Green Mandarin - Small
Pre-Medically Quarantined. See Quarantine Methods Page for more information.
(Synchiropus splendidus)
Is eating frozen foods/blood worms. Prefers natural food like amphipods and copepods. The Green Mandarinfish is often out-competed for food in a mixed reef tank. Please be sure you have a solid plan for keeping these amazing little fish!
Despite their popularity in the aquarium trade, mandarinfish are considered difficult to keep, as their feeding habits are very specific. Some fish never adapt to aquarium life, refusing to eat anything but live amphipods and copepods (as in the wild); though individuals that do acclimatize to aquarium food are considered to be quite hardy and highly resistant to diseases such as marine ich. They are less likely to contract marine ich because they do not have the typical skin type that is affected by this disease. Mandarinfish also have a layer of debatably smelly and bitter slime instead of scales, which blocks out disease and probably also discourages predators, implying their bright coloration is aposematic (source)