Moyer’s Dragonet (Synchiropus moyeri)

Moyer’s Dragonet Synchiropus moyeri
Name	Moyer’s Dragonet
Name Lat.	Synchiropus moyeri
Family	Dragonets
Family lat.	Callionymidae
Order	Dragonets
Order lat.	Callionymiformes
Origin	Western Pacific
Habitat	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	7 cm
Temperature	24-26 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	~ 200 l
US Units
Size	3"
Temperature	75-79 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	~ 50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The distribution area of Synchiropus moyeri is in the western Pacific Ocean, from Japan through Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia to Indonesia. They live there in the sandy zones of shallow coral reefs protected from strong surf, 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 or in a harem, one male with several females. They behave territorially, so keeping several animals is only recommended in a larger and richly structured tank. They are very peaceful with other fish, but should not be kept together with other lyrefish.

Sex dimorphism

The male is slightly larger and the first dorsal fin has elongated rays and a large, marked fin skin.

Reproduction and breeding

There are no known reports about successful breeding in the aquarium. Several times spawning could be observed in the evening hours.

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; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF