Yellow tail damsel vs Mandarin dragonet

[marinegeek101]

I was just wondering if my yellow tail will bully my futur Mandarin. I have a 32 gallon with lots of live rock. 2 perculas, 1 cleaner and some other inverts and corals?

 

[LakeEd]

Marinegeek,

I don't have a Mandarin, but I do have a Scooter Blennie, which has similar habits... and my Yellow Tail Damsel is about the mellowest fish in my entire tank, and totally ignores the Scooter.

Hopefully, others with the Yellow Tail Damsel's will give you their experiences as well.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hoopsguru]

I'd be more concerned with the relatively small size of your tank. Unless there is a large refugium attached to your system, a 32g tank (even with lots of liverock) cannot support a mandarinfish. Some folks have had some success getting them to eat dry food (search Google for "mandarin diner") but this is by far the exception not the norm.

 

[LakeEd]

Excellent point Hoops!!! I had completely missed this was only a 32 gallon tank, and I agree, a mandarine won't last long at all in a bio environment that small. Unfortunately, what they require to eat (live pods mostly) won't be able to re-populate fast enough in a tank that small, and they will soon starve to death.

 

[marinegeek101]

I to was concerned about that. But the one im purchasing also eats frozen foods...I am just in case culturing some pods just to make sure

 

[Hoopsguru]

Good luck, I still have some major concerns but it is not possible to verify how much frozen it will eat, etc. I would cultural copepods at highest production regardless, as mandarin fish literally feed continuously from morning to night. This will give you the best chances. I would also have a "plan B" resource to move the fish to in case in starts to become thin. Let us know your observations after you get it.

 

[marinegeek101]

Yes I will