The Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) is a captivating and iconic saltwater aquarium fish, celebrated for its vibrant colors and unique patterns. Often referred to as the mandarin goby, dragonette fish, or mandarin dragonet fish, this species is a popular choice among reef aquarium enthusiasts. With its electric hues and intricate designs, the mandarin fish, belonging to the dragonet family, adds a touch of exotic beauty to any reef tank.
Introduction to Mandarin Goby
Native to the warm, shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean, mandarin fish are typically found in coral reefs where they spend their days foraging for food. Their coloration can vary, with individuals exhibiting shades of blue, green, red, and orange. Common variants include the green mandarin goby, red mandarin dragonet, blue mandarin fish, and spotted mandarin fish. Once considered an "expert only" fish, the Mandarin Dragonet has become relatively easy to keep thanks to captive breeding efforts. However, success with this fish hinges on your ability to meet its dietary needs.
Understanding the Dietary Needs of Mandarin Gobies
Feeding is the single most important, and often most challenging, aspect of caring for a Mandarin Dragonet. These fish are carnivorous and have a strong preference for live food. In the wild, they feed on small crustaceans, copepods, and amphipods. To thrive in a reef aquarium, mandarin fish require a consistent and substantial source of live food.
The Importance of Copepods
Copepods are the primary food for mandarin dragonets in their natural habitat. Therefore, the most effective way to meet the dietary needs of mandarin goby dragonets is by maintaining a robust copepod population within the reef tank.
Maintaining a Copepod Population: To ensure a constant supply of copepods, aquarists can seed their tanks with a mix of copepods, such as 5280 Pods, and replenish them as needed.
Read also: Are Mandarin Oranges Keto?
Feeding Copepods: Diligent use of phytoplankton ("phyto") to feed the copepods will keep them reproducing at a high rate, resulting in consistently large populations. Live phytoplankton products that contain smart blends of microalgae types (Nannochloropsis, Isochrysis, Tetraselmis, Thalassiosira, etc.) are best. Moreover, these quality blended products (such as OceanMagik) will provide optimal nutrition for the pods.
Supplementing the Diet
While copepods should form the bulk of their diet, offering a variety of live and frozen foods can encourage your mandarin goby fish to accept alternative food sources.
Live Artemia (Brine Shrimp): Newly-hatched Live Artemia (i.e. brine shrimp) are an excellent supplemental live food for mandarin goby fish care. Baby brine shrimp are mobile and are at the larger end of the fish’s food size range, providing a slightly bigger challenge and a slightly bigger reward. For enhanced nutrition, baby brine shrimp derived from decapsulated cysts (such as Nano Brine) are recommended.
Frozen Mysis Shrimp: Offering a bit of prepared food such as chopped or small-size whole frozen mysis shrimp is another way to vary a mandarin fish’s diet and sneak in a few extra calories.
Bloodworms: A number of people have had good luck with mandarins eating bloodworms. Heres the catch, its gotta be small bloodworms or he wont even look at them.
Read also: Nutritional Needs of Diamond Watchman Gobies
Mandarin Diner
What you could try is using a mandarin diner, basically you use a small jar or something that you can put a little food in and just let it sit in the bottom of the tank.
Captive Bred vs. Wild Caught
Thanks to advancements in sustainable aquaculture, captive bred Mandarin Dragonets have become common and are far easier to feed then their wild counterparts. Some aquacultured specimens (such as Biota Green Mandarins) even arrive partly or completely trained and ready to eat many of these foods. A mandarin that readily accepts prepared foods not only opens the door to many more feeding opportunities but also makes life somewhat easier for the aquarist. Wild caught Mandarins, on the other hand, often refuse anything other than live copepods. This means hobbyists must maintain a thriving population of pods in the tank or provide a continuous external source, such as a separate refugium or regular additions of live copepods.
Setting Up the Ideal Environment
A healthy mandarin dragonet tank is more than just water and rocks. It's a whole tiny world! You need to create an ecosystem where tiny creatures can live and breed. The success of feeding mandarin dragonets often depends on the overall health and setup of your reef tank.
Tank Size and Setup
Mandarin dragonets need room to roam. A tank that's too small will stress them out and make it hard for them to find enough food. Aim for at least a 30-gallon tank, but bigger is better. Make sure your tank is well-established before adding a mandarin dragonet. They don't do well in new setups. Your tank should be running for at least 6 months with lots of live rock.
Live Rock: Mandarin dragonets feel safest when they have lots of hiding spots. Pack your tank with live rock and create little caves and crevices. They'll use these to rest and hide from bigger fish.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Refugium: Consider adding a refugium to your setup. A number of people have had good luck with mandarins eating bloodworms. +1 on having some kind of fuge with chaeto and LR pieces.
Macro Algae: Adding some macro algae can also benefit your mandarin dragonet. It provides additional hiding spots and surfaces for copepods to thrive.
Water Quality
Mandarin dragonets are picky about their water. They need stable conditions to stay healthy. Test your water regularly and make small adjustments if needed. Invest in a high-quality protein skimmer to help maintain excellent water quality.
Choosing Tank Mates
Mandarin Dragonets are somewhat timid fish and are susceptible to being bullied by other tank mates. They can be slow eaters, so take care when feeding to make sure they get their fair share of food. They are best kept singly or as a mated pair. Mandarin dragonets are peaceful fish, but they're not great swimmers. Don't put them with big, aggressive fish that might bully them or eat all their food. Avoid fast-eating fish like tangs or bigger wrasses. Consider pairing your mandarin with a watchman goby.
Breeding Mandarin Dragonets
Breeding mandarin dragonets is super hard. In the wild, they release their eggs into the water. If you want to try breeding, you'll need a separate tank and lots of live foods like rotifers for the babies. Successful breeding often requires mimicking natural conditions, including specific lighting cycles and water movement.
Monitoring Health and Behavior
The biggest problem with mandarin dragonets is usually feeding. Watch for signs of stress or illness, such as loss of color, rapid breathing, or unusual behavior. If your mandarin fish refuses to eat, it may be due to stress, poor acclimation, or a lack of food availability. A dwindling copepod population can lead to starvation. A healthy mandarin dragonet should be active, with bright colors and a plump body. If you notice any of these, check your water quality and boost your copepod population. Regular observation is key. Spend time each day watching your mandarin's behavior and eating habits.
Other Tips
- Enriching Food: Baby brine shrimp that are derived from decapsulated cysts (such as Nano Brine) are more nutritious. This because the prey items have used up less of their own energy reserves during the hatching process. This type of enrichment can be carried out by simply allowing them to swim around (for approximately one hour) in an aerated container filled with aquarium water and a good dose of phyto. Products that contain Thalassiosira are said to be especially good for this purpose.
- Pod Pile: find a local guy and get some cheato from them. throw it in a 5gal bucket of saltwater and add a cheap clip on light. grow pods. as in the cheato algae you mean? that sounds like a fantastic idea! I couldnt answer that question about how quickly the reproduce. typically if you can get them from a reefer they come from a refuge and will be full of pods to start. I was actually checking around and was actually interested in this "pod pile", does anyone know what it actually is? honestly find someone local, you will get better stuff for much cheaper. maybe even free. very true… hahaha thanks mthomp.. find a local guy and get some cheato from them. throw it in a 5gal bucket of saltwater and add a cheap clip on light. grow pods.
- Training to Eat Pellets: Try to get the mandarin to eat formula 1 pellets. The best way to do this is consistently feed your tank exactly at the same time in the evening. Mandarins like to hunt at dusk just before the lights go out. Mine come right up to the glass and eat the pellets from the sand. I have trained 2 mandarins to eat pellets so far and they are fat and happy living off formula 1 pellets.