Care Level : Difficult
Temperament : Peaceful
Color : Red, Tan, White
Diet : Carnivore
Reef Compatible : Yes
Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size : 5"
Origin : Sri Lanka, Maldives
Family : Callionymidae
Minimum Tank Size : 30 gallons
The Scooter Blenny (Synchiropus Stellatus) is also known as Scooter Dragonet or Ocellated Dragonet. Scooter Blennies are actually not a blenny at all, but a dragonet (part of the same family as mandarins).
It has a mottled brown and white body with red highlights. The male usually has brighter colors and a larger first dorsal fin. They have a small adult size of about 5" and are a great candidate for smaller aquariums.
A 30 gallon or larger reef aquarium that has live sand substrate, docile inhabitants, and lots of live rock makes the ideal aquarium for the Scooter Blenny. Their habit of sleeping in sand is one way Scooters keep themselves parasite free.
They are reef safe and should be housed in aquariums with rockwork and sand beds because it serves as protection as well as provides a natural food source. Since they only eat small, other species in your tank will be safe. More than one of its species may be kept; if so, it is best to introduce them all to the tank at the same time. The ratio should be 2 or 3 females per male. Scooter Blennys are well behaved tank inhabitants and will only have problems with other Scooters. Males will fight other males but they will leave most other tank inhabitants alone. Scooters are usually victims so choose tank mates for them with this in mind.
The Scooter Blenny may be a difficult fish to keep due to its feeding habits. They prefer live food and take prepared food with difficulty. The Scooter Blenny will sift through the sand for food. For continued health, provide a varied diet of small live foods like copepods before switching to a prepared frozen diet. Finely cut meaty foods and vitamin-enriched brine shrimp may be acceptable substitutes.
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