Synchiropus stellatus. The Red Scooter Blenny, Synchiropus stellatus, also known as the Starry Dragonet, Red Scooter Dragonet, or Stellate Dragonet. This is a small fish with a large head with top mounted eyes and a small pointed mouth. It has a starry pattern of red and white splotches scattered across its body with bright blue spots on its head. The Red Scooter Blenny, indigenous to the Indian Ocean, can be kept either singly or in groups but usually with only one male, and multiple females. They can reach up to 5 inches in length and need a tank of at least 30 gallons if kept individually, and at least 70 gallons in kept in a group to thrive. Their moniker of "Scooter" comes from the way they they seem to scoot across the bottom of the tank. They require a fair amount of live rock work to create caves and hiding places and should only be introduced to an established enough tank for there to be enough microfauna scattered in the substrate for it to eat. They will also take prepared fish foods, and should be fed a carnivore diet. Red Scooter Blennies will benefit from supplemental feedings of bloodworms, glassworms, and small inverts. It should be noted that the Red Scooter Blenny is incredibly difficult to get to feed on a captive diet so this fish should be reserved for expert aquarists only. Patience is required to get the Red Scooter Blenny to adjust to a captive diet as they are incredibly slow eaters so they are often out competed for food by quicker fish. Due to their small mouths, brine and mysis shrimp are not suitable. Amphipods and copepods are recommended.
