Learn how to care for Mandarin Dragonets (Mandarinfish). Get tips on tank setup, diet, tank mates, behavior, and long-term health—from someone who’s been there.
Every time I spot a Mandarin Dragonet gliding among the corals, it feels like watching a living painting in motion. Their vivid patterns and quirky motion dance across the reefscape like undersea art. But caring for these delicate beauties isn’t as simple as it seems—it’s like nurturing a shy artist who only thrives in the right studio.
Quick answer: Mandarin Dragonets are peaceful, reef-safe fish that need a mature tank, tons of live copepods, quiet tank mates, and patient feeding to truly thrive.
Understanding Mandarin Dragonets
Size & Lifespan
Mandarin Dragonets stay petite: around 2–3 inches (6–8 cm) when fully grown. In the wild, they can live 10–15 years, though most captive individuals live 2–4 years unless well cared for.
Quick answer: These delicate fish grow to just a few inches and can live over a decade in ideal conditions—but often less if not cared for properly.
Tank Setup Essentials
Tank Size
A mature tank of at least 30 gallons is the baseline for a single Mandarin Dragonet. For a pair—especially tank-raised versions—seek at least 75 gallons to sustain their grazing needs.
Quick answer: Start with at least 30 gallons, but 75+ gallons is best—especially if you’re keeping more than one dragonet.
Live Rock & Refugium
Mandarins graze constantly on tiny live prey in the rock. Your tank must be well-established and packed with live rock and thriving microfauna. Many keepers supplement copepod populations via a refugium filled with chaetomorpha macroalgae to boost food availability.
Quick answer: A mature reef tank with plenty of live rock and a strong refugium ensures your mandarinfish has food around the clock.
Water Parameters
Stick with stable reef parameters:
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Temp: 75–80°F (24–27°C)
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pH: 7.7–8.5
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Salinity: 1.020–1.026 SG
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Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm; Nitrates: <20 ppm
Quick answer: Keep reef-safe water stable—Mandarins are sensitive multitaskers and need clean, consistent water.
Feeding Your Mandarin Dragonet
Mandarins are picky eaters that hunt copepods, amphipods, tiny crustaceans, and invertebrates all day. Captive-bred ones are easier to feed and might eat frozen mysis, brine, or micro-pellets. Wild-caught fish, on the other hand, often refuse anything but live pods.
Feeding tips:
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Offer small meals, 2–3 times daily.
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Introduce food in quiet corners to avoid competition.
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Use Mandarin feeders or refugium skims to make feeding easier.
“Mandarins will eat 24/7 … it usually takes a pretty established tank to support their needs.” Reddit
“Add some chaeto … you have copepod heaven in your ‘fuge.” Reddit
Quick answer: Provide live pods via refugium or feeders, supplement with frozen only for captive-bred types, and be ready to feed constantly.
Tank Mates & Behavior
Mandarins are peaceful but timid. They may get bullied if tank mates outcompete them for food. Suggested tank mates:
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Clownfish, gobies, small wrasses (peaceful), pipefish.
Avoid:
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Competitive feeders like wrasses, dottybacks, damsels, aggressive wrasses, or crabs.
Mandarin can be territorial toward their own kind, especially males—best to keep only one or a compatible pair.
“You can do mated pairs… but two males will fight unless in a large tank.” Reddit
Quick answer: Pair them with gentle, non-competitive reef species and keep singly or only peaceable pairs to avoid turf wars.
Behavior, Lifespan & Health
Mandarins spend their days foraging on live rock, hiding among nooks and crumbs. Their slimy, toxic coating protects them from predators—most fish avoid the bright colors in nature.
Their lifespan in captivity depends on diet and environment:
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10–15 years in the wild; only 2–4 years for many captive ones unless well cared for.
Quick answer: Expect shy, day-long grazers with unique defenses—give them refuge and food, and they’ll bloom into long-lived tank stars.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How big do Mandarin Dragonets get?
2–3 inches (6–8 cm).
What tank size do they need?
Minimum 30 gallons; 75+ gallons ideal for stable copepod populations.
How long do they live?
10–15 years in the wild; 2–4 years typically in captivity unless well-fed.
What do they eat?
Live copepods, amphipods, small invertebrates; captive bred may accept frozen mysis or micro-pellets.
Are they reef safe?
Yes—safe with corals and invertebrates.
Can I have more than one?
Only a respectful male-female pair—or keep just one—unless you have a very large tank.
Conclusion – Is It Worth the Effort?
Caring for a Mandarin Dragonet is like having a tiny, colorful roommate who only thrives on gourmet snacks. It’s work—establishing pods, balancing a quiet tank, feeding carefully—but when they glow beneath the rocks and thrive in your reef, the payoff is unmatched.
If you’re ready to devote attention to the tiny, the graceful, and the beautiful, mandarins may just become your most rewarding pet.