Mandarin Competition

[bripen]

Are there any fish that don't compete with a Mandarin dragonette's food source, yet eat Pyramellid snails? Any that aren't jumpers, in particular?

 

[steve-s]

Fish no but a quarantine tank yes.

Are the pyramidellids affecting snails, clams or both?

 

[bripen]

Hi Steve,
I don't have any Pyrams. Or any Clams....yet. Was just wondering if, when I do add some clams to my system, since a Six-Line Wrasse would compete with the Mandarin, if there were any other fish which dined on Pyrams yet would not compete with the Mandarin for its food source. I know that the following Wrasses also eat Pyrams, just not sure of their compatability with a Mandarin in a 75 gal tank: Tail-Spot (Halichoeres melanurus), Green (H. chloropterus), 4-Line (Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia) and Red Coris (Coris gaimard). Some of these probably get too big, etc. as well. Any others out there? Thanks in advance.

 

[steve-s]

Your best option is to QT the clams and any snails before they go into the display tank. You can then easily remove and destroy the pyramidellids before they could get into the display tank.

Why fight the problem after the fact when avoiding it is so much easier?