Lythrypnus dalli

(Gilbert, 1860)

Catalina Goby

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: West central coast of the United States, Gulf of California to Ecuador and north to Peru.

Size: 3 inches (6 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits crevices and holes in rocky reefs and also tidepools on local shorelines and usually seen at depths between 3 – 600 feet (1 – 180 m) where it feeds on benthic crustaceans/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a reddish body with blue around the eyes and several blue vertical short bars on the frontal body.

Best maintained in somewhat cool water reef or fish-only aquariums where temperatures do not rise above mid seventies. These aquariums should have rocky crevices for hiding and peaceful tankmates

As to diet, requires a meaty diet of enriched brine shrimp, mysis, finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, and other various frozen carnivore foods, with one or two feedings per day.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Lythrypnus

FYI: May withstand slightly higher temperatures in captivity than what is found in the wild, yet should not exceed 75°F (26°C).

Can be maintained in small groups.

Experience Level: Intermediate

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: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 64 - 72°F (16 – 22°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5