Care Level: Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
General Description: The Ruby Dragonet, a species that was officially named in 2016, are native to the Philippines. While ocassionally these fish may be referred to as gobies or blennies, they are not and belong to the dragonet family Callionymidae. The Ruby dragonet’s body is vibrant red-pink in color, with yellow pectoral fins. Dragonets are extremely popular among hobbyists for their coloration and interesting behavior, but having this fish in the home aquaria does not come easy. Dragonets have specific dietary requirements of live amphipods and copepods, and coaxing a Ruby dragonet to accept frozen-based foods can be challenging. Because of this, Ruby dragonets should not be put into an aquarium that is less than 6 – 8 months old, as this allows their natural, live food source ample time to populate in abundance (see tank requirements for further information about tank mates that could deplete these resources). Ruby dragonets can be confidently sexed after 1″; males tend to have a more elaborate and elongated first dorsal fin compared to females. An adult Ruby dragonet can reach a size of approximately 3″. The Ruby dragonet looks very similar to the Red Scooter Dragonet (Synchiropus stellatus), however this species’ color is not nearly as vibrant and their pectoral fins are white. Note: All of our Ruby dragonets have been through our 28 day quarantine process and are eating a combination of live brine shrimp and frozen foods, in addition to live copepods.
Diet Requirements: In the wild Ruby dragonets are carnivorous, continuously hunting and feeding on amphipods and copepods in live rock. It is absolutely imperative to have an established tank of at least 6 – 8 months old, and add live copepod cultures (or a live food of equal value) weekly or biweekly to keep this resource available to your mandarin. Ruby dragonets can be extremely stubborn with accepting frozen foods and some may never do so. Offering live adult brine shrimp or black worms can help bridge the transition to small frozen foods. If your Ruby dragonet does eat frozen foods, this does not replace the need for its natural food source (copepods). We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements for the dragonet’s health and to maintain body mass.
Care Requirements: An establshed minimum 55 gallon aquarium is ideal to house a single Ruby dragonet; a pair would require more space. In smaller aquariums, the demand of the Ruby dragonet’s feeding behavior becomes more difficult to sustain. This fish cannot be put into a biologically immature aquarium. Dragonets absolutely need generous live rock for feeding and some crevices to take refuge. Male Ruby dragonets will conflict with each other; keep one per aquarum or a single male-female pair. Do not house dragonets with aggressive and pugnacious tank mates. Fish that will also inadvertently outcompete it for live copepods should be avoided unless the set-up is large enough to disperse this competition. Examples include, but are not limited to, certain anthias, gobies, dottybacks, wrasses, and basslets. Ruby dragonets are most at home in reef aquariums and they will not harm any invertebrate or coral. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.
Purchase Size: Small: 3/4″ to 1-1/4″; Medium: 1-1/2″ to 2-1/2″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
