Gobiodon citrinus

(Ruppell, 1838)

Citron Clown Goby

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea east to Southern Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 3 inches (6 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits Acropora branches in lagoon areas where they attach themselves with little suction disks and usually found at depths between 3 – 65 feet (1 – 20 m) where it feeds mainly on zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Somewhat common in the trade having a short stubby yellowish body with blue markings around the eye, gill plate and on the base of the dorsal fin.

Best maintained in small, nano style fish-only or reef aquariums with branching stony corals where it can perch and watch for food to come close enough to dart outwards and grab.

Tankmates must be peaceful/allow its undisturbed areas and access to food when feeding times occur.

As to diet, fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis, scallops, shrimp, clams, and should be finely chopped and be fed twice daily.

If difficult to get feeding, try live adult fortified brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Gobiodon

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

One per aquarium.

May nip corals.

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: 10 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5