More than one Mandarin?

rachelcb80 · #1 05/09/2007, 12:53 PM

I've read that two Mandarins of the same gender will fight. Is this limited to the same species or will different types fight as well? I guess what I'd like to know is can you keep a Green Mandarin with a Spotted without much problems? (provided their needs are being met of course)

lion-clown · #2 05/09/2007, 04:28 PM

How big is your tank? If it is the 125 tank i would think you should be able to but that is just me. You probley should have your tank running for at least a year before you try a mandarin unless you know it is eating at the LFS frozen foods.

Cantonesefish · #3 05/09/2007, 05:43 PM

I personally think it would be cooler to have a male / female pair of the same species, so you can watch them interact with spawning behavior and such...

If you went with two different species, it would be safest to have them of the opposite gender.

Gary Majchrzak · #4 05/09/2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cantonesefish
I personally think it would be cooler to have a male / female pair of the same species, so you can watch them interact with spawning behavior and such...

agreed

snorvich · #5 05/10/2007, 06:13 AM

They will spawn in the proper conditions and if you have dimmable lights. They always spawn in the last light of day, at dusk.

lion-clown · #6 05/10/2007, 09:55 AM

wow that looks awsome

Cantonesefish · #7 05/10/2007, 01:49 PM

Just a side note: people that have spawning pairs sometimes report that the male "rips" the lips off the female during courtship... is this a critical injury to suffer?

Whisperer · #8 05/10/2007, 01:59 PM

Snorvich, had your pair spawn yet? Reason is, I noticed that my female mandarin had a big belly a week back and seen them mating once after the lights dimmed (is that romantic or what?

). Then I noticed the female lost the belly a few days ago but never seen any eggs. What do their eggs look like? Any pics available? Thanks.

<----------this is the stud muffin

Gary Majchrzak · #9 05/10/2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cantonesefish
Just a side note: people that have spawning pairs sometimes report that the male "rips" the lips off the female during courtship... is this a critical injury to suffer?

I never saw this behavior in my spawning Mandarinfish. I've never heard of it before, either.

snorvich · #10 05/10/2007, 07:31 PM

Getting a picture of the eggs is nearly impossible. Some place in my image bank I have one accidental picture but have no prayer of finding it as not everything is digitized. The eggs look like a puff of white smoke that disperses quickly in the water column. I have never seen the male injure the female in any way.

Gary Majchrzak · #11 05/10/2007, 07:40 PM

The whole spawning event happens so fast it's very difficult to get a decent picture of the fish in action let alone the egg cloud.
This is something better captured on film or (better yet) witnessed in person. It's not unusual for the mating dance/spawning event to happen every night at dusk as long as the Mandarinfish are eating well.

mavgi · #12 05/11/2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Whisperer
Snorvich, had your pair spawn yet? Reason is, I noticed that my female mandarin had a big belly a week back and seen them mating once after the lights dimmed (is that romantic or what? ). Then I noticed the female lost the belly a few days ago but never seen any eggs. What do their eggs look like? Any pics available? Thanks.

<----------this is the stud muffin

here look on this nice thread :

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=824111

Whisperer · #13 05/11/2007, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the link mavgi. I was under the impression that they would nest (like my maroon clowns did), my bad. I guess, if the female spawned that night, I would not see any frys because they will be eaten by other fishes (2 percs, 5 chromis, 1 hippo, 1 sergeant major, 2 firefish, 1 red lip blennie).