Fingered Dragonet
Dactylopus dactylopus
Family : Callionymidae
The Fingered Dragonet is a small bottom-dwelling fish with an elongated body and finger-like pectoral fins. It is valued for its ability to feed on small invertebrates in the sand.
Description
Dactylopus dactylopus has an elongated body and a broad head with prominent eyes. Its pectoral fins are modified into finger-like structures that allow it to move along the substrate. Coloration is variable, often brown or gray with patterns of spots and lines. It is a peaceful bottom-dweller that spends most of its time foraging for food in the sand. It can be kept in a reef aquarium but requires abundant live food. Its behavior is generally non-aggressive towards other fish.
Habitat
Region :
Sandy bottoms and coral reefs
Distribution :
Recommended parameters
Care
Care notes
This dragonet requires an aquarium of at least 200 liters with a fine sandy substrate to allow foraging. It is essential to maintain a population of copepods and other microfauna in the tank, as it feeds exclusively on live prey. Supplemental feeding with brine shrimp or mysis may be attempted, but it is difficult to wean. Water parameters must be stable: temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4. It is compatible with most peaceful fish and reef invertebrates. Avoid aggressive or highly competitive fish. Captive breeding is rare but possible under optimal conditions.
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