TankBud

Ruby red dragonet

Synchiropus sycorax

Also known as Ruby Dragonet, Ruby Red Scooter Dragonet, Sycorax Dragonet

SaltwaterFish

Ruby red dragonet (Synchiropus sycorax)
Fedtred · CC0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
30 gal
115 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Callionymidae
Origin
Described from the Philippines in 2016, living on deeper rubble and sponge habitat in the western Pacific.

Overview

The ruby red dragonet is a small, peaceful, bottom-hugging fish for a mature reef tank. It is a difficult fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The ruby red dragonet's species name refers to Sycorax, a witch mentioned in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

Caring for the ruby red dragonet

Give a ruby red dragonet an established reef tank of 30 gal (115 L) or larger, at least six months mature. The tank needs live rock and sand that grow a steady supply of pods. A healthy sand bed and a refugium or regular pod additions are essential to keeping it alive.

Keep the water at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It feeds almost entirely on live copepods and amphipods, and many specimens never accept frozen food.

The ruby red dragonet is completely reef safe and harmless to corals and clams. Males fight, so keep one male per tank. Males are deep red with tall fins, while females are more muted. Breeding them is hard.

Good to know

The ruby red dragonet, Synchiropus sycorax, is a dragonet in the family Callionymidae that was described only in 2016. It is one of the smallest dragonets in the hobby. Like other dragonets, it lacks scales and has thick, slightly slimy skin instead.

In the wild

The ruby red dragonet lives on deeper rubble and sponge habitat in the western Pacific, and it was described from the Philippines. It hops across rock and rubble, hunting tiny animals. It picks copepods and other micro crustaceans one at a time, all day long.

Common questions

What size tank does a ruby red dragonet need?

A ruby red dragonet needs at least 30 gal (115 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a ruby red dragonet need?

A ruby red dragonet is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a ruby red dragonet eat?

A ruby red dragonet feeds almost entirely on live copepods and amphipods. Many never accept frozen food, so the tank must keep growing live pods.

How big does a ruby red dragonet get?

An adult ruby red dragonet reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How can you tell a male ruby red dragonet from a female?

Males are deep red with tall fins, while females are more muted.

Related species