All fish / Callionymidae

Black Dragonet

Synchiropus monacanthus

Also known as black mandarin, black dragonet, starry dragonet, black spotted dragonet, royal dragonet, 黑青蛙鱼

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A small, slow dragonet with dark, finely speckled skin, and the male has a tall dorsal fin that he raises for display. Keepers choose it for its odd, deliberate way of hopping about the rockwork and its calm nature in a reef tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

6 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

150 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a mated pair; avoid two males

Diet

Carnivore: live copepods and amphipods from a mature reef, plus enriched brine shrimp and small frozen foods once it is weaned

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 6 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea to Australia and Fiji

Breeding

Pairs spawn at dusk, rising into open water to release floating eggs. Rearing the tiny larvae needs very small live foods and is rarely managed at home.

Good to know

It needs a mature tank full of live rock and copepods, and it often starves in new or crowded systems. Males fight each other, and fast, food-competing tankmates can outcompete it.