Sould I add a mandarin??

[jbittner]

I am currently looking into adding a few more smallish fish into my 55gal w/18gal sump.
Current stock

Coral Beauty
midas
Lawnmower
Ocelaris clown

Want to add

Ocelaris clown (friend for current clown)
Mandarin
Maybe another smaller fish

I know people will respond with the "too many fish" reply, but I have been at this for along time and would like to try a more active reef.

The tank is stocked with live rock and mixed corals. I use t5 lighting and the tank is bare bottom with tons of flow.

All comments welcome and thanks in advance!!

[tkeracer619]

If you do not have a mature and active refugium I would skip the manderin. One will devistate the pod population if there is no refuge for them. Set up a fuge, start growing cheato and pods, and in a few months add the manderin. The fish will be much healthier and happier.

I don't think you have too many fish, those who do should apply to the tang police ;)

[djperezo]

because of the mandarin's diet (unless you gfet lucky and get one that eats prepared foods) it all depends on how old is the tank, how is the pod population, how much rock you got, and if you are running a refugium, for long term success.

[Craig Lambert]

I would skip the Mandarin. Many have been lost in tanks larger than yours do to lack of natural food.

[GSMguy]

how old is the tank?

[jbittner]

tanks is 9 yrs old with a refugium and is full of pods, very tiny snials and bristle worms.

[tkeracer619]

Add it, if you do a search on me and my posts ;) you would find this to be the first time I have said that in a "should I add a manderin" thread.

Good luck, they are beautiful fish.

[jbittner]

the cheato is growing (slowly) and the pods are all over afer the lights go off.

[jbittner]

any suggestions on some other fish?? Will the 2 clowns (with the mandarin) be enough or should I add another small fish (maybe a Naso--haha).

[tkeracer619]

Add a few blue/green chromis, they will bring the other fish out into the open more.

[jbittner]

I don't like B/G chromis. Any other suggestions

[tkeracer619]

How about a fairy wrasse? Lots of color and activity in those. It might make an imact on the pods and compete with the manderin for food though.

Fire fish are cool small fish.

[ogbeka]

I've had my mandarin in my 55g for over a year now and he's chubby and happy. I go sumpless but with a lot of LR so once my tank got established it's been more than enough for him. Your tank should be a happy home for a mandarin.

Fire fish are a good fish but too shy. If you want a more active fish you could look into a royal gramma.

[supertech3]

You should go on and add the mandarin, just make sure that you have patience and select one that is not malnurished.

[Octoberfest]

will the bare bottom effect that at all? I thought the pods that the manderin enjoys breed in the sand bed?

[2swift]

Never heard of mandarin and bare bottom with no fuge before.
Wil be watching. :>}

[Octoberfest]

at the rate Manderins can eat pods, especially in a 55, I'd be worried with a bare bottom.