Tank setup
A minimum 200L aquarium suits Psychedelic Mandarin. Provide hiding spots and stable water — this species thrives in a well-filtered community setup.
Where to buy
Compare prices from SA aquarium shops listing Psychedelic Mandarin.
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Overview
What to know before you buy.
The Psychedelic Mandarin, or Spotted Mandarin, is an incredibly beautiful fish with a mesmerizing pattern of green, blue, and orange 'psychedelic' swirls and spots. It is a slow-moving, peaceful fish that 'hops' along the rockwork and sand bed. This species is for expert aquarists only due to its specialized diet. It feeds exclusively on live copepods and amphipods. A large, mature aquarium (at least 6 months old) with a thriving, refugium-supported pod population is essential for its survival. An interesting fact is that they lack scales; instead, they are covered in a thick, smelly mucus layer that deters predators.
Key traits
peaceful
community
reef safe
nano
expert only
carnivore
specialized
Compatibility
Select a tank to see how this species fits.
Care guide
Everything you need to keep Psychedelic Mandarin healthy in a South African setup.
Water parameters
Keep pH 8.1–8.4 and 24–27°C. Stable parameters matter more than chasing perfect numbers — acclimate new arrivals slowly.
Feeding
Psychedelic Mandarin is carnivore. Feed a varied diet appropriate for saltwater fish — quality flakes, pellets, or frozen foods sized to the mouth.
Behaviour
Psychedelic Mandarin is generally peaceful. Observe during feeding and at lights-out for true temperament.
Tankmates
Pair with similarly sized peaceful tankmates in saltwater fish. Avoid fin-nippers or species that outgrow this fish.
Breeding
Breeding notes for Psychedelic Mandarin vary by line and water chemistry — ask your local shop about proven pairs in SA.
Keeping marine fish?
Marine chemistry moves daily — the foundation sets keep calcium, alkalinity and magnesium honest.
Availability confirmed with the distributor before dispatch · free delivery over r750
Community photos
From hobbyists across SA.
Photo by FishHubAdmin
Often kept with
Real pairwise verdicts for Psychedelic Mandarin, not a same-category guess. Always confirm adult size and your tank's specifics before buying.
- Often kept together
Percula Clownfish
Amphiprion percula
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Six-spot Goby
Valenciennea sexguttata
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Fire Shrimp (Blood Red Shrimp)
Lysmata debelius
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Zoanthid Colony (various colors)
Zoanthus sp.
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Flame Angelfish
Centropyge loricula
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Six Line Wrasse
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
In a 200L+ tank
- Often kept together
Banded Boxing Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus
In a 200L+ tank