Mandarinfish gather in small groups to shelter in the coral rubble. They come out of hiding at dusk to spawn. To 6 cm (2 1/4 in), they are common to Indonesia and the Asian Pacific.
Mating Mandarinfish. Mandarinfish appear in pairs at dusk for only a very few minutes of mating activity. Magic Pier off the island of Buton delivered magnificent performances on three successive evenings.
Mandarinfish. Mating Mandarinfish. As dusk settles on the reef at Magic Pier in Buton Bay, the amazing mandarinfish emerge. A brief courtship dance is followed by pairs - in this case a threesome - slowly ascending in the water column. Then, in a flash of mandarinfish-love, it's all over! Scuba Diving Magazine 2010 Photography Contest - 2nd place, Behavior category. Featured in August 2010 edition of Scuba Diving magazine. http://www.scubadiving.com/photos/photo-galleries/2010-through-your-lens-winners
