Starry scooter dragonet

The starry scooter dragonet is a small marine fish in the family Callionymidae, native to the Indo-Pacific. It has a mottled reddish-brown and cream body speckled with fine pale spots, a broad flattened head, and the perching, hopping behavior typical of scooter blennies as they are commonly called. It is peaceful, slow-moving, and secretive, spending its time picking prey from rock and sand. Males may be territorial with one another, so keeping a single male is best. A mature reef aquarium with plenty of live rock and an established population of copepods and amphipods is essential, as this dragonet feeds almost entirely on tiny live crustaceans. Many individuals must be weaned onto frozen foods to survive long term. It is entirely reef-safe and, like the mandarin, requires patience and a well-seasoned system.