In a Royal Flush of Colors: The Green Mandarin is the Winner Hands Down

In nature, Green Mandarins are found primarily in the Western Pacific along Indonesian and Philippine coastlines and are also found in Australia. They are bottom dwellers, where they live among lower water levels of sixty feet in depth or below, in coral rubble and among live rock where they search for food and seek shelter.

Growing to only three inches in length, Synchiropus splendidus are good options for both marine or reef aquariums that are thirty gallons or larger. They have a difficult care level and require the care of an experienced aquarist because of their feeding requirements. During acclimation, naturally caught specimens may not take readily to frozen foods, as they are used to getting all their nutrients from the copepods and amphipods they find naturally in their environment. For this reason, primarily, there are captive bred options that have been acclimated to an aquarium environment and food. In smaller tanks without enough live rock, live sand and pods, wild-caught fish may face starvation. Both wild-caught and aquacultured Green Mandarin species require pristine water conditions necessitating regular water changes, water quality testing, and maintenance.

The Green Mandarin is a peaceful fish; while males may exhibit aggressive behavior towards one another, they generally do not bother other fish. They are generally left alone by other fish because of their markings and coloration in shades of green, blue and orange in a mazelike pattern. In addition, males tend to grow larger than females and have a larger and sharper dorsal fin. For these reasons, it is one of the more sought after marine and reef safe fish.

When considering its look, wow, there are few fish that are as spectacularly colored or heavily patterned as the Green Mandarin. Because of their coloring, one of the names they are known by is the Psychedelic Mandarin (as well as the Striped Mandarin). In addition to their patterns that may be confusing to other fish, they are recipients of a heavy mucus coating that protects them against some waterborne diseases and serves as a deterrent to predators.

Synchiropus splendidus should be introduced to a well-established aquarium of thirty gallons or more equipped with live rock, live sand, and plenty of hiding places. It is moderately hardy in reef aquariums if given special care. Water parameters for housing them are include maintaining a specific gravity of between 1.020-1.025, temperature of 72-78° F, dKH of 8-12, and pH levels between 8.1-8.4.

While Green Mandarins can have a lifespan up to fifteen years in their natural environment, longevity in a captive aquarium of up to 10 years is more common, if provided with proper care in a well-maintained aquarium.

The Green Mandarin has been known to spawn successfully in an aquarium. The males and females rise to the surface together in a slow dancing motion where they release sperm and eggs into the water as they crest the top of the water level.

This member of the Callionymidae family is a carnivore that naturally preys on live rock and live sand on which they will graze for amphipods and copepods. They can also be target fed these foods and/or AlgaGen Tisbe biminiensis and then transitioned to a variety of vitamin-enriched live brine shrimp and live black worms over a period of time. Aquarists should be diligent during the acclimation period to ensure they have transitioned, in order to increase their health and longevity. Note: some captive bred Green Mandarins will readily accept frozen foods – or be easily trained to do so.

The Green Mandarin will undoubtedly provide visual interest to your reef or saltwater aquarium. Are you up for the challenge? You are sure to be rewarded with your dedication in creating and maintaining the optimal living conditions to keep it healthy for years to come.