🐠 Spotted Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus)
A Dark Green Body Scattered With Blue, Orange and Black Spots • A Distinct Species, Not a Colour Variant of the Classic Mandarin • Natural Resistance to Ich
 
📋 The Spotted Mandarin Dragonet, also known as the Psychedelic or Target Mandarin, has a striking dark green body scattered with vivid blue, orange, and black spots, a real visual departure from the classic Mandarin's wavy maze-like lines. It's a distinct species, not a colour variant of the classic Mandarin (Synchiropus splendidus), and can be distinguished by males' more elongated first dorsal spine.
It comes from sheltered lagoons, coral reefs, and rubble areas across the Western Pacific, from the Philippines to Australia, spending most of its time slowly hopping along the substrate in search of microfauna. Like other dragonets, it secretes a thick, foul-tasting mucus coating that gives it real natural resistance to common marine diseases like ich, though it remains susceptible to marine velvet. Every Spotted Mandarin Dragonet we ship is feeding well.
This species has the same specialised dietary needs as the classic Green/Blue Mandarin Dragonet: in the wild it feeds almost exclusively on tiny live copepods and amphipods, and we recommend it only for an aquarium established for at least 6-8 months with a healthy, thriving pod population. Spotted Mandarins can be stubborn about accepting frozen or prepared foods, and some individuals may never make the switch, so an ongoing live food supply matters for long-term success. It reaches up to 7cm, so a 115L tank suits it well, mature with an established pod population.
 
💡 Highlights
🎨 Green Body With Multicolour Spots: A distinctive, "psychedelic" pattern
🔬 A Distinct Species: Not a colour morph of the classic Mandarin Dragonet
🍽️ Live-Food Specialist: Thrives in an established tank with a thriving pod population
🛡️ Natural Disease Resistance: Mucus coating provides real resistance to ich
🌿 Fully Reef Safe: Won't harm corals or invertebrates