Synchiropus splendidus - Mandarin dragonet (male) example image
 Aquarium Keeping of Synchiropus splendidus
 The Mandarin dragonet Synchiropus splendidus (also known by the synonym Pterosynchiropus splendidus) is a beautiful fish that impresses with its bright colors and almost psychedelic pattern. The fish are robust and not very susceptible to disease, but should only be introduced into well-established aquariums.
 Feeding the mandarin fish is the biggest challenge when keeping it. The dragonet feeds on worms and other invertebrates that it picks from the ground and stones. Other food is often not accepted at the beginning. In older, sufficiently large tanks, however, the fish find enough plankton to eat, especially if the reproduction of the microorganisms is stimulated with dust food or phytoplankton. Over time, however, the mandarin fish often also eat frozen food and sometimes even granules on their own. If you want to give Synchiropus splendidus a targeted alternative food, you can feed it directly with a pipette or syringe. We have had good experiences with lobster eggs, Artemia and Calanus.
 We recommend a tank size of approximately 300l for a single animal or 500l for a pair.
 breeding of mandarin fish
 The sex of Synchiropus splendidus is easy to determine. Males have a higher dorsal fin with a noticeably longer, tapered first dorsal fin ray. They are also larger and bulkier than females.
 The breeding of the mandarin dragonet is possible for dedicated aquarists. Harmonious pairs regularly spawn in the evening during the blue light phase. The mating dance is a real spectacle! When the current is turned off, the eggs can be scooped out after mating. The eggs must be kept suspended until they hatch. The larvae, which are 0.8-1 mm in size, initially require very little food and live in open water for 2-3 weeks before they move to a life close to the bottom at 3.5 to 4 mm. After about 3 months, with good feeding, development is complete and after 1 year the animals are sexually mature.
 Profile: Mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
 Latin name:
 Synchiropus splendidus (Synonym: Pterosynchiropus splendidus)
 German name:
 Mandarin fish, Mandarin lyrefish
 Adult size:
 6-8 cm
 Aquarium size:
 from 300l
 Food:
 Microorganisms, live food, sometimes also frozen food (Mysis, Artemia, Calanus, mussel meat, lobster eggs, zooplankton)
 Temperature:
 24°C - 27°C
 Difficulty level:
 demanding
 socialization:
 peaceful, pair keeping