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Gardiner's Dragonet (Callionymus gardineri)

Find Gardiner's Dragonet across reef-livestock retailers on ReefDock. Compare sources, check known pricing where available, and review care information before you buy.

Gardiner's Dragonet
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Where to buy Gardiner's Dragonet

ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.

  • Saltwaterfish

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  • Amazon

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  • Petco

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About Gardiner's Dragonet

Gardiner's Dragonet is a small, slender fish with a laterally compressed body and a large fan-like pectoral fin featuring intricate patterns and coloration. The body displays pale coloration with distinctive orange or reddish circular markings and patterns across the head and flanks, with a large, elaborately patterned first dorsal fin used in courtship displays.

Key facts

Care Level
Hard
Water Parameters
Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.025
Family
Callionymidae
Feeding Schedule
2-3 times daily
Difficulty Level
Gardiner's Dragonet is a challenging species for most aquarists. It requires a minimum 30 gallon tank with abundant microfauna, precise water parameters (72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, SG 1.020–1.025), and a willingness to provide frequent live or frozen feeds of small crustaceans. Success depends heavily on establishing sustainable prey populations and patient acclimation.
Care Requirements
• Minimum 30 gallons with plenty of open sand/rubble bed for foraging • Water parameters: 72-78°F, SG 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4 • Fine sandy substrate essential; gentle flow, low bioload tank mates • Feeds on small crustaceans; requires live copepods & amphipods • Extremely docile; keep singly or in established pairs only
Min tank size
30 gallons
Appearance
Gardiner's Dragonet is a small, slender fish with a laterally compressed body and a large fan-like pectoral fin featuring intricate patterns and coloration. The body displays pale coloration with distinctive orange or reddish circular markings and patterns across the head and flanks, with a large, elaborately patterned first dorsal fin used in courtship displays.
Temperament
Peaceful
Reef safety
Reef Safe
Diet
planktivore
Diet Details
Feed high-quality frozen microfauna including copepods, amphipods, mysis shrimp, and other small crustaceans. Live cultures of copepods and amphipods are beneficial for establishing feeding. May require frequent small feedings to meet caloric needs.

Research before you buy

ReefDock is the sister app to Reef Trak. Use Reef Trak to research and log fish, keep tank parameters organized, and maintain a complete livestock history. Log this fish on Reef Trak.

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