- Sku: 1186057
- Vendor: Squeaky's Aquatics
Red Mandarin Goby (Synchiropus splendidus)
Your order is reserved — we hold off on bagging until you arrive, so it stays healthy in its display tank.
The Red Mandarin Goby (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of the most striking fish in the marine hobby — a small, slow-moving dragonet painted in deep red, orange, and electric-blue swirls. It is a peaceful, reef-safe fish best suited to advanced keepers, because its health depends on a mature tank with a thriving population of live copepods to graze on throughout the day.
Pair it with the rest of our saltwater livestock & reef supplies to build a healthy, balanced reef.
Care Guide
Tank & environment: Provide at least a 30-gallon aquarium (50+ gallons is better) that has been established for 6–12 months, with plenty of live rock for copepods to breed in and graze on. A refugium or in-tank pod habitat dramatically improves long-term success.
Feeding: Mandarins are continuous micro-grazers, which is the main reason they are considered advanced — they pick copepods and amphipods off live rock all day long. Seed and replenish your tank with live marine copepods, and protect the colony with an in-tank pod habitat. Many specimens can also be weaned onto frozen/freeze-dried mysis and enriched brine shrimp, but a standing pod supply is essential.
Temperament: Peaceful and shy, and completely reef safe — it will not bother corals or invertebrates. Keep only one mandarin per tank unless you can confirm a true male/female pair, as same-sex pairs (especially two males) will fight.
Specifications
| Common Name | Red Mandarin Goby (Red Mandarin Dragonet) |
| Scientific Name | Synchiropus splendidus |
| Care Level | Advanced |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Max Adult Size | ~3 inches (7.5 cm) |
| Minimum Tank Size | 30 gallons (50+ recommended) |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| Salinity | 1.020–1.025 |
| Carbonate Hardness | 8–12 dKH |
| Diet | Carnivore — copepods, amphipods, frozen mysis/brine |
| Origin | Western Pacific reefs |
Compatibility
Best kept in a calm reef community where it will not be out-competed for food. Good tank mates include peaceful, non-aggressive species such as the Royal Gramma, a Tomini Tang (in larger tanks), and reef-safe cleanup crew like the Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp. Avoid fast, aggressive feeders such as large wrasses, aggressive damsels, and hawkfish that will strip the pod population before the mandarin can eat. Prefer the green color form? See our Green Mandarin Goby — but remember, only one mandarin per tank unless you are pairing a male and female.
Recommended Foods & Supplies
- Bulldawg Copepod Mix — live marine pods, the staple food for mandarins
- Adaptive Reef Copepod Habitat — protects a breeding pod colony in your sump or display
- Live phytoplankton — feeds and sustains your copepod population
- Freeze-dried mysis shrimp — supplemental food many mandarins will accept
- Live gut-loaded brine shrimp — high-value enrichment food
- Browse all marine fish foods
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Red Mandarin Goby reef safe?
Yes — it is completely reef safe and will not nip corals, clams, or invertebrates.
Do I need a special tank to keep one?
You need a mature, established tank (ideally 6+ months old) with live rock and a healthy copepod population. Adding a pod habitat or refugium makes a big difference.
Will it eat regular fish food?
Some adapt to frozen mysis or brine over time, but you should never rely on that alone — always maintain a live copepod supply.
Can I keep two together?
Only as a confirmed male/female pair. Two males will fight, often to the death.
Have a question?
Red Mandarin Goby (Synchiropus splendidus)
