⌛ The Mandarin Fish

This fish is found in shallow waters around Cebu , Surigao and Davao. There are more varieties , but this one is the best known.I am pretty sure you will find it at Apo Island and other nearby places as well even when just snorckling...
The males have a longer dorsal ( Back) fin then the females. It grows to some 8 or 9 cm and does very well in a aquarium , indeed.Theses are , as you are used from me , all tank pictures

 

Earl ...House reef at Atlantis , Dauin

Earl , Oh my Ga-a-w-w-d I love these creatures .I have to tell you a story . My friend and his Dad are avid U/W photographers ( discovered new species ! ) and showed me photos of Mandarin Fish . Psychedelic to say the least . Well , I first saw them at Puerto Galera , inside stag coral , I believe . No good shots . Then , I was with some mates in Moalboal and we made our way up to Malapascua . Long day and we get there by pre - sunset . Check in withdive shop and they ask if we want to do a night dive in 30 min . Being gung ho divers we made the "Lighthouse " dive . Not so far off shore . We are in 5 - 7 meters and just cruising around Frogfish ( Anglers ), lobters , manta shrimps ( love them ) and then a bushel of staghorn , sort of an island in the sand , and I see what looks like hummingbird - like silhouettes . I have my cam and torch . I flash on the area and see 5 or 6 Mandarin Fish . Dive over !!! I just start taking photos ... I am tranfsixed . I think it was a 74 min dive and I spend 50 minutes on the Mandarin fish . Awesome . OK , now for the story ...Hehehheheeeee ... So I have dinky OLympus U/W digital camera . As I am finishing my session with the majestic Mandarin fish ...btw the were doing mating dances , looking like they were kissing , rising mouth to mouth up and down ...stunning !!! Well then a group of divers sees my agitation and swims up and knocks me out of the way . Hey !!! Then 20 cameras , with dual strobes start bombarding the poor Mandarin`s . Freaked me out . Finned away and looked back . It looked like " Close Encounters " ( Do De Du Doo ... ) . Pitch black and those lights. Pow , Pow , Pow . Lightning under the sea . Bizarre . Kevin PS Atlantis House Reef has Mandarin Fish too !!!

 

HI Kevin,
the best time to see them around is the 3-4 days before full-moon. We were out yesterday, but it was quite rough and as they are on 5 meters (16ft) of water they were not so active, but still some couples mating. I can tell you stories about incomming Kamakazee divers with big lights and many cameras. The worst case scenario is if they have this fancy colored equpiment and no clue about bouyancy... if you know what I mean. We found a second spot at the Atlantis house reef and its a bit further inside the sanctuary. I don't think many other diveshops here know this area, so its still healthy and great for watching this fantastic creatures. I also saw them in the staghorns of the Massaplod North sanctuary. you've been to Atlantis before? All the best

Rhoody

 

Kamusta Rhoody

Rhoody , Hello , I count the days until I will spend days underwater , taking pictures and seeing amazing creatures .I have a feeling we will become friends all hopefully many dives and SM`s . I had aspirations of bringing a small Avon RIB and a Mercury 15 hp . Any insight to import a small 11 ft boat ? Kevin

 

Very very nice and special fish.....