Ocellated Dragonet - Synchiropus ocellatus

Ocellated Dragonets (Synchiropus ocellatus) are popularly known as Scooter Blennies. They have a brown or reddish-brown body with mottled white and tan blotches and small bright blue spots on the head. Males have an elongated dorsal fin.

Dragonets are bottom-dwelling fish with colorations that often resemble the substrate they are found around. They have flattened bodies with pointed faces designed for picking food like small crustaceans, copepods, amphipods and similar prey out of rockwork. They often have difficulty adapting to prepared food in the aquarium and should only be kept int well established tanks with lots of live rock and a healthy, populated sandbed to feed on. Dragonets are generally peaceful, docile fish. They move in short "scooting" motions and can be terrorized by more aggressive or territorial tankmates. They are ideal for reef aquariums as they will not bother corals or larger inverts.

Visit That Fish Blog for more information from our marine biologists on Dragonet feeding and care and many other aquarium-related topics!