Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Ocean Nutrition 

Cryptocentrus

Cryptocentrus fasciatus

(Playfair, 1867)

Y-bar Shrimp Goby, Barred Watchman Goby, Blue Fin Watchman Goby

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Melanesia and the Great Barrier Reef.

Size: 5 inches (14 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sandy areas on patch reefs where it lives with Alpheid/pistol shrimp and usually found at depths between 15 – 50 feet (5 – 15 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrate.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a brownish body with white saddles over the head and body and blue on the anal fins.

Best maintained in fish-only or reef aquariums with wide-open course grained (2 – 4 mm) sandy areas where it can form a burrow, and also some loose rubble where it can hide if feeling threatened.

Should not be housed with aggressive or fin-nipping fishes, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes.

As to diet, should be fed finely chopped fresh or frozen meaty foods, e.g., krill, marine fish flesh, mysis, scallops, shrimp, clams, and be fed twice daily. Small sinking enriched shrimp pellets are also an excellent way of keeping them well fed.

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

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Gobioidei

    Family: Gobiidae

    Genus: Cryptocentrus

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

May hide for days when first introduced into the aquarium.

One per aquarium unless a mated pair.

Each of its eyes moves independently, allowing it to watch various directions at the same time.

Will consume ornamental shrimp and small crabs.

Feisty towards other gobies and small fishes.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

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

 Cryptocentrus fasciatus (Y-bar Shrimp Goby, Barred Watchman Goby, Blue Fin Watchman Goby)
Photo © John Randall
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