Dactylopus dactylopus

(Valenciennes, 1837)

Fingered Dragonet

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Japan to Australia, including Guam and Palau.

Size: 7 inches (18 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits protected sandy and weedy bottom areas and usually found at depths between 3 – 150 feet (1 – 45 m) where it feeds on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, and having a mottled brownish body with numerous white and black blotches and a very high dorsal fin.

Best maintained in well-established fish-only or reef aquariums with wide-open sandy areas and a steady supply of naturally existing small live crustaceans to feed upon.

Should not be housed with aggressive, fin-nipping fishes, as this is a slow moving species.

As to diet, should there not be enough naturally found live food to consume, target feeding may be necessary, and if so, live adult fortified brine shrimp and black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus) should be fed as often as necessary to maintain its health.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Callionymoidei

Family: Callionymidae

Genus: Dactylopus

FYI: One per tank and do not house with any other sand-dwelling dragonets.

May partially bury itself in the sand if threatened.

Experience Level: Expert

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5