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Odd fish behavior?
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Will Spencer View Drop Down
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Joined: September 04 2003
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    Posted: March 05 2005 at 12:04pm

The other day I was intrigued to find my Mandarin Dragonett hovering high up in the water column, (which it almost never does,) posing for one of my Green Chromis to "clean" it.  At first I though it was coincidence that they were swimming in the same area, but I watched the behavior for 3 to 5 minutes.  The Mandarin would turn slightly side-up and the Chromis would swim around it and pick at it a little.  Then they would part and the Mandarin would turn a different direction and wait for the Chromis to return.  After about 3-5 minutes the Mandarin dropped to the reef and began hunting for food again as it seems to do all day long. 

I've never witnessed this behavior before and never seen it since, but thought it was very interesting and maybe a little strange so I thought I would mention it here and see if anyone has any comments.
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Weimers View Drop Down
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Joined: January 01 2004
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Points: 2080 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Weimers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2005 at 1:07pm

Wow....   hmmm...  sounds very interesting!  I've seen our Mandarin at the top of the water column only one time.  That was when the lights went completely off (suddenly) in the middle of the day.  Even after the lights came back on, she hung out there for a while.  It was weird.  A chromis cleaning... huh.  I dunno what to say, really.

Very interesting! 

Renee
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reptoreef View Drop Down
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Points: 2060 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote reptoreef Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2005 at 1:24pm
Your mandarin is thinking outside the box... maybe we could expect a whole new spp of fish from Will some time soon. All of this sounds really cool... is there anyway you can snap some pics if it happens again???
www.captivereefing.com
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Will Spencer View Drop Down
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Joined: September 04 2003
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Points: 6799 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Will Spencer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2005 at 5:38pm

I would have take some pics that day except the wife had the camera.  Like I said, I've never seen this since, but if I do I'll try to get some documentation.

I'm don't think the Chromis was actually picking anything off the Mandarin, but it was certainly acting interested in it.  Hanging out really close to it and sort of circling it checking it out.

As far as new species I think I would like a psychedelic Chromis, but I'd not be to hot on an all green Dragonette.

 
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Points: 1612 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skyetone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 06 2005 at 12:19pm
what are the odds that the dragonette had a small parasite you couldn't see. "here.... inder my side fin up front... Yea thats the spot!"
I will just give my warning that your system will flood, bulbs will burn out, and things will take continuous maintenance... get over it.

Magna
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Will Spencer View Drop Down
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Points: 6799 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Will Spencer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 06 2005 at 3:54pm
Anything's possible, but I didn't think Green Chromis were known for cleaning.
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