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Mandarin Dragonet

Mandarin Dragonet

Synchiropus splendidus

The Mandarin Dragonet is arguably the most visually stunning fish in the hobby, covered in an intricate mosaic of electric blue, green, orange, and red lines and swirls that make every individual look hand-painted. The primary challenge is feeding: Mandarins naturally feed almost exclusively on tiny live copepods, so a mature, copepod-rich refugium is essential. Keep in a peaceful, established reef tank with abundant live rock.

TemperamentPeaceful
Max Size3"
Care LevelDifficult
CategoryGoby

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Compatibility Chart for Mandarin Dragonet

See how Mandarin Dragonet gets along with every other species in our database.

Great Match (11)

Yellow Tang Great Completely different niches Blue Hippo Tang Great No competition whatsoever Ocellaris Clownfish Great No competition - different niches Firefish Goby Great Both peaceful bottom/mid dwellers Green Chromis Great Peaceful; chromis stay mid-water Copperband Butterflyfish Great Both shy; different zones Foxface Rabbitfish Great Completely different niches Skunk Cleaner Shrimp Great No interaction Hammer Coral Great No issues Zoanthids Great Perfectly reef safe Acropora Great Ideal reef fish - eats only pods

Compatible (63)

Powder Blue Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Kole Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Naso Tang Compatible No known issues between these species True Percula Clownfish Compatible No known issues between these species Maroon Clownfish Compatible No known issues between these species Clarkii Clownfish Compatible No known issues between these species Flame Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species Coral Beauty Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species French Angelfish Compatible No known issues between these species Fairy Wrasse Compatible Fairy wrasse feeds mid-water; less competition Clown Goby Compatible May compete for pods in small tanks Yellow Watchman Goby Compatible Both bottom dwellers; space needed Yellowtail Damselfish Compatible No known issues between these species Raccoon Butterflyfish Compatible No known issues between these species Longnose Butterflyfish Compatible No known issues between these species Midas Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Tailspot Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Lawnmower Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Bicolor Blenny Compatible No known issues between these species Royal Gramma Compatible No known issues between these species Banggai Cardinalfish Compatible No known issues between these species Pajama Cardinalfish Compatible No known issues between these species Purple Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Scopas Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Achilles Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Clown Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Sohal Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Convict Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Tomini Tang Compatible No known issues between these species Horn Shark Compatible No known issues between these species Magnificent Foxface Compatible No known issues between these species One Spot Foxface Compatible No known issues between these species Masked Rabbitfish Compatible No known issues between these species Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible Mandarin usually avoids anemones Magnificent Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Long Tentacle Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Sebae Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Chicago Sunburst BTA Compatible No known issues between these species Rose Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Rainbow Bubble Tip Anemone Compatible No known issues between these species Colorado Sunburst BTA Compatible No known issues between these species Fire Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Peppermint Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Tiger Pistol Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Sexy Shrimp Compatible No known issues between these species Emerald Crab Compatible No known issues between these species Blue Leg Hermit Crab Compatible No known issues between these species Turbo Snail Compatible No known issues between these species Nassarius Snail Compatible No known issues between these species Tuxedo Urchin Compatible No known issues between these species Red Fromia Starfish Compatible No known issues between these species Torch Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Frogspawn Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Mushroom Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Rhodactis Mushroom Compatible No known issues between these species Ricordea Florida Compatible No known issues between these species Ricordea Yuma Compatible No known issues between these species Bounce Mushroom Compatible No known issues between these species Green Star Polyps Compatible No known issues between these species Pulsing Xenia Compatible No known issues between these species Montipora Compatible No known issues between these species Leather Coral Compatible No known issues between these species Duncan Coral Compatible No known issues between these species

Somewhat Compatible (6)

Emperor Angelfish Somewhat Compatible Emperor generally ignores bottom dwellers Melanurus Wrasse Somewhat Compatible Melanurus competes for copepods Cleaner Wrasse Somewhat Compatible Both compete for micro-fauna Flame Hawkfish Somewhat Compatible Hawkfish may nip at mandarin Longnose Hawkfish Somewhat Compatible Mandarin is slow; monitor Bluechin Triggerfish Somewhat Compatible Slow mandarin at some risk

Risky (6)

Six Line Wrasse Risky Competes for same pod food source Yellowspotted Wrasse Risky Both compete heavily for copepods — only in 150g+ with refugium Blue Devil Damselfish Risky Damsel harasses slow mandarin Niger Triggerfish Risky Slow mandarin at risk Pinktail Triggerfish Risky Slow mandarin at risk Carpet Anemone Risky Mandarin is slow; carpet may catch it

Not Compatible (6)

Brownbanded Bamboo Shark Not Compatible Slow mandarin is easy prey Epaulette Shark Not Compatible Easy prey Coral Catshark Not Compatible Easy prey at night Picasso Triggerfish Not Compatible Mandarin is trigger food Clown Triggerfish Not Compatible Will be eaten Undulate Triggerfish Not Compatible Will be eaten

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