish and I don't know if I have room for one. I do REALLY want one. Hmm maybe. I have 4 Chromis a tomato clown and a purple pseudochromis. I feel like I'm on the edge of being fully stocked. Atleast when everyone grows up lol.

des

yeah chris is right ive found mine to be really hardy. have you got the pic of him on your hand?