Hi-Fin Red Banded Goby

Care at a glance

Overview

Peaceful and a bit shy, this goby spends most of the day hovering close to its burrow entrance and rarely strays far. It is fully reef safe and does well with other peaceful, small fish, but can be territorial toward other shrimp gobies sharing the same tank. Offer finely chopped mysis and enriched brine shrimp at least twice a day, since new arrivals sometimes take several days to settle in and start eating.

In the wild

Lives on sand and rubble flats along deep reef slopes, usually 15 to 25 meters down, where it hovers just above a shared burrow. Needs a tank with several inches of sand mixed with fine rubble so a partner pistol shrimp can dig and maintain a stable tunnel. A tight-fitting lid is essential since this goby is a strong jumper, especially when startled.

Good to know

This goby pairs with a pistol shrimp of the genus Alpheus, most often Alpheus randalli, in an obligate mutualism seen on dark sand patches near reef bases. The nearly blind shrimp keeps an antenna on the goby at all times while excavating, and the goby's tail flick or dash into the burrow is the shrimp's cue to retreat underground. Adults reach about 6 cm and typically live in male-female pairs at the burrow entrance.

Did you know

The goby and its pistol shrimp roommate rely on each other to survive on the open sand, the shrimp builds and defends the burrow but has poor eyesight, while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard outside and signals danger with a flick of its tail.

Related species

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  Yasha Goby

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• 

  Catalina Goby

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• 

  Citron Clown Goby

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• 

  Neon Goby

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• 

  Green Clown Goby

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• 

  Hector's Goby

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