Mandarin fish (Synchiropus splendidus)
One of the most beautiful and colourful marine fish. Difficult to feed: eats only live copepods. Requires mature aquariums with abundant microfauna.
Detailed explanation
The mandarin fish is spectacular but demanding. It feeds almost exclusively on live copepods and amphipods that live in live rock and in the refugium.
The aquarium must be mature (at least 12 months) with at least 200 litres and a refugium that produces copepods continuously.
Some individuals learn to accept frozen food (mysis) but this is not guaranteed. Without copepods, mandarin fish slowly starve to death.
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