How big does Green Mandarin get?

Green Mandarin reaches an adult standard length of 6–9 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Green Mandarin need?

24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

What is the smallest tank for Green Mandarin?

At least 150 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Green Mandarin like to keep?

Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: advanced. It occupies the bottom and is carnivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".

Can Green Mandarin be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Green Mandarin and Six-line Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 59Marine

Green Mandarin青蛙

Synchiropus splendidus · Callionymidae

Psychedelic-patterned dragonet that grazes live-rock microfauna; needs a mature tank.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 59 · Green Mandarin Synchiropus splendidus

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 青蛙
Scientific name: Synchiropus splendidus
Family: Callionymidae
Origin: Western Pacific coral reefs
Adult size: 6–9 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Water level: Bottom
Level: Advanced
Min. tank: 150 L
Min. length: 90 cm
Reef safe: Reef safe

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–27 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.023–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Feeds almost exclusively on live-rock copepods; most ignore prepared food.
2Requires a tank running six months or more with abundant live rock.
3Competes with six-line wrasses for the same microfauna and often starves.
4Courtship dancing is charming; pairs work, two males do not.
5Its slime coat is mildly toxic and it tolerates copper poorly.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Green Mandarin against this one — no need to pick it again.

Recorded conflictSix-line WrassePseudocheilinus hexataenia→

Frequently asked questions

How big does Green Mandarin get?: Green Mandarin reaches an adult standard length of 6–9 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Green Mandarin need?: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, 7–12 dGH, 7–9 dKH, specific gravity 1.023–1.026. That is only 3 °C wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
What is the smallest tank for Green Mandarin?: At least 150 L, and no shorter than 90 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Green Mandarin like to keep?: Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: advanced. It occupies the bottom and is carnivore. Reef safety is "Reef safe".
Can Green Mandarin be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Green Mandarin and Six-line Wrasse is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.