Barsnout Cleaner Goby
Elacatinus illecebrosus
Also known as Barsnout Goby
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 1.6 in (4 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal (40 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Western Caribbean, Yucatan to Panama
- Family
- Gobiidae
Overview
Barsnout gobies are peaceful and reef safe, though males can be territorial with one another, so keep a single fish or a bonded pair. Captive-bred stock settles quickly, perches in the open, and takes pellets and frozen foods.
In the wild
A western Caribbean cleaner found from the Yucatan coast south to Panama, usually in small groups near coral heads anywhere from 2 to 45 m. It holds station on prominent coral or rock where larger fish pause to be cleaned.
Good to know
Described in 1968, it reaches about 4 cm, and the color of its lateral stripe shifts from yellow toward blue and white in different parts of the range. The pale bar across the snout, which interrupts the usual straight cleaner stripe, gives the species its common name.
Did you know
Cleaner stripes work like a uniform. Predators generally recognize the pattern and leave the barsnout goby alone, so it spends its day in the open where most fish its size would be eaten.
Tank mates
Barsnout Cleaner Goby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Tiger Goby
Tigrigobius macrodonSaltwater2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Panamanian Greenbanded Goby
Tigrigobius panamensisSaltwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Starry Goby
Asterropteryx semipunctataSaltwater2.8 in (7 cm)13 gal (50 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Bumble Bee Snail
Engina mendicariaSaltwater0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Redbelly Dwarfgoby
Eviota nigriventrisSaltwater1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pederson's Cleaner Shrimp
Ancylomenes pedersoniSaltwater1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Barsnout Cleaner Goby need?
A Barsnout Cleaner Goby needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Barsnout Cleaner Goby need?
Barsnout Cleaner Goby are comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big do Barsnout Cleaner Goby get?
An adult Barsnout Cleaner Goby reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Saltwater fish · Gobies · Beginner fish · Reef-safe fish · Nano fish · Beginner saltwater fish
Keeping Barsnout Cleaner Goby?
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Related species
Barber Goby
Elacatinus figaroSaltwater1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sharknose Goby
Elacatinus evelynaeSaltwater1.6 in (4 cm)13 gal (50 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)Broadstripe Cleaner Goby
Elacatinus prochilosSaltwater1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Neon Goby
Elacatinus oceanopsSaltwater2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Red Head Goby
Elacatinus puncticulatusSaltwater2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Yellowline Sponge Goby
Elacatinus horstiSaltwater2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)