Awesome new little guy! Ruby Red Dragonet/Blenny
- Thread starter ReeferKimberly
- Start date
Reef Frog
New member
Have been doing some research & have some limited information on the temp/depth question. Most Synchiropus species are tropical & are caught in shallow water with temperatures in the high 70 to 80F range.
Then I looked at species with the most visual similarity to the Ruby Red. There are perhaps a dozen I saw and most had shallow habits & tropical temps compatible for our aquariums. They were commonly found in shallow rubble zones, lagoons etc.
The species mentioned earlier in this thread, Synchiropus Moyeri, looks closest to the Ruby Red to me. It's found in the reefs around the volcanic islands in the area south of Okinawa Japan. It's not a deep water fish, but the ocean temps there are about about 71F year round. Collected (S. Moyeri) at latitude 39 longitude 139, it is on the tropical/subtropical line, roughly. Looking at the map it seems entirely plausible that it is also found further south along other coral atolls, which might have even warmer water.
I would bet the Ruby Red & S. Moyeri are closely related and who knows, maybe overlapping habitats. So it's possible they might have somewhat similar requirements. And there are a few fish in the hobby that come from the cooler Okinawa sub tropical area that do well in our tropical reef tanks. So IF the Ruby Red were indeed a kissing cousin of the S. Moyeri, I would bet that a tank with temps in the middle 70F would be fine. I used to keep my tank at 75F but it's now about 79F so maybe I will do my maintenance ion my chiller and get it back in service. My other fish & corals won't care, so I can't see a downside. If my round-about reasoning probed to be correct and this fish likes the lower end of the popularly accepted reef aquarium temperature range of 72F to 82F, it might be more vulnerable to overheating accidents, but that to is just speculation.
So if someone can figure out where this fish is actually collected it's not hard to get an idea of the ocean temperatures there. I was wondering if Divers Den could get that information from their supply chain? But I'm confident that it's not a deep water or cold water fish at least from my limited research. Not like the Catalina Goby for example even though I'm sure the two fish could cohabitate. But unless we could get more information, I can't draw any firm conclusions.
Last edited:
ReeferKimberly
Marley & Me
Everywhere I look says "a particularly deep collection site in the Philippines".
How cold and how deep, those are the questions.
http://www.reefland.com/2013/05/01/ruby-red-dragonet-making-splash-everywhere-and-yet-a-mystery/
How cold and how deep, those are the questions.
http://www.reefland.com/2013/05/01/ruby-red-dragonet-making-splash-everywhere-and-yet-a-mystery/
Reef Frog
New member
Great find Kimberly. Finally a clue. Can't believe my search didn't find it. Do you have other sources? So much for Okinawa lol. Funny - I went to the LFS tonight for food & the owner said the same thing.
Good article but the location info quite vague. Deep but accessable? Phillipenes = warm. Good. Hmm. A wall? Well walls = different thermoclines. Some fish migrate on those vertically sometimes. So that doesn't necessarily mean its a cold water fish. I wonder if fish collectors monitor the temp? Maybe I'll write the author or wholesaler cited. It seems there are a ton of these fish on the market now (my LFS had 20+) & my understanding real deep water collecting is quite difficult and catches are difficult, rare & therefore expensive. These guys are plentiful & cheap. Think of the Peppermint Angel. And there seems to be no signs of decompression issues. The fish are certainly not adverse to bright light. So how deep? What's the temp? Some walls near the equator might not be as cold as we think but who knows. Anyways enough with an the speculation!
I guess I'm just paranoid as well as intrigued by this. I like the fish a lot and do everything I can to do the best I can by any animal I keep. I am just hoping that I don't have a cold water fish on my hands and watch it sicken & die. But my guess is still that this fish is NOT a cold water fish, but possibly lives or migrates in a 65F to 75F - the temperate zone. Hopefully somebody can come up with the definitive answer! Never ever did I think I'd ever keep a fish that was new to science & the SW hobby.....
vivicat215
New member
I bought one from Aquarium Village in LI but got killed by my CBS 
Found a pair in another LFS but I don't think the owner knows what they were, got them for $20 each!
Found a pair in another LFS but I don't think the owner knows what they were, got them for $20 each!
Ruby Red or Moyers
Ruby Red or Moyers
Earlier in this thread there was some confusion about whether these were the same or not. Seems there is a lot of misinformation out there with stores selling one as the other. From what I've seen the are distinctly different fish. I've seen Blue Zoo sell the Ruby Red as a Moyers and others sell Moyers as a Ruby Red. Lately I've seen a lot more Ruby Reds that I have Moyers and Rubies are supposed to be new and rare. Anyway, here are the pics that DD had today. First is the Ruby Red and the second is the Moyers. I'm sure DD has them correct.
Ruby Red or Moyers
Earlier in this thread there was some confusion about whether these were the same or not. Seems there is a lot of misinformation out there with stores selling one as the other. From what I've seen the are distinctly different fish. I've seen Blue Zoo sell the Ruby Red as a Moyers and others sell Moyers as a Ruby Red. Lately I've seen a lot more Ruby Reds that I have Moyers and Rubies are supposed to be new and rare. Anyway, here are the pics that DD had today. First is the Ruby Red and the second is the Moyers. I'm sure DD has them correct.
Attachments
Reefvet
New member
Which is just the opposite of the IDs at several LFS here in Southern California.
I don't know who's right.
I guess I'm basing my opinion on the faith I have that LA/DD and ************ have their facts right. I'm far from an expert.
ReeferKimberly
Marley & Me
Interesting, I had not seen the one in the second pic.
Anywho, whichever mine is, he is doing great
Almost 2 months in.
Anywho, whichever mine is, he is doing great
Almost 2 months in.Micky 1972
New member
ReeferKimberly
Marley & Me
I got a notification someone replied but I cannot see it
Anyways, he is still doing very well. I have not fed him ever. I only feed my eel and the pods have kept him very healthy. Been around 8 months now. He has doubled in size, about 2.5 inches now.
Anyways, he is still doing very well. I have not fed him ever. I only feed my eel and the pods have kept him very healthy. Been around 8 months now. He has doubled in size, about 2.5 inches now.
Micky 1972
New member
Micky 1972
New member
Excuse my English
I live in the Netherlands Europe
I am glad to hear everything is well with your awesome little guy
If you ever get the chance to by him a girlfriend you should do so
Shame I can't post a film but I can post a pic
Here they are stuck on each other
I live in the Netherlands Europe
I am glad to hear everything is well with your awesome little guy
If you ever get the chance to by him a girlfriend you should do so
Shame I can't post a film but I can post a pic
Here they are stuck on each other
ReeferKimberly
Marley & Me
Neat!!! I worry about having two since this tank is just for my eel now and I only feed her and then the pods feed on her leftovers. I would love a pair but don't want to not have enough pods since it is only a 65 gallon. Seems like there a good amount for him though. When I upgrade I will definitely think about getting him a girl!
PS your english is great! Only problem is pics are not showing so great, I can only see the one I quoted.
Paul B
Premium Member
I have a male and will get a female soon. The LFS near me has a bunch of them but they are kind of skinny so I will wait for a new shipment. The male I have was also skinny but now he is nice and chubby. I have 3 other dragonettes and 5 pipefish so I have to have to hatch brine shrimp twice a day.
