Ocellated Scooter Dragonet (Synchiropus ocellatus)

The Ocellated Scooter Dragonet (Synchiropus ocellatus), often sold as the Scooter Blenny, is a peaceful, reef-safe bottom-dweller that "scoots" across the sand and rockwork hunting tiny crustaceans. Its mottled brown camouflage, oversized cartoonish eyes, and big fan-like fins make it one of the most entertaining personalities in a mature reef. Hardy and disease-resistant once settled, it is an intermediate-level fish whose long-term success depends on a steady supply of live pods.

Pair it with the rest of our saltwater fish, or browse the full saltwater livestock and reef supplies selection.

Care Guide

• Mature tank required: Keep only in an established reef at least 6 months old with plenty of live rock and a deep sand bed. These surfaces are where copepods and amphipods breed, and pods are this fish's main food.
• Feeding: A natural micro-predator that grazes all day on copepods, amphipods, and other tiny crustaceans. Many specimens can be trained onto frozen mysis, baby brine, and fine pellets, but a thriving pod population is the real key to keeping one healthy. Seeding the tank with live copepods is strongly recommended.
• Water quality: Hold stable reef parameters: temperature 72 to 78°F, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 1.020 to 1.025. They dislike sudden swings, so a seasoned, lightly stocked system suits them best.
• Behavior: Spends the day perched on rock and sand, hopping from spot to spot. Slow and deliberate, it should never have to compete with fast, greedy eaters at feeding time.
• Refugium bonus: An attached refugium or pod shelter keeps the food chain replenished and dramatically improves survival.

Specifications

Compatibility

The Scooter Dragonet is peaceful and reef-safe, ignoring corals and ornamental invertebrates. The trick is making sure it gets enough to eat.

• Good tankmates: clownfish, firefish, small gobies, cardinalfish, royal grammas, and other slow, peaceful feeders.
• Use caution: avoid fast or greedy fish such as large wrasses, hawkfish, and dottybacks that will out-compete it at mealtime.
• Pod competition: house only one dragonet or mandarin per tank unless the system is large and mature enough to feed several.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Nutramar Tigrio Live Copepods to seed and replenish the tank's pod population
• Bulldawg Copepod Mix, a live marine pod blend made for mandarins and dragonets
• Adaptive Reef Copepod Habitat to keep pods breeding in your sump or refugium
• Aquaforest Liquid Mysis as a supplemental target-feed
• More saltwater livestock and reef supplies

FAQ

Is the Scooter Dragonet reef safe?
Yes. It will not touch corals, clams, or ornamental shrimp. It only hunts tiny crustaceans like copepods and amphipods.

What does it eat?
Primarily live copepods and amphipods. Most can be coaxed onto frozen mysis and baby brine over time, but a healthy live pod population is what keeps them fat and active long term.

Is it the same as a Mandarin?
They are close relatives in the same genus. The Scooter Dragonet is hardier and more willing to accept prepared foods, which makes it a great first dragonet.

What size tank does it need?
At least 30 gallons, and the tank should be mature, with live rock and a sand bed that supports a steady pod supply.