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Mandarinfish
Please note that any discussion on colouration is tentative and based on our own observations and variations due to habitat and regions no doubt exist.
Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus
Common Name: Mandarin Fish
Region: Indo Pacific
Depth Range: 1-30m
Arguably one of the most stunningly beautiful fish in the ocean and highly prized by underwater photographers, also sadly aquarium keepers.
Mating Mandarinfish. The Male
is larger and overall more robust
Their food source mainly consists of small crustaceans including mysids, amphipods, isopods, benthic copepods, plus small worms and protozoans.
Instead of scales the Mandarin Fish has mucus coated slimy smelly skin, which predators find distasteful.
Their body is covered with elaborate dots, swirls and waves of orange, bright blue, yellow and green. The male is larger and overall more robust.
Clearly visible, the females body is ready
to burst with eggs
They are one of the smallest ocean spawners and we have observed a fascinating and complex mating ritual.
Her underbelly is now much smaller.
The eggs can be seen to the right
of her tail fin
As seen in these images during the mating process the female rests on the males pectoral fin, simultaneously they rise together in the water column up to 1 metre above the reef.
Fertilized eggs are left to the devices
of the ocean currents
After 18-24 hours they hatch into 1mm long larvae and remain planktonic for up to two weeks before settling onto the reef to begin their benthic life.
In the case of Mandarin Fish size does matter! Females prefer to mate with the largest male as smaller males may require 2 or 3 attempts at the synchronized release of eggs and sperm .
As this process takes place in the water column they are more vulnerable to predation during this time.
Female Fingered Dragonet
Common Name: Fingered Dragonet
Region: Indo Pacific
Depth Range: 1-55m
The Fingered Dragonet can be found at depths ranging from 1m to 55m usually residing on sand and mud flats or slopes in sheltered areas.
Often burying itself in the sand to hide from predation, if disturbed they dart away displaying their long spikey dorsal fin.
A Diver takes a look at a Fingered Dragonet
Male Fingered Dragonet
The female has bright orange lips, clearly visible in these images.
Male Fingered Dragonet
with Flounder
Perhaps because it closely resembles its own colouring. It can be assumed that the Flounder benefits from the unwanted ruminants of food dug up by the Dragonet.
Exactly how the Dragonet benefits from this twosome is yet to be determined, possibly he feels protected by the cover.
Common Name: Moyers Dragonet
Region: Indo Pacific
Depth Range: 1-35m
Other species of dragonet include Moyers and Bartels. The Moyers has red bars on the tail and eyes, this species also has a large dorsal fin, seen in this image folded.
Common Name: Bartlets Dragonet
Region: Indo Pacific
Depth Range: 1-35m
Brightly coloured to match their colourful coral habitat, this makes them very difficult to spot.
Forty million fish are removed from the ocean for aquariums annually. The way in which they are caught and transported coupled with lack of knowledge from aquarium keepers result in very high mortality rates.
Due to their popularity Mandarin fish are particularly vulnerable to this trade. For this reason we have concerns over their population particularly as fishermen target the larger male and as previously mentioned these are the most successful breeders. Instead of keeping an aquarium, learn to dive or snorkel and observe the splendor of these creatures in the wild as we have done.
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