Gardiner's Dragonet (Callionymus gardineri)
Fish in the family Callionymidae. Hard care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
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.
Diet and feeding
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.
Difficulty and care for the Gardiner's Dragonet
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.
Common health issues
Starvation if small prey unavailable, parasitic infections, bacterial infections, difficulty acclimating to captive diets
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, including waters off the Philippines, Indonesia, and surrounding areas in tropical coral reef environments.
Log Gardiner's Dragonet in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Gardiner's Dragonet alongside everything else in your reef.
