Reef Builders - The Source for Reef Keeping Information

Poppinthekap · #1 (**permalink**) 05-03-2009, 12:22 PM

I currently have a scooter blenny in my tank and I am curious if a mandarin dragonet would be compatible with him if I add one?

Peace, Poppinthekap

jb61264 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 08:28 AM

As far as "agressive behavior" both of these fish are probably about as docile as any marine fish you can find and would most likely coexist with one another, especially in a tank of your size. However, both of these fish can be somewhat difficult to keep because of the demanding diet they require. These fish will do best if you have a lot of mature live rock in your tank with lots of copapods and other "critters" that they feed off of...sure there are other foods to supplement their diets that they may take but a majority of their time is spent combing rock and sand searching for 'pods'. You may be able to keep them both in a 125 provided your system incorporates a sump with a refugium where 'pods' will thrive and make their way back into the DT. If you already have the Scooter Blenny, adding a Dragonet may create too much of a competition for these 'pods' which are usually their primary diet source...but, then again, I have heard of others who get their scooters and mandarins to eat other prepared foods too. Personally, I wouldn't add a mandarin if you already have a scooter blenny.

Snappy · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 10:28 AM

I agree with that as well. Eventually one or both will likely starve unless you can train them to eat frozen foods or keep adding in large amounts of live pods. Especially if you keep any wrasses as well there just won't be enough live food in a 125 gal tank so they will slowly starve to death.

Poppinthekap · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks guys!

kevinpo · #5 (**permalink**) 07-21-2009, 07:16 AM

Hello,
If you have a refugium and your tank is 6-12 months old they will be fine together. You will also need to have 50-125lbs of established live rock or lots of macro algae. A 115 gallon is about as small as you go for keeping these two fish together. Other pod eating fish such as Pseudochromis, Hawkfish, Pipefish, and most Wrasses should not be kept with them as they are too much competition for the live foods they seek.

Cheers,
Kevin