Mandarinfish

I've always been drawn to the Mandarinfish whenever I've seen pictures of them. Their incredibly vibrant colors immediately catch my attention. I've also seen them in aquariums and always found myself wondering what kind of fish I was looking at.

It seemed like a perfect candidate for the Tropical collection. Of course, once I started painting it, I realized it wasn't going to be an easy one. The hard lines, incredible array of colors, and fins seemingly popping out in every direction made this one of the more challenging fish I've created.

But that's part of what made it fun. If I ever had a saltwater aquarium of my own, the Mandarinfish would definitely be high on my list.

 

Scientific Name: Synchiropus splendidus

• Habitat: Shallow protected lagoons and inshore coral reefs, generally from about 1–18 meters (3–59 feet)

• Range: Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Great Barrier Reef region

• Typical size: Very small—generally around 2–3 inches; males can reach about 2.8 inches (7 cm)

• Diet: Tiny crustaceans such as copepods, amphipods, and isopods, along with small worms and other tiny reef invertebrates

• Known for: Its extraordinary blue, green, orange, and red coloration, intricate swirling patterns, elongated male dorsal fin, and distinctive dragonet body shape. It also has a mucus-covered skin rather than typical fish scales