Dragonets

Amy Tokic
by Amy Tokic
fast facts

About Dragonets

Size
Small
Group
Saltwater
Temperament
Community aggressive
Aquarium Size
Large (55 gal+)
Swimming Region
Bottom
Fish Water Condition
Suitable Tank Mates
Angelfish, Anthias, Clownfish, Damsels, Gobies and Hawkfish
Difficulty Of Care
Weekly care
General description


Dragonets are a family of small, vibrantly colored saltwater fish. There are over 130 species of dragonets identified, a handful of which have been successfully kept by marine aquarists. Dragonets are somewhat similar in appearance to gobies. Their long, scale-less bodies are often vibrantly colored and adorned with intricate patterns. Although dragonets are considered as one of the most beautiful species of saltwater fish in the marine aquarium hobby, they are also one of the hardest to keep and require the care of an experienced hobbyist.


Dragonets are a family of small, vibrantly colored saltwater fish.


Origins


Dragonets originate from the tropical regions of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.


Color


Dragonets are vibrantly colored and come in dazzling shades of red, orange, blue, green, grey, brown, black and white.


Maintenance and care

Dragonets are an extremely peaceful species of fish and make excellent additions to most community aquariums. Males of the species can however turn extremely aggressive towards one another, especially when a female is present. In fact, males housed together can sometimes perish as a result of injuries and stress sustained from extended periods of aggression.


Dragonets prefer aquariums with plenty of caves and crevices in which they can hide. They will also spend a significant amount of time resting on the aquarium bottom and should be provided with a soft substrate.


Feeding


One of the most challenging aspects of keeping dragonets is their very specific dietary requirements. Most dragonet species will only accept live food and will often starve rather than accept processed or dried foods. The dragonet aquarium should ideally have a large amount of live rock on which the fish can graze on. It’s also recommended that a refugium with copepods be attached to the main aquarium to provide dragonets with a steady supply of live foods.


Dragonets are an extremely peaceful species of fish and make excellent additions to most community aquariums.


Breeding


Dragonets are known to have been successfully bred in captivity. During the courtship process, the dragonet males engage in a courtship dance spreading their pectoral, caudal and dorsal fins. Dragonets are not a parental species of fish and lay large amounts of eggs which in the wild intermingle with plankton and drift out into sea.


Aquarium varieties


Green Mandarin, Red Mandarin, Red Scooter Dragonet, Spotted Mandarin, etc.


Photo credit: Luc Viatour; Matt Mercer/Flickr

Amy Tokic
Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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