Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Indian and Pacific Oceans: Chagos Archipelago, and Southern Japan to Australia.
Size: 2 inches (3 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits the branches of Acropora coral branches on local reefs and usually found at depths between 3 – 50 feet (1 – 15 m) where it feeds mainly on zooplankton.
General Husbandry: Somewhat rare in the trade having a short stubby dark greyish body with a lengthwise pale grey line.
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