Green Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus)
| Green Mandarinfish Synchiropus splendidus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Green Mandarinfish |
| Name Lat. | Synchiropus splendidus |
| Synonym | Pterosynchiropus splendidus |
| Family | Dragonets |
| Family lat. | Callionymidae |
| Order | Dragonets |
| Order lat. | Callionymiformes |
| Origin | Indo-West Pacific |
| Habitat | Sandy areas, coral reefs |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Pair |
| Reef Compatible | Yes |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Life Span | 2-5 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 10 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | ~ 200 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 4" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | ~ 50 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of Synchiropus splendidus is the western Pacific, from southern Japan through Indonesia to the great barrier reef in northeastern Australia. They live mostly in pairs in the sandy zones of shallow coral reefs protected from strong surf down to 20 m depth, where they are often burrowed to the upper half of the body.
Maintenance
They require a well-structured aquarium with a reef structure that allows for territoriality (crevices, caves, shelters) and free sandy areas with a not too fine, deep substrate. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates may be used as substrate.
To ensure water quality, filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. It is recommended that live stones be used to set up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. The lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l | nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to constantly good water quality.
Diet
In nature, they feed mainly on small creatures found on the bottom, such as crustaceans or worms. The food change does not always succeed without problems. The food supply should consist of a combination of live and frozen food, such as small mysis, artemia, sand shrimp, bosmids and cyclops, with chopped shrimp, fish and mussel meat or a commercially available vitamin-enriched frozen food mix. Dry food (flakes, granules) is rarely accepted
It is recommended to feed small portions several times a day. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
They should be kept in pairs. They behave very territorial within their genus. Therefore, keeping a harem or several pairs of even different lyrefish is only possible in a much larger tank. They behave peacefully towards other fish.
Sex dimorphism
The male is slightly larger and the first ray of the dorsal fin is much longer.
Reproduction and breeding
Breeding in the aquarium has already succeeded occasionally. The courtship takes place in the evening hours. The pair rises together to the water surface, where the female releases the eggs freely into the water. The planktonic larvae hatch after 18-22 hours and after about 4 days their yolk sac is consumed. After 2-3 weeks, their pelagic development is complete and the fry swim freely.
Important
Well-run coral aquariums with abundant small fauna provide optimal conditions for keeping them. The scaleless skin of these bottom-dwelling fish is protected by a thick, malodorous slime layer. Competition from fast eating fish should be avoided
As coral reef dwellers, they should not be maintained in a fish-only aquarium
If different species are kept together, care should be taken to match the fish in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and to ensure that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: KUITER, DEBELIUS (2007): Atlas der Meeresfische: Die Fische an den Küsten der Weltmeere, Kosmos Verlag; BAENSCH & DEBELIUS (2006): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 1, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF