Marbled mandarin

The marbled mandarin is a dragonet in the family Callionymidae, found in the western Pacific. Like its relatives it lives close to the reef floor among rubble and coral. Unlike the brightly colored mandarin dragonet, this species has a mottled greenish-brown to dark marbled pattern that provides excellent camouflage; males have a taller dorsal fin. Its subtle coloration is its distinguishing trait. It is peaceful and slow-moving but shares the mandarin's challenging feeding requirements, relying on a constant supply of tiny live copepods and amphipods. It needs a mature reef aquarium with plenty of live rock and a thriving pod population, or patient training onto enriched frozen foods. It must not be kept with fast, competitive feeders. Because of its specialized diet, it suits advanced keepers.