Description

Green Mandarin Dragonette – Synchiropus splendidus

Overview:
The Green Mandarin Dragonette is a breathtakingly colorful and peaceful marine fish, famous for its vibrant green, blue, and orange patterns that shimmer under aquarium lighting. Known for its slow, graceful movements, it is a highlight in any reef tank.

Origin:
Native to the Indo-Pacific, particularly coral-rich lagoons and reef flats where it feeds among live rock and sand.

Feeding:
Specialist feeder – primarily consumes live copepods, amphipods, and other small live foods. Supplementing with enriched frozen foods may be necessary. A well-established tank with a thriving microfauna population is essential for long-term health.

Tank Mates:
Best kept with peaceful, non-aggressive species. Avoid housing with large or aggressive fish that may outcompete it for food. Reef-safe with corals and invertebrates.

Aggression:
Non-aggressive, very peaceful and slow-moving. It may be shy at first but becomes more visible in a mature, well-stocked tank.

Experience Level:
Intermediate to advanced, due to its specialized diet and requirement for a well-established aquarium with abundant live rock.

Water Parameters:

Temperature: 76–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: 1.020–1.025
Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons

The Green Mandarin Dragonette is a spectacular, peaceful, and captivating reef fish, ideal for aquarists looking to showcase one of the ocean’s most iconic and colorful species.