Amblygobius phalaena

(Valenciennes, 1837)

Whitebarred Goby, Banded Goby

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines to Society Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to Australia, Lord Howe and Rapa Islands.

Size: 6 inches (15 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal reefs, lagoons and sandy and rubble areas near algae beds and usually found at depths between 6 – 65 feet (2 – 20 m) where it feeds algae and small invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, and having a greyish body with several narrow vertical darker bands and a black spot just aft of the gill plate and upper tail.

Best maintained in well-established fish-only or reef aquariums, possibly with filamentous algae growths, and wide-open sandy areas along with some small rubble and rocky crevices to hide when needing to do so.

Should not be housed with aggressive or fin-nipping fishes, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, as this is a shy species that prefers to hover above the sand bed watching for its next meal to come close enough to capture, occasionally sifting the sand for organic matter/tiny invertebrates or eating available algae growths.

As to diet, should be fed a diet of finely chopped fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis shrimp, shrimp, scallops, squid, clams and algae containing foods, especially Spirulina, and be fed twice daily.

If difficult to get feeding, try live adult fortified brine shrimp and black worms (Lumbriculus variegatus).

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Amblygobius

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

One per aquarium unless a mated pair.

A good sand sifter.

May damage zoanthids.

A known consumer of flat worms.

Captive bred.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5