Citron pygmygoby
Trimma kitrinum
Also known as Yellow Trimma Goby, Citron Pygmy Goby
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F
- 22–26°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 1.1 in
- 2.7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 5 gal
- 19 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Western Pacific (Indonesia to Samoa)
Overview
The citron pygmygoby is a tiny, peaceful goby that perches on the rockwork of a nano reef. It is an easy fish to keep.
Did you know
In the hobby the citron pygmygoby goes by Yellow Trimma Goby. It is one of the youngest names in the trade, described in 2015 and captive-bred within the same decade.
Caring for the citron pygmygoby
Give citron pygmygobies a rocky scape with gentle flow and sheltered perches at a few different heights. A nano tank of 5 gal (19 L) or more suits them, and they are reef safe. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.
Feed small pellets, Calanus and baby brine shrimp in a few small meals a day. Skip large or quick tank mates, both for its safety and so it gets a fair share at feeding time.
The citron pygmygoby tolerates its own kind better than many gobies, and a small group will spread out across the rockwork. Breeding it is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
Winterbottom and Hoese described the citron pygmygoby, taking its name from the Greek kitrinos, meaning citron yellow, for its yellow tail. Otolith studies of its relatives clocked maximum ages of 87 days in Trimma nasa and 140 days in Trimma benjamini. The genus lives fast even by goby standards, so expect a bright but naturally brief resident.
In the wild
The citron pygmygoby lives on western Pacific reefs from Indonesia east to Samoa, at recorded depths of 1 to 36 meters. The first specimens were taken on Fiji's Great Astrolabe Reef. It is a percher, holding station on rock and coral rather than swimming in open water.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The citron pygmygoby is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
White-spot anemone shrimp
Periclimenes brevicarpalis
Saltwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Stomatella snail
Stomatella varia
Saltwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Helfrich's firefish
Nemateleotris helfrichi
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Lachdebere's dwarfgoby
Eviota lachdeberei
Saltwater0.8 in (2.1 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Mexican turbo snail
Turbo fluctuosus
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a citron pygmygoby need?
A citron pygmygoby needs at least 5 gal (19 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a citron pygmygoby need?
A citron pygmygoby is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a citron pygmygoby eat?
A citron pygmygoby eats small pellets, Calanus and baby brine shrimp. Feed it in a few small meals a day.
How big does a citron pygmygoby get?
An adult citron pygmygoby reaches about 1.1 in (2.7 cm).
Related species
1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Redlined pygmygoby
Trimma striatum
1.2 in (3 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
1.4 in (3.5 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Caesiura pygmygoby
Trimma caesiura
1.4 in (3.5 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
1 in (2.5 cm)5 gal (19 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Storthynx dwarfgoby
Eviota storthynx
1 in (2.5 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Panamanian greenbanded goby
Tigrigobius panamensis
1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Redbelly dwarfgoby
Eviota nigriventris
1.2 in (3 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)
0.9 in (2.4 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Queensland dwarfgoby
Eviota queenslandica
0.9 in (2.4 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)