Ethical Question regarding Mandarin

[Aragorn]

Before I do anything, I would like to get feedback from our community since I value all your opinions. Our LFS got a Mandarin Dragonet from a customer. The dragonet is in a tank w/ no "pod" population. He/she is still doing OK...but, of course, he/she is not eating. Our 135g tank that has cycled, has had no fish in it for 8 weeks now is FULL of amphipods, copepods, and isopods. I mean this sucker is LOADED! My wife(and to some extent myself) has always held a desire to get one. Would this be a good idea? I'd hate to see it die at the LFS when we have a tank that I believe would be a suitable habitat. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Mikeman]

well, if you want all your pods to go away you can get it, which is really not a bad thing, I haven't seen a pod I along time(shrimp/arrow crab) but I have a pretty decent clean up crew

I would say get it, but I would also buy 15 more nassurias snails(

[Bughead]

I'd say get it too. It has a much better chance in your system than many of the other places this mandarin could end up.

[icemark]

Yeah, I would get it. I think they are one of the neatest fish and with a 130 gal, it would take a while for it to clean out the tank (if ever).

Mine loves frozen Mysis and brine as well, so you can try to suppliment to pods with a dose of frozen once a week or so. This would slowly wean him to frozen as well.

Great fish for a reef tank!

[chris]

Yes, I would get it.

As long as you have alot of live rock to sustain the population of pods.

c

[Neal359]

i think that you should get it, it sound like it will have a much better chance in you tank them in the one its in now and i would get it soon befour it starts to starve

[addicted2fish]

If you were just trying to 'save' it from the LFS I'd say no, but since you really want the fish and you feel that your tank can sustain it, why not?

[Burt Reynolds]

Do you have a refugium or a sump where pods can grow? I have a much smaller system (too small for a mandarin), a 55g with a small hang-on refugium. My six line wrasse reduced the population of pods in the main tank (from swarming with them to rare sightings), but they thrive in the refugium, which has a gravity-fed return so enough pods make it back to the main tank to keep the six line fat and sassy with little supplemental feeding. Although 135g sounds big enough to sustain a mandarin, an above tank refugium or sump (so the pods don't get shredded by the return pump) might be something to think about. On the other hand, my LFS has a display tank that can't be bigger than 125g, which they mainly use to display corals. They have fish in there that are not for sale, which includes both a large six line and a mandarin who have been there at least a year that I can remember, and they seem very healthy. I say get him because they are really cool fish that you are lucky enough to have a big enough tank for, but if you need the ethical rationalization, then yes, I think it is a moral imperative that you save this poor fish from its inevitablly slow painful death in some yahoo's 30g hex, with pink substrate, fake plastic coral and treaure chest air stone.

God Speed, Aragorn.

[Biomanjcs72]

I'd say get it if you want it, it sounds to me like your system will handle it. They are very pretty, sad that so many of them end up doomed.

[Aragorn]

Thank you everyone. Yes, they are very cool fish. I would hate to see this little fella "waste away" at the LFS(even the owner knows of their mortality rate w/out live food) or have some uninformed aquarist place him in a 30g because he's "cool". I might get him today. Thanks everyone.

[golfish]

Aragorn,
Its a tough call, the one thing I did notice you said was "Our 135g tank that has cycled, has had no fish in it for 8 weeks now is FULL of amphipods, copepods, and isopods." That's really not a lot of time for a tank to mature. You might not see a single one of these little critters after a few months with the Mandarin in the tank, then again they might multiply faster then the little guy can munch em down.

You read so many things about these fish that its hard to say what is right and what is wrong. If you leave it in the LFS it will die in a short time for sure. If you take it home it might live a long healthy life or die slowly from starvation. I see them all the time here and chose not to put them in my tank. I would rather my tank be a little more self supporting, a Mandarin would surly take food away from my other fish and then I would have to feed more often.

A refugium would be a big help. Its kind a like your damned if you do and damned if you don't....

Mark

[Aragorn]

Well I do have a refugium on all my tanks. My 135g has a 40g refugium that is full of "critters" also. Actually my tank began its cycle back in February. For those of you that remember, I lost my fish due to a Brooklynella outbreak in the 135g. So, it's been "unoccupied" so to speak for 8 weeks of those 5 months.

[Ironreef]

fwiw my manderine eats pod so small you can't see them. They are the size of pepper. I waited a yr before I got mine and it is starting to eat frozen brine. But it didn't the first 3 mo of having it.

[snoopdog]

Mine in my 75 Gallon is FAT ! I have had him for a year.

[Doug1]

Damn these ethical dilemas As the moderator of a reef board aimed at begining reefers you know I am going to say don't do it in most cases). Saving a fish from death at LFS or from unsuspecting new reefer only perpetuates the problem. If it wells they will get more, and lets face it mandarins prolly tie with the clown/anemone thing for drawing new people into the hobby.
On the other hand having read specs on your system, seeing your posts, and knowing you have been involved in advanced education, I have to say that if "you" decide to go ahead and get the little guy I don't see anymore problem than keeping SW in general. Obviously you have thought this out and wieghed the issues and decided it's something you have a reasonable chance of being successful with. When you think about it every tank, every addition is a gamble. Some of us take the time to stack the odds in our(and animals favor) while others just roll the dice and hope like he** we come up a winner.
I dont recommend these fish for most people but I do feel I you think you have covered all the bases, which it appears you have, then go for it. At the very least you can provide a fighting chance for its survival, and I am sure you are aware by now the wild reef is a very hostile environment. Good luck whatever you decide.

[scubadude]

I say Get it if you want it Aragorn!!! you are responsible enough to take care of it!!! Im the same way....I would love a mandarin or hawk fish in my 90 and I now have a massive population of pods, mysis shrimp and plenty of rock work and a nice refugium, I just dont want to upset any balances. I would definately feed the tank heavy though to get him started....try live brine shrimp on him too ....maybe you can feed the pod population if he doesnt eat the brine just a thought

[Aragorn]

Thank you all for your feedback. I spoke w/ Steve(owner of LFS) and even he stated that he would much rather give it to me(yes, I got the little fella free of charge ) than see it go to someone who doesn't know the requirements for a dragonet. After acclimating him, he promptly disappeared into the rock and I haven't seen him since. I'm sure he'll be happier in a 135g w/ 200lbs of LR and a "mess o' pods" than a little "sterile" 20g.