Mandarin Dragonet

[sharuq1]

Selcon is a great idea. Where did you manage to find it? So far I have not seen it in any of the stores I've been to.

I have a mandarin as well. He was living in a pre-established setup for 2 years when I got him and has been with me for I think about 6 or 7 months now.

He eats pods and decapsulated brine shrimp eggs fed to him in a spice jar. I thought he was eating NLS there for a while, but turns out he was putting them in his mouth and spitting them out trying to get the eggs instead, lol.

I would not recommend a mandy to a beginner or a non-established tank setup. I was one of the few that got lucky as he came with the tank when I got it. Otherwise it is not a fish that I would have bought at this stage. I would have waited a year before attempting a mandarin in the tank, just to be on the safe side.

Also as a side note, some of these fish are still caught using the poisoning method and if so may never fully recover--hence not lasting long in the aquarium. Another thing to note when buying one; be on the safe side and get a fat one. Don't get a skinny one thinking you can nurse it back to health.