Gobies

Gobies are small, peaceful bottom-dwellers that suit nano tanks, from marine sand-sifters and shrimp gobies to the brackish bumblebee goby. Many perch on rock or pair up with a pistol shrimp, and most stay well under a few inches. Each profile lists tank size, diet and temperament.

42 species

• Black toraja goby

  Mugilogobius sarasinorum

  3.1 in (8 cm)21 gal (80 L)79–82°F (26–28°C)

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  Blue Gudgeon Dartfish

  Ptereleotris heteroptera

  5.1 in (13 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Blue Hana Goby

  Ptereleotris hanae

  4.7 in (12 cm)40 gal (150 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Blue neon dwarf goby

  Stiphodon atropurpureus

  2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Bumblebee goby

  Brachygobius doriae

  1.6 in (4 cm)12 gal (45 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Catalina Goby

  Lythrypnus dalli

  2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)59–72°F (15–22°C)

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  Citron Clown Goby

  Gobiodon citrinus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
• Cobalt blue goby

  Stiphodon semoni

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)13 gal (50 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Desert goby

  Chlamydogobius eremius

  2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)

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  Diamond Sleeper Goby

  Valenciennea puellaris

  5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (208 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Dragon Sleeper Goby

  Amblygobius phalaena

  5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Empire gudgeon

  Hypseleotris compressa

  4.7 in (12 cm)26 gal (100 L)68–95°F (20–35°C)

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  Firefish

  Nemateleotris magnifica

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Golden Head Sleeper Goby

  Valenciennea strigata

  5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Green Clown Goby

  Gobiodon histrio

  1.8 in (4.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Hector's Goby

  Koumansetta hectori

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Helfrich's Firefish

  Nemateleotris helfrichi

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Hi-Fin Red Banded Goby

  Stonogobiops nematodes

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Knight goby

  Stigmatogobius sadanundio

  3.5 in (9 cm)21 gal (80 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Marbled goby

  Oxyeleotris marmorata

  23.6 in (60 cm)145 gal (550 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

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  Neon Goby

  Elacatinus oceanops

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Orange-Spot Prawn Goby

  Amblyeleotris guttata

  4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Peacock gudgeon

  Tateurndina ocellicauda

  3 in (7.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Pink-Spotted Watchman Goby

  Cryptocentrus leptocephalus

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Pinkbar Goby

  Amblyeleotris aurora

  4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Purple Firefish

  Nemateleotris decora

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Purple spotted gudgeon

  Mogurnda mogurnda

  7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Rainbow stiphodon

  Stiphodon ornatus

  2.6 in (6.5 cm)13 gal (50 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)

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  Rainford's Goby

  Koumansetta rainfordi

  3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Randall's Prawn Goby

  Amblyeleotris randalli

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Scarlet goby

  Rhinogobius zhoui

  1.6 in (4 cm)12 gal (45 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

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  Scissortail Dartfish

  Ptereleotris evides

  5.5 in (14 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Sharknose Goby

  Elacatinus evelynae

  1.6 in (4 cm)13 gal (50 L)75–79°F (24–26°C)

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  Sixspot Sleeper Goby

  Valenciennea sexguttata

  5.5 in (14 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Twinspot Goby

  Signigobius biocellatus

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Violet Goby

  Gobioides broussonnetii

  21.7 in (55 cm)119 gal (450 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Wheeler's Prawn Goby

  Amblyeleotris wheeleri

  3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  White-cheek goby

  Rhinogobius duospilus

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)61–75°F (16–24°C)

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  Yasha Goby

  Stonogobiops yasha

  2.4 in (6 cm)15 gal (57 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)

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  Yellow Clown Goby

  Gobiodon okinawae

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

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  Yellow Watchman Goby

  Cryptocentrus cinctus

  3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

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  Zebra Dartfish

  Ptereleotris zebra

  4.7 in (12 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)