Part of the dragonet family, the mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) is one of the most vibrant and colourful fish in the ocean. Dragonets are small marine fish, usually found in tropical waters, and there are around 200 different species. The mandarinfish is famous for its incredibly patterned appearance. Let’s learn more about this incredible fish!

As a rule, fish in the dragonet family have large, flattened heads and sail-like fins. They are also scaleless, instead covered in a thick, protective mucus layer. The mandarinfish is easily recognisable for its incredible blue, orange and gold pattern. While they may only reach 8cm in length, the mandarinfish’s electric wavy lines make up for its lack of size.

Mandarinfish also have large, protruding eyes and males have an elongated, spiny first ray on their dorsal fin.

Mandarinfish are found in tropical waters, typically known as reef dwellers and preferring sheltered lagoons. They are a benthic species, which means they don’t swim in the open water but instead forage through coral thickets, reef structures and seafloor cover like rubble beds or sandy patches. They can be found at depths up to 30 metres.

Mandarinfish are usually found in the western Pacific Ocean, stretching across a region from Japan to Australia.

Mandarinfish have a few key traits that help them to thrive in their environment. Here are just a few:

• Their mucus covering is toxic, foul-tasting and has an unpleasant smell, protecting it from predators and parasites.
• They forage constantly through the day, eating mostly live zooplankton like copepod which are tiny crustaceans.
• Mandarinfish participate in a mating dance. It takes place around sunset, where the females watch the males perform as part of their reproductive ritual. The females choose their male by resting on the male’s pelvic fin.
• Their large pelvic fins helps them to ‘walk’ across the ocean floor. Mandarinfish lack a swim bladder, so they hop and crawl over the seafloor.

You can see these vibrant and fascinating creatures with your very own eyes here at Deep Sea World! We have mandarinfish in our displays so that you can learn and understand more about the ocean’s incredible creatures.