Talking Fish: A Deeper Dive into Mandarin Gobies, Scooter Blennies, and Dragonets!

[@ESABOE]

Great in-depth look at a specific fish. I especially liked how you discussed old school husbandry practices vs todays’ reefers as many of us only get to read about the struggles of the past as there is more of that content that bubbles up on a web search.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Good to approach the old methods and tie in new school reefing practices! Thanks for stopping by! -Blaine

[@logan.vanderbeck]

Those closing comments were well said. We need more responsible fish breeding in the hobby. Great vid!

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Moving words no doubt! Taras always is very well spoken. -Blaine

[@IvoryDraco]

By far the exact video I needed thank you

[@danielangarita1724]

Thanks for helping keep this hobby sustainable!

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Anyway we can continue to grow this hobby all while protecting our oceans we are absolutely for here at TSA! -Blaine

[@IvoryDraco]

To help the algorithm I will subscribe, love the simple format and info I need cheers meng.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Much obliged! We love having our community here on the channel grow, has been amazing to watch! -Blaine

[@TattooedDancer91]

Great host for such videos! He's a great presence, more of this pls. :)

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Taras is a great presence and we are very lucky to have him on our team here at TSA! -Blaine

[@Westcoastchillout]

Hey Guys! Thanks for the upload!

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Absolutely! Appreciate the support and the comment! -Blaine

[@jonniefast]

one of my fav fish of all time ❤

[@jonniefast]

i kept mine with dwarf seahorses

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Hard not to love! -Blaine

[@carlheller6648]

It's crazy how they eat. Someday, I'll get one. You guys are so smart it's crazy good. I wish I lived closer to seeing your amazing store.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Come down anytime Carl and I'll make sure I give you a tour of the entire facility! -Blaine

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Great video! So much good information! One day I hope to have a tank suitable for a Dragonet

[@TopShelfAquatics]

It can happen! Takes time, dedication, and some quality research! -Blaine

[@readyalways1414]

I've always loved the colors of this fish BIG DOGGIE 💯👣

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Always amazing colors on these! -Blaine

[@johnbrand1893]

A very passionate dive into the fascinating world of the amazing mandarin fish. 👍

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Taras' passion always shines through! -Blaine

[@so_so_reef]

Wonderful sentiment! I'd love to hear how to transition them onto frozen.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

For sure something we are working on sharing with you all! -Blaine

[@IvoryDraco]

Did I mention I didn’t just 👍 like this video I loved 🥰 it ?

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Glad you are loving the content! -Blaine

[@oldschoolnewventure845]

I used to have them backing the eighties, the industry has grown and we have earned a lot since then

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Crazy how much the hobby has changed since then, a completely different game! -Blaine

[@andrewdixon5703]

I have always wanted one of these fish. I don't trust myself to keep it alive. Loved the video, it was very informative. Thank you.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

With a mature tank, good research, and dedication it can happen! Thanks for stopping in! -Blaine

[@epidemicsound]

🎶 track? It’s *Stardriver* by *ELFL* - and yes we are THRILLED to be your trusted provider. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3zRiY2Lr52Lm9k // Epidemic Sound

[@TopShelfAquatics]

YOU LIKE FISH TANKS TOO?!? -Blaine

[@dusk1947]

Wonderful discussion. Especially the comparison of evolving husbandry and the highlight on sustainable aquacultured. I know the desire to keep a Synchiropus splendidus was one of the driving forces behind my original change from planted aquariums to reef tanks, that and the amazing corals. And that desire was also the reason I first started keeping and home culturing phytoplankton. Having kept a wild caught one successfully for several years now, I attribute it in large part to the vibrant copepod population in the tank sustained in part by that algae creating a food web. And if I were to do it again, I’d go with an aquacultured one in a hear beat. I also continually debate if I should get my wild male Dragonet an aquacultured female, but it’s not without some risks. But I love and adore how far aquaculture practices have come along, for me to have that option. It’s fantastic. The advantage of a tank raised fish, can not be understated.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Well put! We love getting the chance to taking the hobby to that next level and sharing that information with you all is my job and I will continue to push to get this great content to you all! -Blaine

[@cjandauntieyaya1446]

In other words, one needs to make a microecosystem first before introducing a dragonet. So add brine shrimp and other tiny crustaceans and other animals that spawn constantly. Also, allow for algae to grow to feed the crustaceans. Also need an underground filter bed so that the water flow doesn't suck away the small critters. Got it.

[@lovermansmith9082]

Would love to a video on transfer from Biota to your home . Maybe get a couple from biota . One Green male , One spotted female . Put in 10 gallon tank . Feed the same as Biota did . Try to get them to eat a variety of nutritious pellets . & The most nutritious flake you can think of . Maybe a mixture of pellets , freeze dried copepods & stuff you can put in an auto feeder . I don't know it you would have to supplement with frozen . If so what would be best . Frozen copepods ? Froze Enriched brine ? Frozen finely cut up Mysis . Frozen Fish eggs ? Go for it & sell the foods with the Mandarins 😊 A real Smogasborg . I'm getting hungry just thinking about it . Yummy 😊

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Maybe I can get Biota on board! Would be fun to do something like this! -Blaine

[@lovermansmith9082]

@@TopShelfAquatics Yea . I would love to follow that journey . Maybe it would even be profitable. You guys probably have good experience in nutrition. I think I would like to buy food with the fish .& Then keep buying your food , Auto feeder food . I think it would be cool to have a mandarin tank . 1 green male & 4 spotted females . That's too many pods though . I would try it myself if I wasn't such loser 😀

[@teresagray8391]

I love biota manderins and Top shelf aquatics.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

We are huge fans of them too! Glad you are enjoying the content! -Blaine

[@12WeMet1]

We needed this one!

[@TopShelfAquatics]

WE NEEDED YOU! -Blaine

[@orpheus1180]

The mandarin dragonet is my absolute favorite marine fish!

[@TopShelfAquatics]

A great choice! The colors are unmatched no doubt! -Blaine

[@terezaveis2270]

What a great video this was fantastic, I have a nice fat green mandarin and always making sure I add live copepods and raw and he eats both and frozen brine.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for leaving a comment! -Blaine

[@harryurban4219]

This guy is amazing !!

[@jaylonmarikar6829]

Yes for every alive mandatin dragonet about eight died along the way. Very inportant to captive bred these fish in particular

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Captive breeding projects for these fish are the future! -Blaine

[@andrewlindell8626]

Got a captive biota bred male. He eats brine regularly

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Awesome love to hear that! -Blaine

[@Daniel_SWE]

Greate video about a beautiful fish! But I start to wonder if it realy fits in a small 30 gallon tank as some has suggested.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Larger systems are usually the better option for these grazing fish so they can hunt all day long! -Blaine

[@bruhman8005]

I’m planning on buying a captive bred mandarin. I’m transferring my current 50 gallon to 100. I’ll be using florida live rock along with my current old rock. The sand will of course be florida as well. After some time, this should become a rich area of pods for him to hunt all day long and I’ll be ready to purchase him down the road

[@orpheus1180]

You can purchase copepods and rotifers.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Absolutely and don't be afraid to snag some of our in house aquacultured pod species for your system at home! -Blaine

[@bruhman8005]

@@orpheus1180 I’m aware and I’ve done that in the past for pipefish. However, the robust bacterial benefits of the old days of fresh live rock and today’s weird trend with Dino’s have convinced me to go back to what used to work.

[@orpheus1180]

@@bruhman8005 I would do the same if I was setting up a new system. At least partially I would go with rock from the ocean or a well established tank.

[@rhombifer566]

Mine wild, caught one eats , great eat pellets, frozen, not fussy at all. Had it for several years fat and sassy.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Each fish is its own individual! Glad you got a good one! -Blaine

[@rhombifer566]

But entertaining video, and very glad they are captive raising more fish all the time

[@rhombifer566]

Might even eat the algae pellets that are for the tang lol

[@tornado7738]

Taras. wintergreen or coolmint? Love the vids ty TS for these.

[@TopShelfAquatics]

He said he's not a chewing tobacco kinda guy... but I sure do love Redman's. -Blaine

[@azhockeynut8297]

my favorite fish. sadly mine loves to hide in the rocks all day and comes oit at night or early morning

[@TopShelfAquatics]

Peak hunting time for pods! A joy surely to see whenever it is cruising around the tank. -Blaine

[@knels5288]

Does Top Shelf sell mandarins that are tank raised?

[@TopShelfAquatics]

We do sell aquaculture specimens from Biota! Those are great option! -Blaine

[@knels5288]

Great! Online or store only. I didn’t see on your website

[@valdezorbust]

What's his name? Frost Buckskin?

[@opethmike]

This dude is both very smart and handsome. I would like his autograph.

[@robertmassey9953]

Probably has a largish one too

[@TopShelfAquatics]

No complaints.... about my autographs -Taras

[@opethmike]

@@TopShelfAquatics lol. I love the good spirited fan interactions.