Spotted mandarin

The spotted mandarin, or picture dragonet, is a small, ornate marine fish in the family Callionymidae, native to the western Pacific. It has a green base color patterned with striking blue-ringed spots and psychedelic markings, and a scaleless body coated in protective mucus rather than scales. It is peaceful and slow-moving, spending its time hopping across rock and sand hunting tiny prey. Males can be territorial toward one another, so only one male per tank is advised. A well-established reef aquarium with abundant live rock and a mature refugium is essential, because mandarins feed almost exclusively on live copepods and amphipods. Many specimens must be trained onto frozen or prepared foods to thrive long term. It is entirely reef-safe and best suited to patient keepers who can sustain a continuous supply of live micro-prey.