newbie reefer, question about dragonets

[gramma royale]

Hey all,

I just started my 18 gallon reef tank last month. It's running well, coralline algae is just starting to hit the glass and my livestock is doing well. I haven't added any corals yet, but I'm planning on doing so soon. I've been told not to add corals until the coralline starts to cover the glass. As of now, I'm wondering if I should add a dragonet, I don't know whether to add a mandarin or a scooter blenny. i've heard that both require copepods for the mainstay of their diet. My question is why do most people have a much easier time keeping blennies then? If possible, I would like to get a mandarin. Any thougts on this? Experiences?

Also, when I first put in my live rock, about a week or so afterwards I noticed some little brown anenome-like things attaced to the rock. I did some research, and I found out the might be something called Aupista, or something to that effect. I've learned that these anenomes are harmful and should be removed. Is this so? Anyhoo, unless anyone can tell me how I can coax my little royal gramma out from the back of the tank, that's it for now. Thanks for any help

[naser]

most of the time blennies will take frozen food... while the dragonete only feeds off live food. people with live rock that is pretty old and feed usually have no problem keeping a dragonete. and most of the time whne they have them at stores they dont eat because theres no live rock to feed from so you usually get them starved.

[Aragorn]

GR,

Welcome to Reefland. I personally would not recommend a dragonet for an 18g even w/ an established population of "pods". A dragonet would most likely deplete the population in nothing flat leaving no more available live food. I have a dragonet myself. However, this little fella is the only "fish" inhabitant in a 135g tank w/ 150lbs of LR and large pod population. I know they're beautiful fish, but I just don't think an 18g is large enough. JMO

[mastaJ]

As for the manderin, I would suggest a MUCH bigger tank for one of these so the 'pods can breed faster than they are ate, and when the beautiful manderin eats ALL day that can be a problem in a small tank unless you have a LARGE refugium or something on that line.

I don't know whether to add a mandarin or a scooter blenny... ...My question is why do most people have a much easier time keeping blennies then?

A Scooter BLENNY is actually a dragonet the same as a manderin they are completely defferent then blennies witch will take frozen food and don't require 'pods

Also, when I first put in my live rock, about a week or so afterwards I noticed some little brown anenome-like things attaced to the rock.

I would like to introuduce to you the weed of the sea....AIPTASIA...They can be a pain sometimes and they will sting corals etc.

Anyway...HTH

[gramma royale]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll start looking into scooter blennies now . As for the aipista, do I need to get rid of it? I've heard you have to inject it with scalding water and some other chemicals, but I find that kinda extreme. Also, won't the chemicals leak out and harm the other livestock? Thanks again.

[Ninong]

Hi gramma royale, welcome to Reefland!

Aiptasia (Aiptasia pallida): http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/aiptasia.htm

Mandarin dragonets (Synchiropus splendidus and S. picturatus): http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/mandarin-dragonets.htm

Ninong

[Biomanjcs72]

Scooter blennies have the same requirements as Mandarin Dragonets, lots of Pods, won't accept prepared foods. You probably won't be able to keep one in your 18G either. I'd check on Eyelash blennies (also called lawnmower), maybe a pearly headed jawfish, Anyway, just wanted to clarify that scooters and dragonets are the same thing in terms of care requirements.

[ColoradoReef]

My scooter blenny eats frozen brine shrimp, while my mandarin does not. I'd ask the LFS to feed the blenny in front of you and see if he eats. If he doesn't , don't get him. And I agree with the 18G being too small to supply adequate pods for the mandarin.

[Biomanjcs72]

I've heard sparse stories of Scooters accepting prepared/frozen foods, not many, but certainly more than Mandarins.

[ColoradoReef]

Hey Biomanjcs72,
He, or she, even eats flake food, but prefers pods and brine. It's funny to watch him try and swim up and catch brine. My buddies blenny takes brine too.

[SKRIZ]

I would definately not reccommend a mandarin dragonnet. It will more than likely die. As for the gramma, give it some time, it will come out. They like to hide for some time as they adjust. But, they will soon show off their beauty

[marinemaster]

i have a 40gallon marine tank where i keep a psychedelic manderin and have had no problems at all in keeping him, i've had him for 8 months and he is extremley health often eating frozen brine shrimp as well as constantly feeding off the live rock. he is a magnificant fish and would highly recommend one.

[James]

I have had a Scooter Blenny in my 50gal. tank for about a year and a half now. he eats frozen misid shrimp and gets along fine with others in the tank.

[Sueet]

Just for the record, I have 3 scooter blenny's that eat frozen food... it is not a pre-made food, I mix it myself, from a variety of ingredients, but they love it... I've actually seen them chase the hermits off a piece of it, so they could get at it.

[kbsig106]

I've had a mandarin in my 30g for about 6 months and she's doing fine. She'll only eat "live" food - so I put 3 feedings of live brine per week (to supp. the existing pods in the crushed coral) and she takes care of the rest.

I did watch her yesterday eat a worm looking creature. It was pink and looked like it had a segmented body. The Mandarin hunted him down and it looked like spagetti hanging out of her mouth. Kinda funny and sad for the worm.....

I have noticed a few times, she's comsumed frozen brine and daphina(sp?). This was while the food ws still floating - so she might have thought it was live.