Mandarin Pairs?

[NaCl_H2O]

Ok, here is a subject worth a little discussion. I realized when reworking my tanks that the small green mandarin in my corner tank was most likely a female (short dorsal fin), so I scooped "her" out and put it in the 215 along with my long-time friend the male "dancing Mandarin". They are co-existing, but staying to themselves.

Does pairing take some time, is the female too small (probably 1/3rd the size of the male), or has my male Mandarin been "Swimming with Tangs" too long :roll

[cpreefguy]

Brokeback Mandarins

[Ram_Puppy]

My understanding is that they may keep to themselves until the feel the urge to mate. I am not sure though. I have seen video on reef central I think of two mandarins hanging out together (presumably male and female). I expect they tolerate each other, and that may be what you get.

When it's time to mate they dance to each other, then swim up into the water column and release the goodies. <-- technical term.

[aggie4231]

the fish store here in houston that i help out at has a mated pair of mandarins. also one of the guys keeps a pair of physcodelics along with a green mandarin in his personal tank

[JeremyGlen]

I had a pair of mandarins in one of my old tanks for about a year and a half. They were mostly loners, but did interact occasionally. I got the female first, about 3 months before I got the male. Almost immediately after I added the male, he saw that gorgeous thing swimming around and went to town displaying himself for her. She was never interested and I just assumed I got a lesbian mandarin.

I have done some reading and found that most females will pick the biggest males in the wild, which is only natural. My mandarins were the same size, so I just assume he wasn't impressive enough to mate with. Since your male is much bigger, I think you may have a shot at them "doin the nasty". <--------technical term as well.