6-line or mandarin goby
- Thread starter option720
- Start date
lionfish
Member
LionFish says.......
Unfortunately you don't have a big enough tank with enough live rock. You need a large tank with a lot of live rock, usually over 100 pounds. There has to be large amounts of copepods and therefore your tank must be mature. Unfortunately your tank doesn't meet those requirements. However, I would pick a sixline anyday. They are colorful, entertaining and easy to keep. Go with the 6-line, it is a great fish to have.
Unfortunately you don't have a big enough tank with enough live rock. You need a large tank with a lot of live rock, usually over 100 pounds. There has to be large amounts of copepods and therefore your tank must be mature. Unfortunately your tank doesn't meet those requirements. However, I would pick a sixline anyday. They are colorful, entertaining and easy to keep. Go with the 6-line, it is a great fish to have.
playtime
Member
So far, the two other posts are saying no to the Mandarine because the tank is too small. Well, I had a mandarine in my 25gal for several months and now he is in my 32gal. He is fat, very active, and healthy. it is true that he needs plenty of copepods to eat but he will eat frozen brine too. Mine is constantly feeding on something. Mandarine fish are very picky eaters and if you get one that will eat, he should be fine, but that is if you are lucky to find one who will eat. I lost 4 before this one. 6line wrass is also a great fish. I have had one of those as well he was sadly devoured by my very agressive sally light foot crab. Very colorful, very active fish. In my opinion, you would probably do better with the 6line than the Mandarine, but that's my opinion.
Playtime
Playtime
dhe420
Member
I agree and disagree with what has been said here. I have a green spotted mandarin, granted i have 90lbs of live rock, but it all depends on the fish. I had one before, i put it in it went to the back and never came out or ate. This guy is so friendly, never hides even when my hands are in the tank less than 5 inches away. And eats constantly. I must say though he is the only one in my tank that does not eat flake food. I would suggest really loking at them closely for about an hour in your lfs and study its behavior. Good luck and really be careful about which one you choose....Dave 
lionfish
Member
LionFish says......
It's entirely possible to keep them together as they both are peaceful fish who really don't care about other fish. They won't always compete for food. Some 6-line wrasses have been known to eat copepods. It isn't rare either. Mine does. But usually the wrass is more interested in flake or other food given to it. Mine also eats bristle worms. But they will do fine together but they need a very mature tank. When I say this it isn't because it isn't possible to keep one in a small tank. But, I want to be completelty honest to people here and I don't want them to lose fish and money on my part. All I'm saying is that it is best to keep them in larger tanks that are mature. The survival rates are terrible for them in small tanks.
[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: LionFish ]
It's entirely possible to keep them together as they both are peaceful fish who really don't care about other fish. They won't always compete for food. Some 6-line wrasses have been known to eat copepods. It isn't rare either. Mine does. But usually the wrass is more interested in flake or other food given to it. Mine also eats bristle worms. But they will do fine together but they need a very mature tank. When I say this it isn't because it isn't possible to keep one in a small tank. But, I want to be completelty honest to people here and I don't want them to lose fish and money on my part. All I'm saying is that it is best to keep them in larger tanks that are mature. The survival rates are terrible for them in small tanks.
[ August 17, 2001: Message edited by: LionFish ]
nm reef
Active Member
I agree that it is possible to keep a manderain in a small tank.....and it is possible that they will eat foods other than copepods........but..........personally I'd do all I could to insure there chances for survival prior to adding one.........first I'd insure the tank was mature(min 6 months)....second I'd provide a minimun of 75-100 lbs of cured/mature lr(with a healthy pod population.....the 6-line would work well and I don't believe they'd be in direct compatition(sic).........