Where to buy Japanese Dragonet
ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.
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Amazon
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Petco
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About Japanese Dragonet
The Japanese Dragonet is a slender, elongated fish with vibrant coloration featuring bright yellow, orange, and blue markings on the head and body. It has a distinctive large, venomous dorsal fin and a characteristic dragonet body shape with reduced ventral fins. The species displays intricate patterns and iridescent hues that vary by sex and mood.
Key facts
- Care Requirements
- • 30+ gallon aquarium with fine sand substrate for burrowing behavior • Water: 72–78°F, SG 1.020–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, low nitrate • Requires calm environment; avoid aggressive tank mates and strong water flow • Feed small live/frozen foods (copepods, amphipods, mysis shrimp) 2–3× daily • Needs established refugium or copepod culture for sustainable feeding
- Reef safety
- Reef Safe
- Diet Details
- Feeds primarily on small crustaceans, copepods, amphipods, and other small benthic invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, requires a mature aquarium with abundant live food sources such as copepods and amphipods; may accept frozen mysis shrimp and small frozen foods, though live food is preferred and essential for long-term success.
- Appearance
- The Japanese Dragonet is a slender, elongated fish with vibrant coloration featuring bright yellow, orange, and blue markings on the head and body. It has a distinctive large, venomous dorsal fin and a characteristic dragonet body shape with reduced ventral fins. The species displays intricate patterns and iridescent hues that vary by sex and mood.
- Common Health Issues
- Marine Ich, Fin Rot, Swim Bladder Disorder, Hole-in-the-Head Disease, Bacterial Infections
- Max Size
- 7
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.02-1.025
- Family
- Callionymidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, China, and Southeast Asian waters. Found in shallow coastal areas and reef environments from the tropics to warm temperate zones.
- Feeding Schedule
- 3-4 times daily
- Care Level
- Expert
- Difficulty Level
- The Japanese Dragonet is extremely challenging to maintain in captivity due to its specialized diet of tiny benthic invertebrates and difficulty acclimating to prepared foods. Success requires a mature, well-established aquarium with abundant natural food sources and meticulous water quality management.
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