Red Scooter Dragonet

With its red-and-white spotted flat body and large dark blotches, the red scooter dragonet is the Indian Ocean relative of the scooter dragonet (Synchiropus ocellatus), which has its own page on the site. The male's first dorsal fin is tall and sail-like, decorated with lines and eyespots; the female's is small and plain. It reaches about 7 cm. In the wild it lives on sheltered coastal reefs, over rubble and algae-covered rocks, at depths of 10–20 meters. It feeds constantly on tiny crustaceans such as copepods and amphipods; although some individuals take frozen food over time, it depends on natural food. The specimens sold are wild-caught.

• At least 200 liters; a mature aquarium with plenty of live rock that is at least 6 months old.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe: it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• A refugium or regular additions of live copepods help a great deal.

Carnivorous. Its natural food is copepods and amphipods. Gradually introduce frozen copepods, finely chopped mysis and newly hatched brine shrimp; regularly check whether its belly stays full.

Peaceful and slow; it cannot compete with fast-eating fish. Males are quarrelsome towards each other; 2–3 females can be kept per male.

Good companions: Clownfish, firefish goby, cardinalfish, calm blennies, ornamental shrimp.

Avoid: Other male dragonets, fish such as mandarins that consume the same copepod supply (in a small aquarium), hawkfish, tough damsels, dottybacks.