All fish / Callionymidae

Circled dragonet

Synchiropus circularis

Also known as circled dragonet, circular dragonet, spotted dragonet, synchiropus circularis, 圆斑连鳍䲗

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This small dragonet has a flattened head, a mottled sandy brown body with pale spots and rings that help it blend into rubble, and males carry a taller first dorsal fin. It is kept by reef keepers who enjoy unusual bottom dwellers that hop and pick over the sand and rock all day.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair; never two males together

Diet

Carnivore: live copepods and amphipods picked from rock and sand, with some individuals learning to take frozen copepods, rotifers and enriched brine shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 5 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Malaysia (Sabah), Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Mariana Islands, Coral Sea

Breeding

Like other dragonets it spawns in pairs, rising into open water at dusk to release floating eggs. Raising the tiny pelagic larvae needs very small live foods and has rarely, if ever, been achieved in home aquariums.

Good to know

Seldom seen in the trade and needs a mature reef tank with a large, established copepod population, as many starve when they will not take prepared foods. Avoid housing with competing pod eaters such as mandarin dragonets or aggressive bottom fish.