Orange-Spot Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris guttata
Also known as Orange-Spotted Shrimp Goby, Spotted Prawn-Goby, Sunspot Goby
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 4.3 in (11 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 30 gal (114 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe with caution
- Origin
- Western Pacific reefs (Philippines to Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia)
- Family
- Gobiidae
Overview
A hardy, easygoing goby that adapts well to aquarium life and accepts a wide range of foods, including flake and sinking pellets alongside frozen mysis and brine shrimp. It is generally considered reef safe around corals, but keep an eye on small ornamental shrimp, since this species has been known to pick at them. Good tankmates include other peaceful fish that will not compete aggressively for food at the bottom of the tank.
In the wild
Found on sheltered sand and rubble flats, where it shares a burrow with a blind alpheid pistol shrimp that does the digging while the goby watches for danger. A deep bed of fine sand with some rubble mixed in lets the shrimp build and maintain a stable tunnel. It is a capable jumper, so the tank needs a snug lid.
Good to know
The body is cream to white with rows of orange spots outlined in brown running down the sides and onto the fins, giving this species its common names. It was first described by Fowler in 1938 and is one of the larger shrimp gobies in the aquarium trade, reaching around 11 cm. As with other Amblyeleotris species, the goby relies on touch and sight to keep track of its shrimp partner while it forages just outside the burrow.
Did you know
This is one of the more beginner-friendly shrimp gobies, hardy, disease resistant, and willing to eat just about anything offered, which makes it a good entry point for trying the pistol shrimp partnership at home.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Saltwaterfish.com Marine fish, corals and inverts shipped overnight
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Saltwater fish · Gobies · Beginner fish · Beginner saltwater fish
Keeping Orange-Spot Prawn Goby?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Pinkbar Goby
Amblyeleotris aurora4.3 in (11 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Wheeler's Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris wheeleri3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Randall's Prawn Goby
Amblyeleotris randalli4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (114 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pink-Spotted Watchman Goby
Cryptocentrus leptocephalus3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Twinspot Goby
Signigobius biocellatus3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Sixspot Sleeper Goby
Valenciennea sexguttata5.5 in (14 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)