🐠 Blue Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
Intricate Psychedelic Swirls of Electric Blue, Orange, Yellow and Green • A a Pattern Rather Than Scales • A Dedicated Live-Copepod Hunter
 
📋 The Blue Mandarin Dragonet is one of the most strikingly patterned fish in the entire marine hobby, covered in intricate psychedelic swirls of electric blue, orange, yellow, and green, a a pattern rather than scales, which is highly unusual among fish.
It comes from shallow lagoons and inshore reefs across the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia, spending its days slowly picking through sand and rubble in search of copepods and amphipods. Every Blue Mandarin Dragonet we ship is feeding well, and we recommend it only for an established, mature tank with a thriving live copepod population, ideally supported by a dedicated refugium, since this species hunts live pods almost continuously throughout the day and generally won't take flake or pellet food.
With an established, mature tank offering an ongoing food supply, it thrives as a spectacular specialist reef display fish. It's fully reef safe and peaceful, though males are territorial toward other male mandarins. It reaches up to 7.5cm, so a 190L tank suits it well, larger with more established live rock strongly preferred.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Unique Psychedelic Pattern: Intricate swirling colours unlike any other fish
🍽️ Specialist Live-Pod Feeder: Thrives in an established tank with a thriving copepod population
🌿 Fully Reef Safe: Won't harm corals or most invertebrates
🐟 Peaceful Temperament: Gets along well with non-aggressive tankmates
🏠 Best in an Established Tank: Recommended for a mature, well-established aquarium