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Psychedelic Mandarin Goby
Synchiropus splendidus
Other Names: Blue Mandarin Goby, Mandarin Dragonet
Origin: Pacific
Reef Safe: Yes Jumper: NoMax Size: 2"
Reccomended Tank Size: 30 gallon minimum.
Temperature range: 72-82F
Description:
The Psychedelic Mandarin Goby's name is well deserved for it's fantastic markings and coloration. It is mostly blue in color with reds, greens, and yellows spotted throughout the body. It is well known for a thicker than usual slime coat which makes it less susceptible to marine ich or and other ailments.
Diet:
The Psychedelic Mandarin Goby's diet is notoriously limited to live copepods and only rarely after training will it accept prepared foods such as frozen brine shrimp or pellets. The extremely picky diet of only live copepods requires that it be placed in a tank with adequate liverock to replenish the copepod population. Many suggest that if the fish is not eating prepared foods that it not be placed in a tank smaller than 75 gallons. ORA is now breeding Psychedelic Mandarins which eat prepared foods before they are sold, if you purchase one of these captive bred specimens the requirements for tank size are greatly reduced and be kept in a 30g tank with ease.
Temperament:
The Psychedelic Mandarin Goby is a very peaceful fish so long as it not paired with another of the same species and sex. They can be paired with the opposite sex however. They may be picked on by other aggressive fish, but are usually ignored.
Special Notes:
The sex of the fish can usually be determined by the length of the dorsal fin. The males will have a long dorsal fin which when at rest will reach back to the tail fin. The females have a much shorter dorsal fin which is only about 1cm in length.
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