They may look the same, but captive bred and wild-caught Green Mandarin Dragonets are different for many reasons. When it comes down to deciding which is better, the captive-bred kind is definitely it. Keep reading to find out why.
Diet
The biggest difference between captive-bred Green Mandarin Dragonets and specimens that are collected from the ocean in the wild is the dietary needs of the fish. In the wild, Mandarins feed off of small crustaceans or creatures, such as snail eggs, small shrimp, and copepods. Of these, they mainly eat copepods, which is good because those are available to the hobbyists of the reef aquarium hobby. The issue with this is in an aquarium we are limited to only feeding them copepods. It is possible to train wild caught dragonets to eat other foods, but it does not always happen or prove to be successful. A percentage of wild-caught dragonets will stop eating altogether and will perish within days of being in an aquarium as a result.
Captive-bred or aquacultured Mandarins either already eat frozen food or will easily be trained. These fish are born and raised in captivity so that when they are put into a hobbyist’s aquarium they will easily adapt to it. Being able to feed frozen brine or mysis is very beneficial, as it gives more options for food for your Green Mandarin, especially if the copepod population in your tank is low. Some may even eat dry foods such as pellets.
As diet being the most significant point of difficulty in terms of caring for a Green Mandarin Dragonet, it is important that it will eat what can feasibly be fed to it. That being said, this concern is only one of the reasons why captive-bred mandarins are more preferable over the wild-caught kind.
[CFish]
Collection of Wild Green Mandarins
It is not certain how Green Mandarins are collected, but there is a possibility they are collected in a very inhumane way. 90% of wild-caught fish are collected using a highly toxic chemical called sodium cyanide. Fish collectors use this chemical to stun fish and make them easier to catch.
The fish suffers a violent experience when it is sprayed with this chemical. It goes into shock and cannot swim or breathe, or it dies from the effects. If the fish survives, it is collected by a diver and is shipped to an aquarium store where it either dies from all the stress or possibly lives, although stressed out. The fish is then bought by a hobbyist who will proceed to put the chemically infected fish in their aquarium and watch as it struggles. Depending on the care the fish receives, it may die or it could live on.
No one can say for sure if the Green Mandarin Dragonet at your local fish store was collected using cyanide, but it is guaranteed that captive bred fish are chemical free and healthy.
Along with the nasty things that happen to wild-caught fish, there are also negatives impacts on the ecosystem the fish is coming from. When the cyanide is sprayed, it not only gets on the targeted fish but everything around it. Corals are the majority of this surrounding. When cyanide gets on corals it kills the zooxanthellae algae inside of them, causing them to bleach out and die.
These are just more reasons why you should buy captive bred fish, such as the Biota Captive Bred Green Mandarin Dragonet from Algae Barn, instead of wild-caught fish.
Anyone can agree that the Green Mandarin Dragonet is one of the most beautiful and colorful saltwater fish. This makes it very sought after, which results in these fish becoming over collections. The population of Green Mandarins is threatened in the wilderness of the ocean. Their population decreases more over time and will most likely continue to. They are taken from the natural habitat only to be put into a hobbyist aquarium to starve and possibly die. On the other hand, captive-bred Mandarin Dragonets are bred and raised captivity, meaning they do not come from the ocean. They are trained to eat frozen and have easier care requirements. Buying a Biota Captive Bred Green Mandarin Dragonet from Algae Barn does not harm the wild population and it has a high chance of thriving and living healthy in an aquarium.
Price of A Green Mandarin
Let’s face it. Aquacultured fish, including the Green Mandarin, are much more expensive, but before you let price determine if wild-caught is the way to go, there are few questions that should 
be pondered:
- Why are they so expensive?
- Is it worth it?
First, they are so much more expensive than wild-caught mandarins because of the amount of time and money it takes to breed, raise, and ensure their health before they are sold. It is much easier and cheaper to go into the ocean, collect some fish, ship them, and sell them opposed to having them aquacultured.
Next, it is worth the extra cost. When you consider that your wild caught mandarin has a much higher chance of not thriving in your aquarium and dying, it makes a little bit more sense. When you are frustrated that your new dragonet will not eat the frozen food you are feeding, nor the copepods in your tank, it will make more sense then too. Also, think of a scenario in which no one buys captive-bred Green Mandarin Dragonets. First, the breeders would stop breeding them and they would no longer be sold. Then the wild ones will be so over collected that the trade of these fish will be lost. Then at the point, nobody will be able to obtain these stunning fish. So, yes. It is very much worth it.
Shipping a Green Mandarin
Lastly, let talk about shipping concerns. It is understandable that one would be doubtful when purchasing a captive bred with fear that the fish will die in transit or not arrive successfully. This doubt should not stop you from buying a new healthy Green Mandarin Dragonet, as Algae Barn offers a 100% alive on arrival guarantee.
“Every Captive Bred Green Mandarin Dragonet we sell comes with a 100% Alive On Arrival Guarantee and a 7 Day Health Guarantee. We make sure all fish are healthy and eating during a observation and conditioning period before offering them for sale. We will not sell a fish we wouldn’t buy ourselves.”-Algae Barn
So, what’s stopping you? Treat yourself to a marvelous captive bred Green Mandarin Dragonet.
[CFish]
Danny DJ says
Quick question for a beginner like me. How would I climate a wild reff catch to be able to put him in a home aquarium.
How long would it take him to acclimate to the tank, ect…
Chris Anderson says
Cant wait to get my mandarin!
Dayron says
I love mandarins
Dayron says
Mandarins are amazin
E says
Mandarins are great with the right population of food for them
Nelly Acevedo says
Ordered one can’t wait til hes here
James McBryde says
I’ve had much better luck with captive-bred fish – they are much hardier.
James McGilvray says
Biota is the way to go!
sally says
Beautiful fish. When I am ready to take the plunge, I will definitely buy captive bred and from Algaebarn.
pdeolim says
Captive bread, Evey time for the future success of the hobby.
smash2799 says
Never knew about all this info!
Austin Byers says
Thinking about getting one…,
Sage Cowley says
Excited to see more of this happening in our hobby. Definitely going to keep my eyes out for one of these.
Karl Halmstad says
Tried to keep one of these yrs ago but it didn’t survive
Doug Talley says
Main reason i set up a tank is for this fish alone. Sadly you cant just throw him in a tank. Making sure i have enough pods
Jose says
My next fish
Jerry L Thompson says
Would love one
Drew Pearce says
Awesome!
trevor says
It’s really nice that more and more fish are becoming captive bred. Great news for the hobby!
brandonbjones1 says
Never thought about getting mandarin but they are interesting creatures
Rondy says
Mandarins are fascinating
cwalshjr1 says
Great info
Duy Le says
Have 1 madarin. Love it
Kenneth O Thomas says
I love them
Sarah says
My wild caught Green Mandarin has done extremely well! He has been in my tank for almost 2 years and is a fat fella. He likes live brine shrimp. Awesome fish to watch.
Eric Serrano says
Captive bred is the best way to go for one their survival and 2nd you would not want to see them suffer
Rob Colletti says
Beautiful but hard to keep unless trained on frozen, that’s the only way I’d consider one.
robert vice says
it’s so much easier especially with your mandarin frozen food right off the bat
Kevin camp says
Captive breed is success for the industry
Jose Pacheco says
I prefer captive bred than wild caught.
jeff5 says
Captive dragonettes are the way to go! They will eat mysis, have amazing color and are more sustainable overall. They cost more, but you get what you pay for.
Jose Pacheco says
I prefer captive bred than wild caught, because the captive bred is easy to feed with frozen food or dry food, and has a much higher chance of not thriving in your aquarium and dying.
xylahilton says
I would prefer that all of my livestock is captive bred. I would hate to think that any aquatic life was plucked from the oasis of the sea to live out its life in a slice of the sea in my living room. Loving the reef is also respecting the reef and all its life
Mike Mijarez says
Love them
JA says
Love my mandarin!
Renee says
Captain equals quarantine less
Ellen S Imbrie says
Thank you
sdemarco62 says
I prefer captive bred than wild caught.
cmac9825 says
Would love to have one
Jeremy Hunsberger says
Captive bred all the way.
Dan Brands says
When captive bred is available, it is the more responsible purchase for the conservation of these magnificent fish.
John Evans says
This is the future
William Ware says
Always captive bred.
Renee says
Captive bred is definitely the way to go when the option is available.
Dee Oxendine says
I never knew they used chemicals to catch ..all the more reason to kill the demand for wild caught
Terry says
Breeding captive is still the best.
Dee Oxendine says
Great info
Danzel Thad Ermac Boiser says
Captive bred has less temper and they are pretty accustomed to aquarium life.
Anthony J Szurek says
Captive bred all day long
Jon B Swetnam says
I love these fish! I will always choose captive bred over wild caught!
David Cawley-cole says
So badly want one of the captive breed ones.
Jose Pacheco says
Very nice info. I always prefer captive bred than wild caught.
Rhonda Cunningham says
definitely captive bred!
Remy Lelias says
I love that there not wild caught. I would rather spend more $$$ on the livestock and take more time then get it all done at once and spend as little money as possible and get everything wild caught. Because it’s not all about the destination in fish keeping. Well there is no destination your tank always changes but you might as well do it the good way.
Sean says
This is going to be my next fish.
Nathaniel Konkel says
Just because it is easier to catch wild fish than to raise them doesn’t mean that sellers shouldn’t try to be more competitive with their prices.
Vancejj says
I am supper excited about captive bred mandarins. They are awesome when I stepped away from the hobby this wasnt an option now that it is I’m supper excited about this option and will always pay the extra cash for aquaculture vs wild caught.
smash2799 says
captive bred rules!
Jose Pacheco says
I prefer captive bred than wild caught, because has a much higher chance of not thriving.
Jose Pacheco says
I like more captive bred than wild caught, tanks algae barn for the info!!!!
Jose Pacheco says
I prefer captive bred than wild caught, nice info.
Thanks algae barn!!!
fishtankpsycho says
Always buy captive bred if possible.
Brent says
I love the mandarin fish
Stacey says
Love my captive bred mandarin! Eats tdo pellets and is fat and happy.