Spotted Mandarin

Synchiropus picturatus – The Psychedelic Beauty for Your Reef Tank

The Spotted Mandarin is a brilliantly colored dragonet known for its soft, glowing colors and mesmerizing, psychedelic pattern – the reason it’s often affectionately nicknamed “LSD-Mandarin.” Closely related to Synchiropus splendidus (Blue Mandarin), this peaceful bottom-dweller moves gracefully through your reef and brings calm energy and vibrant color to your tank.

Easy Care with Captive-Bred Fish – Perfect for Tanks from 150 Liters

Our Spotted Mandarins are captive-bred and fully weaned onto frozen and dry foods, unlike wild-caught specimens that often depend on live microfauna. Thanks to their modest size and calm behavior, they can be kept in aquariums from 150 liters and up.

Wild-caught individuals usually require large, mature tanks with a stable population of copepods – but that’s not necessary with these hardy, aquarium-raised fish.

Peaceful and Best Kept in Pairs

Spotted Mandarins are slow feeders and should be kept with calm, peaceful tankmates. Avoid pairing them with aggressive or overly competitive species.

They do best in male-female pairs. Males can be recognized by their elongated first dorsal fin. Keeping more than one male or mixing with other dragonet species can lead to territorial disputes and is not recommended.

Why Are Captive-Bred Dragonets More Expensive?

The higher price of captive-bred dragonets is due to their extremely slow growth. It can take many months for them to reach a saleable size of 2–3 cm. However, they are worth the investment: they are feeding-ready, hardier, and suitable even for newer reef tanks with limited natural food sources.

By choosing a captive-bred Spotted Mandarin, you're not only adding a stunning fish to your tank – you’re also supporting sustainable marine aquaculture.