Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Ctenogobiops

Ctenogobiops tangaroai

Lubbock & Polunin, 1977

Tangaroa Prawn Goby

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Pacific Ocean

Size: 3 inches (6 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits fine and silty sandy bottom on seaward reefs areas and lives with Alpheid/pistol shrimp and usually found at depths between 3 – 130 feet (1 – 40 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrate.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a whitish somewhat translucent body with orange spots and white very short lines on the upper body and a prominent dorsal fin spike.

Best maintained in fish-only or reef aquariums with wide-open course grained (2 – 4 mm) sandy areas where it can form a burrow, and also some loose rubble where it can hide if feeling threatened.

Should not be housed with aggressive or fin-nipping fishes, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes.

As to diet, should be fed finely chopped fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis, scallops, shrimp, clams, and be fed twice daily. Small sinking enriched shrimp pellets are also an excellent way of keeping them well fed.

If difficult to get feeding, try live adult fortified brine shrimp and black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus).

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Gobioidei

    Family: Gobiidae

    Genus: Ctenogobiops

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

May hide for days when first introduced into the aquarium.

One per aquarium unless a mated pair.

Will consume small ornamental shrimp and small crabs.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Ctenogobiops tangaroai (Tangaroa Prawn Goby)
Photo © John Randall
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