Mandarin Dragonet — Synchiropus splendidus

Mandarin Dragonet — Extraordinary color, thoughtful care

Synchiropus splendidus, commonly called the Green or Blue Mandarin, brings intricate blue, green and orange patterns to the reef. It spends much of its time close to rockwork and the substrate, methodically searching for small prey.

François Neo’s advice

My recommendation: prepare the food supply before choosing the fish. A Mandarin needs an aquarium that can feed it every day, not simply one with stable water. Look closely at its feeding response and body condition, and consider competition from other fish that hunt copepods.

Care at a glance

• Scientific name: Synchiropus splendidus.
• Family: Callionymidae — dragonets.
• Adult size: Approximately 3–4 inches (8–10 cm).
• Experience: Advanced feeding care, particularly for wild-caught individuals.
• Our recommendation: An established reef of 55 US gallons or larger, with substantial rockwork, accessible foraging areas and a sustainable supply of small prey. Aquarium volume alone cannot guarantee adequate nutrition.
• Temperament: Peaceful with suitable tankmates; avoid aggressive fish and excessive food competition.
• Reef compatibility: Generally compatible with corals and larger ornamental invertebrates; feeds on tiny prey organisms.
• Social needs: Keep singly unless a compatible pair is confirmed. Avoid housing two males together.

Feeding is the priority

Provide dependable access to copepods and other appropriate small foods. Target-feed suitable fine frozen foods when accepted and verify that the Mandarin actually consumes them. An active fish can still lose weight if its food supply is insufficient.

Captive-bred Mandarins may arrive accustomed to prepared foods, but this must be confirmed for the individual specimen. This listing does not imply captive-bred origin. Ask us about the available fish’s origin and current diet before ordering.

Size & appearance

Choose S, M or L. Ask for current measurements; size grades do not guarantee sex or a specific color pattern. The image illustrates the species and shows two fish; each order is for one fish unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Explore Marine Fish, meet the Scooter Dragonet, or contact François Neo to discuss your aquarium’s readiness.