As the sun sets on Indonesia's Wakatobi Marine National Park, shy, vibrantly colored mandarinfish have one thing on their minds: reproduction.

The mating ritual of the small — about 2 inches long — but stunning Synchiropus splendidus is short-lived, and you’ll need perfect timing to get the shot. Belly to belly, the male and female rise like hummingbirds about 3 feet above the reef, and release up to 200 eggs into the water before quickly swimming away. Have your cameras ready to snap the spectacle — mandarinfish are a beautiful sight if you don’t scare them off.

When to go: Year-round

Where to go: Wakatobi Dive Resort

Love the ocean's tiniest denizens? Check out our 50 Best Small Fish and Creatures photo gallery!

Bring This

Use a red light like Light & Motion’s Sola Photo 1200 (which can switch between red and normal white light) for shooting mandarinfish; red light is invisible to them. Another option: Attach Backscatter’s Inon Red Filter LE to your focus light or torch.

lightandmotion.com; backscatter.com