Biota Blue Mandarin Goby Pair

Biota’s captive-bred Mandarin Dragonets are a more convenient and ethical alternative to wild-caught mandarins, as they readily consume prepared foods. Wild-caught mandarins typically require live food, which can be costly and challenging for new hobbyists, especially with small or immature tanks. Furthermore, even with optimal captive conditions, wild-caught mandarins often succumb to wounds caused by spear guns or the toxic cyanide used in the collection process, leading to high mortality rates in captivity. Biota’s captive-bred Mandarins are sustainably and ethically raised on prepared commercial diets, making them easily accessible and affordable for aquarium hobbyists. These mandarins are already accustomed to eating a variety of foods, including frozen shrimp or plankton and small pellets like Easy Reefs DKI pellets, TDO B2 pellet, and PE Hatchery pellet 400 μm. Customers have reported that after acclimation, Biota’s captive-bred mandarins will eat almost any small meaty food that fits into their tiny mouths. Young mandarins should be fed 3-4 times a day while they are still growing. Mandarin Dragonets are among the most beautiful fish species and are highly popular for aquariums. They are small, peaceful, and safe for reef tanks due to their unpalatable mucous coating that protects them from predators and parasites. The recommended minimum tank size for Mandarin Dragonets is 30 gallons or more. They can be kept in male/female pairs in larger tanks to avoid fighting with conspecifics or similar species. These fish are experts at camouflage and can even bury themselves in sand. While some customers add them directly to their tanks with great success, using an acclimation box is recommended to closely monitor them during the acclimation period.