Also known as: Mandarinfish, Picture Dragonet, Psychedelic Mandarin

 The Synchiropus picturatus grows up to 3 inches.  The small size will come to you generally 1 to 1½ inches; the medium generally 1½ to 2½ inches; the large generally 2½ to 4 inches.  The Spotted Mandarin Goby prefers a tank of at least 20 gallons with plenty of places to hide & swim.  The Synchiropus picturatus is a carnivore and likes to eat Mostly copepods in well established tanks. May learn to accept mysis shrimp and flakes with time and patience..  The Spotted Mandarin Goby is a high maintenance fish.  The Spotted Mandarin Goby may act peacefully toward other fish.  Able to breed.  Keep water quality high (SG 1.020 - 1.025, pH 8.1 - 8.4, Temp. 72 - 78° F).  Indo-Pacific.  The Spotted Mandarin should NOT be kept in anything but a well established Reef tank (6 months or more) of NO LESS than 75 gallons WITH a refugium as it primarily feeds on copepods. Gobies may sometimes attempt jump out. Prefer presence of substrate. The most colourful of commonly found fish for marine aquarium enthusiasts. Its appetite is not the easiest to satisfy. Commonly called dragonets which are charactistize by elongated bodies,without scales,and also by the presence of two dorsal fins. If purchasing a small specimen it is often easier to teach them to accept prepared foods with patience and work. Will fight with same sex in this species. Sadly, this fish normally dies as it is often purchased and kept in under established tanks without enough food to consume. Death from starvation normally occurs within six months.

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