[Aerinah]

I have a pair of Mandarin Gobies, the male was added to my reef system 1-18-07 and the female on 3-17-07. Both are eating well in my tank and are very happy.

About 4 days ago I noticed some strange behavior with them though. After my 10k bulbs shut off and it is just my actinic running, I see them swimming in spiral patterns with their bellies together to the surface of my tank 3-4 times. After that the male will follow her around the tank and is very protective of her.

I do have several other fish in the system right now and am wondering if they are indeed trying to spawn and what I might do to help save the babies when/if they have them and I can find them.

(Please don't reply if you are going to tell me I shouldn't have them in my tank) I need any positive advice that I can get! Any ideas are welcome as well.

Thanks in advance

[wesley6610]

I have an idea, is it impractical to move them into a sump or isolate a part of your tank just for them with egg crate in case they are spawing and you want to save the potential babies? Or, could you plumb a smaller tank for them if you see eggs laid across a rock in the near future?

[Aerinah]

From what I've read and been told thus far, they disperse their eggs into the water column and they "float" I don't know that moving them into a sump would work (at least not mine) I use a sump with a sock filter not the "normal" ones that I usually see at the LFS in use. I'm thinking of setting up another tank for them but I'm unsure of what equipment would be needed and how to set things up ie: filtration so it does nto pick up the larvae/eggs etc...

[wesley6610]

Well I guess in that case you should start researching their mating habits and needs for home delivery specifications, but I'm sure you will need to move them to prevent untimely death from the other fish accidently eating them. Sounds exciting though!

[FINDING_NEMO]

i dont think moving would them be a good idea as their main source of food reproduces in the rocks

[wesley6610]

That's a good point

[plecosword]

i saw a pair flurting once. they kind of sqeeze each other and swimm together toching each other.

[capitalb]

I have mandarin babies at 5 weeks old and they are living in my 90 gal.You will notice the hatchlings at the surface of your tank about 12 hours after spawning.You can scoop or syphon them out at that point and move them to another tank with live rock only, or leave them alone and try to observe them through a loop.Good luck!

[capitalb]

I'm sorry. When I said scoop, I mean with a cup not a net