Synchiropus spendidus Green mandarinfish
Mistakenly called gobies by some aquarists, the s. splendidus is a very popular addition to aquariums, as it is a beautiful fish and readily available. Unfortunately, the new keeper of the mandarin most often is forced to watch the fish slowly starve and die.
These fish are slow, methodical eaters and dine almost exclusively on live prey in the sand bed and on live rock. They will sometimes take prepared foods and live brine, but still require an abundance of copepods and microcrustacea in the sandbed/liverock as they will feed 24/7 in the tank. They should only be introduced in tanks that can meet these criteria. Newly set-up tanks or barren tanks will usually mean death for the fish.
The mandarin is completely reef safe and does not pay attention to other species. However, any fish with similar feeding habits (some wrasses esp.) should not be placed in the same tank unless there is ample food available for both.
Two males cannot normally be placed in the same tank, as they will fight to the death. The males are differentiated from females from a longer first dorsal fin. A male/female will sometimes pair up and have been known to spawn in captivity.
[This message has been edited by BrianD (edited 08-14-2000).]
Mistakenly called gobies by some aquarists, the s. splendidus is a very popular addition to aquariums, as it is a beautiful fish and readily available. Unfortunately, the new keeper of the mandarin most often is forced to watch the fish slowly starve and die.
These fish are slow, methodical eaters and dine almost exclusively on live prey in the sand bed and on live rock. They will sometimes take prepared foods and live brine, but still require an abundance of copepods and microcrustacea in the sandbed/liverock as they will feed 24/7 in the tank. They should only be introduced in tanks that can meet these criteria. Newly set-up tanks or barren tanks will usually mean death for the fish.
The mandarin is completely reef safe and does not pay attention to other species. However, any fish with similar feeding habits (some wrasses esp.) should not be placed in the same tank unless there is ample food available for both.
Two males cannot normally be placed in the same tank, as they will fight to the death. The males are differentiated from females from a longer first dorsal fin. A male/female will sometimes pair up and have been known to spawn in captivity.
[This message has been edited by BrianD (edited 08-14-2000).]