Panamanian greenbanded goby
Tigrigobius panamensis
Also known as Green Banded Goby, Elacatinus panamensis
SaltwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 1.2 in
- 3 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Egg layer · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Origin
- Southwestern Caribbean, Atlantic coast of Panama
Overview
The Panamanian greenbanded goby is a peaceful goby and a strong choice for nano and pico reefs. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
Captive-bred Panamanian greenbanded gobies come from Bocas Mariculture, a small hatchery in Panama. The hatchery sits on the same stretch of coast where the species lives in the wild. The fish is naturally short lived, so the breeder is always raising its next generation of broodstock.
Caring for the Panamanian greenbanded goby
Give the Panamanian greenbanded goby at least 11 gal (40 L), with plenty of crevices in the rock. Aim for 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed it small pellets and frozen foods.
The Panamanian greenbanded goby is peaceful and reef safe, and you can trust it completely with corals and shrimp. Keep one on its own, as a pair, or in a small group. It is safe with other peaceful community fish. It lays small clutches of eggs, and breeding it is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
The Panamanian greenbanded goby was described by Benjamin Victor in 2010, and it belongs to the goby family, Gobiidae. It looks nearly identical to the familiar greenbanded goby, Tigrigobius multifasciatus, yet carries around 11 percent genetic divergence from it. It is tiny even by goby standards, with a green body, thin pale bars and a red streak through the eye.
In the wild
The Panamanian greenbanded goby is known only from the Caribbean coast of Panama, from Colon east through the San Blas Islands. It lives in shallow water close to shore, hugging rock, rubble and reef crevices rather than hovering in the open.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Panamanian greenbanded goby 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.
Long arm shrimp
Cuapetes sp.
Saltwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 5 gal (20 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Marine nerite snail
Nerita sp.
Saltwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Ocellaris clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Saltwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Citron clown goby
Gobiodon citrinus
Saltwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
White-spot anemone shrimp
Periclimenes brevicarpalis
Saltwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Nassarius snail
Nassarius sp.
Saltwater1 in (2.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Panamanian greenbanded goby need?
A Panamanian greenbanded goby needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Panamanian greenbanded goby need?
A Panamanian greenbanded goby is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Panamanian greenbanded goby eat?
A Panamanian greenbanded goby eats small pellets and frozen foods.
How big does a Panamanian greenbanded goby get?
An adult Panamanian greenbanded goby reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).
How does a Panamanian greenbanded goby breed?
A Panamanian greenbanded goby lays its eggs in small clutches, and it is moderately difficult to breed.
Related species
2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Tiger goby
Tigrigobius macrodon
2 in (5 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)
1.2 in (3 cm)10 gal (38 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Redlined pygmygoby
Trimma striatum
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1.1 in (2.7 cm)5 gal (19 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Citron pygmygoby
Trimma kitrinum
1.1 in (2.7 cm) · 5 gal (19 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)
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Eviota storthynx
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