Animal-World > Marine - Saltwater Fish > Mandarinfish and Dragonets > Mandarin Fish

Mandarinfish

Synchiropus splendidus Photo courtesy: Seth Weintraub

   The Mandarinfish is one of the most striking of the smaller marine fish! It is probably the fish that is singly most responsible for enticing people into the marine aquarium hobby!

   Mandarinfish usually move around a lot in search of food and are really beautiful and fun to watch. They are so cute when they "perch" on their pelvic fins on the bottom of the aquarium or the decor!

For more Information on keeping this fish see: Guide to a Happy, Healthy Marine Aquarium

Maintenance/Foods:
   Mandarinfish are omnivores. They will usually eat live brine, bloodworms, and tubifex but this diet is usually not sufficient to keep them over the long term. In the wild they eat small crustaceans (and other benthic organsisms). The latest on some of the newsgroups is that each one needs anywhere from 75 to 150 pounds of live rock to survive. We have kept one in a 125 gallon reef that is doing fine and all he eats is whatever he finds on the rocks. With most fish variety is the key. Feed them anything they will eat and try lots of different things. Live brine, worms, formula I, and formula II, flakes, etc. The mandarin seems to only go for live food however. A mature aquarium with live rock really helps provide the natural food they need.

Habitat: Natural geographic location:
   The Mandarinfish are found in the Western Pacific from Java to Japan, the southern Barrier Reef, and the Caroline Islands. Usually found at depths of 1 to 18 meters.

Social Behaviors:
   Male mandarins can only be kept singly or with other females. Only one male per aquarium though!

Sex: Sexual differences:
  The males are somewhat larger than the females, have longer fins, and the first ray of the dorsal fin is about twice as long as the female's. The fish pictured at right above is probably a male since the dorsal fin is elongated.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The following breeding information was contributed by Aaron in our guest book:

  " Mandarinfish only spawn in the evening and exhibit very unique mating behavior. If a pair of them are healthy enough, they will begin spawning occasionally just after lights out.
   The male and the female approach each other and begin to "dance" in a spiral up the water column. They release sperm and egg as they rise. The spawn are planktonic for some time, but will grow to a couple mm in length in a couple days.
   If there are other kinds of fish in the tank, the spawn should be isolated. I know this info is relatively general, but I have not personally mated Mandarins (I only have a large enough tank for one fish)."

   Thanks for the info Aaron!

For more information about recent concerns as well as mandarinfish breeding habits check this article at National Geographic.

Light: Recommended light levels:
   No special requirements.

Temperature:
   No special requirements. Normal temperatures for marine fish is between 74 and 79 degrees fahrenheit.

Length/Diameter of fish:
   Mandarinfish adults can grow to 10.0 cm (4.0 inches).

Minimum Tank Length/Size:
   A minimum 60 gallon aquarium is recommended since a minimum of 75 pounds of live rock is needed in order to sustain them.

Water Movement: Weak, Moderate, Strong
   No special requirements.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom
   Usually spends most of its' time on rockwork or live rock near the bottom.

Availability:
   This fish is readily available and is inexpensive.

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Latest Comments
I have a Synchiropus splendidus in a 20 gallon nano reef, have trained him to come eat pellets twice daily with my clowns. He eats well and is gaining weight normally. Shane Arthur 2009-02-21
I have a mandarin and a scooter in a 36 gallon hex. I was told these are two of the toughest to keep but for me they have been just easy happy go lucky fish :). I dont believe the 75 pound rock rule for I only have about 35 in mine along with the live sand and the dragonets are doing great. I add a 1/2 teaspoon of fresh plankton every morning. The mandarins are beautiful fish! I wish they got bigger than 4 inches :( The scooter is really great to watch as he glides across everything. Sheri 2006-12-27
My wife loved her since they first meet at aquarium shop and I bought her a Mandarinfish on the same day. She very much enjoys talking to the Mandarinfish and looking at her action, very shy and very lady action. Andersen 2004-09-23
I have a mandarinefish ever since I started my aquarium, and it is one of my favorite fishes. The mandarine fish is really easy to keep, is quiet and fast and you can find it one day in one place and the next day in the opposite place. It is great. If you have any doubt, do not think twice and contact me at mega_knight@hotmail.com Raśl Naveda 2003-09-16

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Author: David Brough. CFS.