The Mandarin Dragonet can simply not be confused with any other fish. It has arguably the most attractive coloration and pattern of any commonly kept reef fish. The scale-less body of the fish is a blue or green color which has orange wavy lines across it. The tail is bright red with blue edging. Other colors can be found in the pattern as well. These fish are also sometimes called Psychedelic fish due to its rather bizarre coloration. The male Mandarin tends to be larger than the female and has a large pointed dorsal fin that is only occasionally displayed. Although commonly called Mandarin Goby, they are in fact not a Goby, but rather belong to the family known as Dragonets.
Common names include:: Mandarin fish, Mandarin Dragonet, Mandarin Goby, Psychedelic fish
Synchirupus Splendidus:: Pterosynchiropus splendidus
The head and body of the Green Mandarin, also known as the Striped Mandarinfish or Green Mandarinfish, are a mazelike combination of blue, orange, and green. Males may be distinguished from females by their more-elongated first dorsal spine. It is extremely popular with aquarists because of its unusual beauty.
It should be kept in a well-established 30 gallon or larger aquarium with live rock, live sand, and plenty of hiding places. It is moderately hardy in reef aquariums if given special care. It is not overly aggressive towards other fish, except for conspecifics.
The Green Mandarin has been known to spawn successfully in an aquarium.
It feeds on a variety of vitamin-enriched live brine shrimp, live black worms, and natural prey on live rock and live sand.