Green Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus)

Notes: One of the most dramatically colored saltwater fish, the Green Mandarinfish also has dramatic red, yellow, and electric blue to accent its green stripes. Like its close relative, the Psychedelic Mandarinfish, it requires an established reef aquarium for survival. It will feed on tiny invertebrates from the live sand and live rock, and does benefit from additional food supplied by refugiums. This fish will also help to prevent brown flatworm infestations, which can be trouble for some reef aquariums. Males of this species have a longer dorsal spine than females. The Psychedelic Mandarinfish will hover and scoot around your reef aquarium without bothering any corals, clams, or invertebrates. It is best kept with other docile fishes in a community reef aquarium. The Green Mandarin requires an established reef aquarium with plenty of live copepods to feed on. You can supplement its diet with Arctic Pods and live copepods. Adding a refugium to your system will also provide a continued source of live food.