Mandarin dragonet
Synchiropus splendidus · Callionymidae
Also known as Mandarin fish, Green mandarin
Advanced
Beautiful and slow, but it eats live copepods — only for a mature reef with a big pod population.
In short: A mandarin dragonet needs at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 24–27 °C (75–81 °F) and pH 8.1–8.4. It is peaceful, usually kept singly, and rated advanced to keep.
- Minimum tank
- 210 L (55 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 8 cm (3.1 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Reef & marine husbandry
- Specific gravity
- 1.023–1.026
- Reef safety
- Reef safe
- With corals
- Reef safe.
- With inverts
- Eats copepods and tiny worms.
- Minimum in a mixed reef
- 210 L (55 US gal)
- Minimum fish-only (FOWLR)
- 210 L (55 US gal)
- Aggression
- Peaceful; males spar with each other.
- Feeding
- Continuous pod grazing plus a refugium.
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 210 L (55 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- 8–12 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–8 years
- Diet
- Carnivore — live copepods and amphipods; some accept frozen cyclops after training.
- Care level
- Advanced
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Western Pacific
- Water type
- Saltwater
- Biotope
- Sheltered rubble lagoons
- Natural conditions
- Mature rock, low flow, established pod population.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- Bottom
- Good tank mates
- ClownfishFirefishCardinalfish
- Avoid
- Sixline wrasseDottybacksAnything that competes for pods
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males have a tall first dorsal spine.
- Notes
- Pairs spawn nightly at the surface; larvae are very hard to rear.
- Common ailments
- StarvationMarine ich (rarely, thick slime coat)
Will it fit your tank?
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