Looking for Mandarins

Hi,

I've filmed Mandarin Fish in Tufi and Lembeh. I'd like to find a better place with larger and less skittish fish. At Lembeh it was nearly impossible to get good footage as the fish were so leary of my video lights. I've heard Alor is good... any suggestions?

Thank you,

Steve

Hi,

I've filmed Mandarin Fish in Tufi and Lembeh. I'd like to find a better place with larger and less skittish fish. At Lembeh it was nearly impossible to get good footage as the fish were so leary of my video lights. I've heard Alor is good... any suggestions?

Thank you,

Steve

Try a red filter over your lights - seems not to scare the fish as much. (You can make them with red plastic and duct tape in an emergency.)

Good luck.

Andy

Yap is probably your best bet.

For big boys, try Banda, Indonesia, but it's a long way to go for one fish!

Did you dive Lembeh Resort house reef? That's the best spot - up close & not as skiddish.

Did you dive Lembeh Resort house reef? That's the best spot - up close & not as skiddish.

No,

4 years ago I tried the house reef several times at Lembeh Resort and each time there was a crowd of still photographers strobing away and I couldn't get anything...

2nd for Yap

I can recommand Dumagetti if you have a chance to come to Philippines.

Go to Bandaneria

From the dock facing inland,, go left in front of the hotel. 3-4" long and out in mid-day!

Bandaneira is a nice place except when the Pelni or any other big boat comes into the harbor. The props wash just blows up all the dust and trash and it stays for awhile.

One place that has always been a great mandarin place is the pier at Fish N Fins in Koror, Palau. But then again, mandarins are in many places. Red light helps a lot but your camera had better have a good WB and low light ability.

i have done mandarins in Indo, Phils, Palau, and Yap.

Yap is by far the best with the most fish spread over the largest area.

Made a short film, 15min, on Mandarin Fish back in 2002. All shot on location in Yap so that gets a big thumbs up from me. It took seven months to get all the behavioral shots !!

Cheers,

Mark.

Hi,

I've filmed Mandarin Fish in Tufi and Lembeh. I'd like to find a better place with larger and less skittish fish. At Lembeh it was nearly impossible to get good footage as the fish were so leary of my video lights. I've heard Alor is good... any suggestions?

Thank you,

Steve

Ask Tim... he should know the best places and is capable bringing you there as well....

Can someone give me some info on best times for mandarins - is mating behaviour related to moon phases or seasons etc. We have a rare colour form not far from here but getting there is a pain due to tides and currents etc.

I suggest Malaysia/Sipadan/Mabul Island at Boneo diver resort, dive site = house reef/Paradise II. Depth at 3 to 4 meters, more then 20 mandarin fishes. Best time is 5.30pm to 6.30pm. At first they;ll come out hang around individually, then when clock strike 6.10pm, they start to mating, the best moment is the split second right after mating, the male fin flex wide like peacock. Your camera respond gotta be fast, else, it just for your eyes only.

Here a few of my shots from paradise II

... I tried the house reef several times at Lembeh Resort and each time there was a crowd of still photographers strobing away and I couldn't get anything...

Better than one video photographer with video lights and no-one gets anything!

see UWP 49, http://www.uwpmag.com/ c/o Peter\Rowlands

Tim

No one gets anything.

Tim

Hi Tim

This does seem to be a problem for still and video Photographers of this cute little fish. I was aware of how p***ed off you were at the time, but it is interesting to see the other side of the coin.

The dives at Lembeh Resort to the Mandarins are very regulated. They had problems with unregulated dives (coral damage and ?diver rage). We were fortunate enough to visit the sevral areas around the resort with Mandarins over 3 visits to Lembeh resort and had good views and photo ops on several occassions. They are the very devil to get either good still or video images of. Perhaps the resort needs to consider doing video/ or still dives and not mixing the group.

Here are two shots from two separate trips.

regards

Tim Digger

The dive site by the lighthouse in Malapascua, Cebu, Philippines never failed me in 3 dives. Plus, the bonus of seahorses, cuttlefish, pipefish, etc. after the mandarin fish stops mating.

We've been to all the "best" mandarinfish spots and I second Mike's vote for Yap....more mandarin than anywhere else and you can SPREAD out over a much larger area so there's no conflict between still & video shooters

Thanks for all of your help. I think I'll try to get to Yap for the little cuties.

Steve

Another dive site for Mandarin fishs at Manado coast. Manado coast is 1.5 hours away from Lembeh, and 30min boat ride away to Bunaken.

Here are few shots of the mandarin fishs. While taking shots on this small little colourful fishs mating, I got no time to bother in focus or not, just shots when spotted the fish in LCD screen. If to make sure focus on spot, l be late, the mating scene happen just a split second.

2 males sparing for a fight.

A fight over a female?

The mating.