Ruby Red Dragonet

🐉 Ruby Red Dragonet Synchiropus sycorax — Facts & Care Guide 🌈 Species Overview A brilliantly colored dragonet with a ruby‑red body, white spotting, and yellow‑black fin accents. Peaceful, bottom‑grazing micro‑predator. Native to the Philippines and Western Pacific. Described scientifically in 2016, making it one of the newest dragonets in the trade. 📏 Size & Lifespan Max size: ~3 inches (7–8 cm). Lifespan: 3–5 years with stable feeding and mature reef conditions. 🧪 Temperament & Behavior Peaceful, slow, and methodical grazer. Spends most of its time hunting copepods, amphipods, and worms along rock and sand. Males display raised sailfins during courtship or territorial posturing. May become territorial toward other dragonets or pod‑hungry species in small tanks. 🐠 Reef Safety Reef safe — does not harm corals or desirable invertebrates. Avoid housing near anemones or large predatory shrimp. Minimum tank size: 30 gallons (larger preferred for pod stability). Setup: Mature tank (9–12+ months) with porous live rock and refugium support. Flow: Gentle to moderate; avoid strong currents that hinder grazing. 🍽️ Feeding Requirements Natural Diet Copepods Amphipods Small worms Other benthic micro‑crustaceans In Captivity Often reluctant to accept prepared foods. Can be trained to take: Nutramar Ova Frozen cyclops or enriched baby brine Finely shaved mysis Best practice: Maintain a self‑sustaining pod population or dose live pods regularly. 🧬 Sexing Males: elongated dorsal fin rays and more vivid coloration. Females: rounder body, shorter fins, subtler patterning. 🦠 Disease Resistance Thick slime coat offers protection against common parasites like ich. Sensitive to copper and harsh medications — use observe‑only quarantine with pod‑rich holding tanks. 🤝 Tankmates Compatible with: Peaceful gobies, cardinals, firefish, clowns, and small wrasses (non‑pod specialists). Avoid: Aggressive feeders or pod‑hungry wrasses. Other dragonets unless in large, pod‑rich systems.