The Blue Mandarin, also commonly referred to as Green Mandarin, is a member of the family Callionymidae, the Dragonets, and grows to a maximum length of four inches. They originate in the Western Pacific from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia. In the wild they are found on silty bottoms with coral and rubble. In the aquarium, it's best to provide them with plenty of rock work in which to hunt and hide.
Captive bred Blue Mandarins exhibit beautiful ribbon-like patterns of royal blue and green, peach and red. They can be kept in mated pairs or singly.
Captive bred mandarins will accept a variety of prepared frozen and dry foods upon acclimation to their new tank. They may be offered Nutramar Ova, finely chopped Hikari Frozen Blood Worms, fish roe, frozen or live baby brine shrimp, frozen daphnia, and New Life SPECTRUM Small Fish Formula pellets. Some have also shown interest in Cyclopeeze.
Captive bred dragonets ship very small. Usually around 1/2” - 3/4”.