{"product_id":"spotted-mandarin","title":"Spotted Mandarin | Synchiropus picturatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Spotted Mandarin is one of the most beautiful of all reef fish, painted in green, blue and orange with striking dark-ringed spots across the body. Small and slow-moving, it hops and hovers over the rockwork, endlessly picking at tiny prey. As enchanting as it is, this is a specialist fish with demanding feeding needs, best suited to experienced keepers with a mature reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSynchiropus picturatus is found on Indo-Pacific reefs, particularly in sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs with rubble and rich live rock. It spends the day working over the substrate, hunting the copepods and other micro-crustaceans that make up its diet. In the aquarium it requires a well-established system, ideally at least six to twelve months old, with abundant live rock and live sand to sustain a constant supply of pods. Without this microfauna, the fish will slowly starve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe body is stout and scaleless, coated in a green base overlaid with blue-ringed dark spots and flashes of orange. Males carry a taller first dorsal fin than females. It moves in a distinctive hopping, hovering manner on fan-like pectoral fins. Reaching only around 7 cm, it is a small fish. Healthy specimens have full, rounded bellies rather than the pinched stomach that signals starvation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a thoroughly peaceful, unaggressive fish that will not bother tank mates or corals. Its main challenge is competition for food, so it should never be kept with fast, greedy fish that will strip the tank of pods. Males will fight one another, so keep only one male, or a male-female pair, per tank. Calm, slow-feeding tank mates such as small gobies and firefish are ideal companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeeding is the crux of keeping this species and the reason it is rated expert-only. It naturally eats live copepods and amphipods almost constantly through the day, so a mature reef with a strong pod population, ideally supported by a refugium, is essential. Some individuals can be trained onto enriched frozen foods or live black worms, but many rely heavily on live pods. Ongoing pod supplementation is often necessary.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 110 L of mature reef, with 200 L or more recommended, and plenty of live rock and live sand. Maintain 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Water quality should be stable and clean, with gentle to moderate flow. The single most important requirement is an established system able to continuously replenish the tiny live foods this fish depends on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMandarins are among the more frequently spawned dragonets in aquaria, performing a graceful dusk courtship before releasing eggs and sperm into the water column. However, rearing the tiny pelagic larvae requires specialised culture of live foods and dedicated systems, so it remains a challenge for advanced breeders. For most keepers, well-fed, healthy fish are the realistic goal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSynchiropus picturatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpotted Mandarin (Psychedelic Mandarin \/ Picturesque Dragonet)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific lagoons and inshore reefs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–7 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExpert (specialist feeder)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 L (mature, pod-rich)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore; live copepods and amphipods, some accept enriched frozen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature, pod-rich reef aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include small peaceful gobies, firefish, small clownfish, cardinalfish and other calm, slow-feeding reef fish that will not strip the tank of pods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with fast, greedy feeders such as wrasses and dottybacks that deplete the pod population, aggressive fish, and a second male mandarin in the same aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234131394851,"sku":null,"price":79.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234131427619,"sku":"AA1330","price":89.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Spotted_Mandarin_Synchiropus_picturatus_30c8598f-f0a3-4c6f-b900-7c0286943d4c.jpg?v=1781681305","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/spotted-mandarin","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}