Dragonets are exotic looking fishes from the family Callionymidae (from the Greek “kallis” meaning “beautiful” and “onyma” meaning “name”). Frequently offered as gobies or blennies, they are indeed neither. In fact, unlike many gobies and blennies, dragonets are only recommended for the experienced aquarist with a large (at least 75 gallons) well-established system, preferably connected to a refugium.
There are currently 18 known genera with many individual species. Generally speaking, dragonets are small (none exceed 10 inches, and most are under three) elongate fishes (like gobies and blennies) with no scales and tiny gills. The two most popular genera with aquarists are Dactylopus and Synchiropus, with the latter being the most popular and the ones which will be dealt with here.
There are currently 34 known species of dragonets from the genus Synchiropus, and the ones seen most often in aquaria are frequently called mandarin dragonets or simply mandarinfishes. The green mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) and the yellow mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus) are the most common.
Green Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
Also called the striped mandarinfish, the green mandarinfish or the green mandarin goby, the green mandarin dragonet is a gorgeous fish that grows to about two and one half inches. It is a tropical, reef-associated, shallow-water fish that inhabits protected lagoons and inshore reefs amidst Acroporid coral and coral rubble throughout the Western Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia. In the wild, the green mandarin dragonet often lives in small groups living in close proximity. In an aquarium, plan on only one per 75 gallons.
Like all dragonets, the green mandarin dragonet is a slow methodical feeder. In the wild, this fish will spend its day hovering among rocks and picking at small crustaceans including copepods and amphipods and other small benthic invertebrates. Success in the aquarium requires healthy populations of these same crustaceans, and this is generally only possible in a well-established tank (at least six months old) with live rock and a sandy substrate.
The green mandarin dragonet is reef compatible, but needs to have peaceful tankmates that will not outcompete the dragonet for food. Avoid keeping it with gobies, dottybacks (pseudochromis), most damselfishes, anthias, basslets, and even some wrasses from the genera Halichoeres and Pseudocheilinus. In captivity, it is possible to supplement live pod populations with frozen or live artemia (baby brine shrimp), but be warned that it is a long and difficult process to wean any dragonet onto a captive diet. Do enrich the artemia with a supplement such as Selcon.
Plan to spend $10-$25 depending on size and gender.
Yellow Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus)
Also called the target mandarinfish, the spotted mandarinfish, the psychedelic mandarinfish, or the picturesque dragonet, the yellow mandarin dragonet is also a beautiful fish that gets slightly larger than the green mandarin dragonet (to about two and three-quarters inches maximum). It is a tropical, reef-associated fish indigenous to the Indo-West Pacific from the Philippines through eastern Indonesia to northwest Australia. In the wild, the yellow mandarin dragonet spends its day on the sandy bottoms amongst the rubble around shallow sheltered reefs. Some aquarists claim this species is more secretive than other dragonets.
As was said above in relation to the green mandarin dragonet, this fish is a slow, methodical feeder that spends its days in the wild picking at small crustaceans (e.g. copepods). Successfully keeping this species in the aquarium requires healthy populations of pods (necessitating a well-established tank that is at least six months old and no smaller than 75 gallons). Keep the yellow mandarin dragonet with other peaceful reef fishes that will not outcompete it for food. Good tankmates may include seahorses, pipefishes, small blennies, jawfishes, dartfishes, flasher and fairy wrasses, and gobies.
Plan to spend $10-$25 depending on size.
Other Husbandry Concerns
Dragonets are quite sensitive to copper-based medications, but thankfully they are not overly susceptible to parasitic infestations (they are exceedingly “slimy” fish). If you do suspect parasites, be advised to try hyposalinity as your preferred treatment.
Learn about other tropical saltwater aquarium fishes with the Guide to Saltwater Aquarium Fishes
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