spotted / psychedelic mandarin

[snoo]

synchiropus picturatus
according to Scott W. Michael in his book marine fishes these little beauties eat brown flat worms of which I have a lot [not realy desparate to get rid of them] but would love a mandarin and may be I can now keep one alive
any comments

[LisaD]

sorry double post

[LisaD]

I had this fish in a tank that suffered a flatworm outbreak. never saw it touch a flatworm. IME, these things will eventually go away (or at least get down to tolerable numbers) if you can reduce nutrient levels in the tank.

try frequent large water changes, macroalgae, chemical filtration.

[Zaita]

There is no guarantee that the mandarin will eat the flatworms

[hybridgenius]

What he said^^^

[snorvich]

Yeah, what Lisa and Zaita both said.

[Lundy24]

FWIW i had one that did eat flatworms. Not sure how common this is tho.

[dbmtrman]

I have a pair of spotted mandarins in my 120, with a large toadstool leather. I have flat worms on the leather from time to time. I did actually see one of the mandarins eat one off the leather the other day. Was hoping he'd clear them all off, but I guess they have enough pods in the 200 lbs. of live rock to keep them going.

[finsurgeon]

I have 2 green mandarins, a spotted mandarin, and a red scooter blenny. I also have a flatworm problem, and none of the dragonets has eaten any of the worms.

[howdy777]

yea depends on the fish, some will and many won't...

Originally posted by Zaita
There is no guarantee that the mandarin will eat the flatworms

[Gem Tang Rider]

If your looking to get rid of flat worms, look here.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeresbestart.htm

[petoonia]

If your tank has plenty of live rock, a refugium, and has been up and running about a year then you could probably support a mandarin.

[Zaita]

Originally posted by petoonia
If your tank has plenty of live rock, a refugium, and has been up and running about a year then you could probably support a mandarin.

He didn't ask if he could support one :P His sig says he has a 1000Ltr (250g approx) tank. That could happily support multiple mandarins.

As I said earlier. Very much hit and miss and you would be best to try something else first.

[petoonia]

Originally posted by Zaita
His sig says he has a 1000Ltr (250g approx) tank. That could happily support multiple mandarins.

Only if it is well established, and has plenty of live rock.



I dont think snoo is looking for the mandarin to rid the tank of flatworms, I think he (or she) is asking if the presence of the flatworms will help to keep a mandarin alive. Which, I dont think an abundance of flatworms will sustain a mandarin. So if the tank is well established with plenty of live rock he shouldn't have a problem with the pod population.

[snorvich]

If you are looking for mandarins to rid your tank of flatworms, I would say it is unlikely. As Zaita said, if it is an established tank, he could have multiple mandarins as long as he did not inadvertently introduce two males.