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Ruby Red Dragonet
Dragonet

Ruby Red Dragonet

Synchiropus sycorax

The Ruby Red Dragonet is a tiny (to about 4 cm), vividly red dragonet with yellow-marked pectoral fins, described from the Philippines only in 2016 and now a firm trade favourite for its colour. Captive-bred stock (first produced by ORA) turns up occasionally, which helps with sourcing and disease history, but even farmed fish still rely on live copepods and amphipods rather than reliably converting to pellets — it is a colour form on the same feeding pattern as the mandarin/scooter group, not a genuinely weaned species. A mature, pod-rich tank is still required; it is peaceful and fully reef-safe.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
1.6"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Bottom, Sand bed
Keep just one per tank — two will fight.
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Tankmates

How Ruby Red Dragonet gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Maroon ClownfishMaroon Clownfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Blue DamselBlue Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Coral HawkfishCoral Hawkfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Purple DottybackPurple Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Mandarin DragonetRuby Red Dragonet and Mandarin Dragonet are the same genus (Synchiropus) and will fight — keep only one.Spotted MandarinRuby Red Dragonet and Spotted Mandarin are the same genus (Synchiropus) and will fight — keep only one.Antennata LionfishAntennata Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Royal DottybackRoyal Dottyback (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Fiji Blue Devil DamselFiji Blue Devil Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Domino DamselDomino Damsel (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Marine BettaMarine Betta has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Zebra Dwarf LionfishZebra Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Fuzzy Dwarf LionfishFuzzy Dwarf Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Ruby Red Dragonet.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Lemonpeel AngelfishLemonpeel Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Bicolor AngelfishBicolor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Red Saddleback ClownfishRed Saddleback Clownfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Yellow TangYellow Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Red Sea ClownfishRed Sea Clownfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Kole TangKole Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Powder Blue TangPowder Blue Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Melanurus WrasseMelanurus Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Midas BlennyMidas Blenny (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Longnose HawkfishLongnose Hawkfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Convict TangConvict Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Clark's ClownfishClark's Clownfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Tomato ClownfishTomato Clownfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Saddleback ClownfishSaddleback Clownfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Starry BlennyStarry Blenny (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Regal AngelfishRegal Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.Achilles TangAchilles Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Ruby Red Dragonet and may harass it.