Mandarin Dragonet

• ExerciseLow

  A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• GroomingDemanding tank care

  Demands pristine water — frequent testing and meticulous upkeep.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment4–8 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Parasites · Nutritional deficiency · Ich (white spot)

The Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) comes from the western Pacific and reaches about 6 to 7 cm. Its colours are true pigment rather than reflective scales, and it has no scales at all, instead secreting a thick protective mucus. It moves slowly, hovering just above the substrate and picking individual tiny crustaceans off rock and sand all day long. The difficulty is entirely about food, and this must be stated plainly: a mandarin eats hundreds of copepods a day and will slowly starve in a tank that cannot produce them. Success needs a mature reef, realistically at least six months old and 200 litres or more with abundant live rock, ideally supported by a refugium breeding pods. Keep it at 24-26C, salinity 1.024-1.026, pH 8.1-8.4. Many keepers now buy captive-bred mandarins already trained onto frozen food, which is by far the more responsible route. It is peaceful, entirely reef safe, and should never be housed with a second male.

• How active is a Mandarin Dragonet?

  Low. A calm, unhurried swimmer — peaceful surroundings suit them best.

• How much maintenance does a Mandarin Dragonet need?

  Demanding tank care. Demands pristine water — frequent testing and meticulous upkeep.

• What tank size does a Mandarin Dragonet need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Mandarin Dragonet a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Mandarin Dragonet live?

  4–8 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Mandarin Dragonet?

  Keep an eye out for Parasites, Nutritional deficiency, Ich (white spot). These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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