Blue Mandarin Dragonet - Synchiropus splendidus - Medium

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The Blue Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) is also known as the Green Mandarin, not to be confused with the "other" Green Mandarin, S. picturatus. The Blue Mandarin is covered with ornate swirls of blue, green, and reddish-orange. The main color in the fins and body is blue, but rare individuals may have a more prominent red color.

It is best to keep only one of these fish per tank. Multiples may exhaust the food supplies quickly and males of the same species will often fight. Males often develop a long dorsal spines that is lacking in females and small juveniles.

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!