Missing Tail on Mandarin Dragonet

[b2bwest]

Tonight I noticed the tail is missing on my mandarin dragonet. I didn't notice anything last night and I'm sure it was fine 2 days ago.
I've had it in my 125g tank for 5-6 months along with the following:

1 Yellow Tang
1 Hippo Tang
3 Common Clowns
2 Yellow Tailed Damsels
1 Humbug
1 Coral Beauty Angel
2 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Pepermint Shrimp
8 Hermit Crabs
4 Turbo Snails
4 Margarita Snails
2 Astrea Snails

I've never had a problem with any of them being aggressive - and there is plenty of live rock for fish to hid in. Do you think it's the Damsel Fish? I was sold on them by the LFS as a good hearty starter fish - to help cycle the tank. Since that time I've been educated to how nasty they can be. Although I've never seen an attack (they are the smallest fish in the tank - still smaller than the mandarin).
If you think it's the Damsels, I'll see if I can get them out of the tank. Although this will be very difficult with all that rock in there.
Also, will the tail grow back? All I see is bone right now.

 

[sepulatian]

I would bet on the damsels. Mandarines are not the quickest fish and would not be able to get away from the damsels if he were being attacked. If he is healthy then his tail will grow back. At the very least the skin will heal over the hole and he just won't have a fin.

 

[b2bwest]

Humbug, or yellowtail blue damsel the likely culprit -- or both?

 

[miaheatlvr]

I would also say yellow tailed damsels, so aggressive, but I heard that mandarins cover themselves with some kind of slime coating defense.. I know I read something to that effect.. That is why they hover along the rocks in the open without any concern, it seems like..

 

[b2bwest]

Thanks. The humbug is also a damsel (sometimes called a 4 stripe). Is it less aggressive? If I'm going to go to the effort of catching the yellowtail damsel, should I try and catch the humbug too?
I really don't want to lose the Mandarin. It's a cool fish to watch and the color is amazing. I was actually considering buying a female to put in with him.

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by b2bwest
Thanks. The humbug is also a damsel (sometimes called a 4 stripe). Is it less aggressive? If I'm going to go to the effort of catching the yellowtail damsel, should I try and catch the humbug too?
I really don't want to lose the Mandarin. It's a cool fish to watch and the color is amazing. I was actually considering buying a female to put in with him.
I think the HUMBUGS and DOMINOES are thee most agressive and it could have been one of those for sure.. ALSO, whats your setup like.. remember MANDARINS require an immense amount of live rock in an established tank, WITH PODS is a must,, even better an established refugium to replenish the pods constantly.. So keeping one is for the advanced marine hobbyist, non the less 2... are you ABLE?

 

[b2bwest]

He seems healthy. I also buy copepods fairly regularily and also suppliment with frozen cyclops and freshly hatched brine. His colors are bright and he looks full. I have lots of rock.
I'm new to marine - but have kept fresh water for years with great success.
After I found this site - and a couple other sites - I've been sure to research all fish before buying. I should have done this before the damsels - but I made the mistake of trusting the LFS.

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by b2bwest
He seems healthy. I also buy copepods fairly regularily and also suppliment with frozen cyclops and freshly hatched brine. His colors are bright and he looks full. I have lots of rock.
I'm new to marine - but have kept fresh water for years with great success.
After I found this site - and a couple other sites - I've been sure to research all fish before buying. I should have done this before the damsels - but I made the mistake of trusting the LFS.
Good luck to you! MOST mandarins and mine as well WILL NOT touch ANYTHING but pods.. thats all he does day and night is look for pods.. and can easily deplete an established tank full of pods in a very short amount of time without replenishment from a refugium..TRY to build a rubble pile with small rocks in the bottom of your tank to try to give your pods a place to congagate.

 

[b2bwest]

Will do. I'm also looking at building (or purchasing) a small hang on - or in tank refugium for now. But, if I lose him to this tail thing - I'll wait and save for a under the tank refugium.
Looks like I'm fishin' for damsels in the morning.
Thanks for your advice.

 

[b2bwest]

Originally Posted by MiaHeatLvr
I would also say yellow tailed damsels, so aggressive, but I heard that mandarins cover themselves with some kind of slime coating defense.. I know I read something to that effect.. That is why they hover along the rocks in the open without any concern, it seems like..

You were right about the slime. Here is what I found:

"The skin of a dragonet is scaleless, so to compensate for that they have a thick slimy coating. This slime coating is used as protection against parasites and has a foul taste, and is potentially poisonous to protect them from being eaten by other fish. In addition to this slime coating, most dragonets have a spine on the front of the operculum for protection"

So I wonder how a fish is eating it - you'd think one bite and that would be that. The fish doesn't look diseased -- colors are bright, stomach looks full. Just missing the tail.

 

[keri]

If you've never seen your damsels go after him could it possibly be a hitchhiker iin your rocks, maybe got him at night? I mean, if he tastes bad I don't think they would gnaw his tail to the bone but a crab or something could have grabbed it.

 

[sepulatian]

Damsels are very sneaky. They attack quickly then dart away. You would not see it. There is no poisonous slime coat on the tail. Both kinds of damsels that you have are aggressive. Most are. Chromis are alright if they are in a school.