Spotted Mandarin Dragonet
Synchiropus picturatus
Price range: $34.99 through $37.99
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Stock | 2" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $66.99.$34.99Current price is: $34.99. |
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| In Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $70.99.$37.99Current price is: $37.99. |
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Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Expert |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 30 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Spotted Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus picturatus) is a bottom-dwelling dragonet also known as the Spotted Mandarinfish, Psychedelic Mandarinfish, or Picture Dragonet. Its green base color is patterned with target-like rings and spots in blue, orange, and black. Native to the Indo‑West Pacific, it spends most of its time moving through rockwork and across open sand while foraging.
What You’ll Observe:
- Short, deliberate “hops” and glides between rock ledges and sand patches
- Constant pecking at surfaces as it searches for tiny live foods
- Frequent perching on low rockwork with fins spread wide
- Brief display behavior, with males showing a taller first dorsal fin
Provide plenty of mature live rock and active microfauna so your mandarin has natural hunting areas all day. Offer small meaty foods multiple times daily (and let them stay available near the bottom) to match its slow, steady feeding style. It settles best in a calm community where it can forage without heavy competition at feeding time.
How long does it usually take for a new Spotted Mandarin to recognize frozen foods as food?
Many keepers see gradual progress over days to weeks, especially when the fish is already actively hunting in the tank; consistency matters more than changing foods daily.
What’s a simple way to make sure the mandarin actually gets its share at feeding time?
A small “feeding station” placed on the sand can help keep food in one spot, so the fish can return and pick at it between laps around the rockwork.
Will it still hunt pods even if it eats frozen food regularly?
Yes—most continue grazing all day, and that constant foraging is a normal part of how they spend their time in the aquarium.
Can I keep two mandarins together if I want a pair?
Hobbyists most often have success when adding a confirmed male/female pair and providing enough foraging space so they don’t crowd each other’s preferred routes.
What’s the easiest day-to-day sign that it’s staying well-fed?
Look for steady, purposeful foraging throughout the day and a body profile that stays filled out behind the head rather than looking pinched.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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