Damsels backing up to my Mandarin Goby

[cnl83]

I bought a Mandarin Goby today its one pretty fish. I have a striped damsel, and a black damsel (I know they are agressive), and i notice it backs up to the mandarin and touches it with its tail. It doesnt look like a tang does when it whips a fish though. It isnt chacing the mandarin and biting at it either. I just wondering what exaclty is it doing?

[Dustin1300]

Does it whip it or not? This is exactly why I don't like damsels...Just not worth the risk.

[Whisperer]

Likely just bullying the newcomer. Keep an eye on them. They will probably stop when they get used to it.

[beadlocked450r]

I had some damsels do the same thing,it stopped after a few days

[beadlocked450r]

Also keep an eye on the mandrin,make sure its stomach isn't sunk in,if so its not eating and they are hard to feed,very picky eaters,I got mine to eat live brine,also if you don't have any copods in your tank you will need them.

[cnl83]

It is eating. I shot some brine shrimp in his area, and I noticed it hovering around sucking up stuff from the rock. I do not have copods but I will get some. It seems they have already stopped messing with it.

[freeswimmingfis]

Originally Posted by cnl83

It is eating. I shot some brine shrimp in his area, and I noticed it hovering around sucking up stuff from the rock. I do not have copods but I will get some. It seems they have already stopped messing with it.

What size and how old of a tank is this? Do you have a refugium? How is this fish suppesed to eat a steady supply of coepods if you dont have any? These fish are best introduced to an established reef tank with a refugium and a large, healthy colony of coepods.

[Ethan_W]

Originally Posted by cnl83

It is eating. I shot some brine shrimp in his area, and I noticed it hovering around sucking up stuff from the rock. I do not have copods but I will get some. It seems they have already stopped messing with it.

if there's no pods then it isnt actually sucking anything up from the rocks, just trying to. they spend all day hunting down pods on your rocks and sand. imo its difficult to build any significant type op pod population while u have a hungry mandarin in there unless u have a substantial refugium. so i would take the mandarin back, add pods and let them multiply for a few months, then add a mandarin once you are ready.

this is a happy mandarin. you may or may not be able to tell from the pic but he is fat

[cnl83]

Well, ive read that they eat live food mostly, and when I originally set my tank up I purchased gulf rock, at night my tank is crawling with tiny bugs and all sorts of things. I have been watching him closely and he is eating. I bought some coepods also.
My mandarin is way bigger than yours haha

[cnl83]

Looks just like this.

[chimmike]

you'll need to do more than just "buy some copepods". In order for it not to starve to death slowly, you'll probably need to buy pods every day, or start harvesting them.

[cnl83]

Originally Posted by chimmike

you'll need to do more than just "buy some copepods". In order for it not to starve to death slowly, you'll probably need to buy pods every day, or start harvesting them.

I have read several articles on this guy and they all say they eat coepods, live foods, brine shrimp.

So you are telling me that they only eat coepods period?

[Desert Oasis]

Your bugs that are crawling around at night are probably copepods.

But, the other members are right, Manderins pretty much only eat pods. You MIGHT be able to train them to eat brine and such, but it will take time. Just watch very carefully to make sure your beautiful manderin doesn't start to get a sucken belly.

I would also get a refugium with cheato and add copepods to that, just to help. Most manderins starve to death in new aquariums.

This is what I have found in my research. I really want a manderin, but am waiting a little longer. I have had my tank for over a year.

[chimmike]

if you have a big mandarin, he's got an even bigger apetite.

Mandarins aren't like other fish that just magically eat whatever you put in the tank. They're very picky. Unless you witness them eating brine shrimp, they're only eating pods, and it won't be without a lot of work that you get 'em to eat brine shrimp as well.

[cnl83]

Thanks for the info folks

[torero500]

I've heard the new tank raised Mandarins will eat anything. They cost a bit more, but will even eat flake.