Elacatinus oceanops

Jordan, 1904

Neon Goby

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida and the Caribbean to Belize.

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coral heads and usually found at depths between 3 – 130 feet (1 – 40 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrate/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a blackish-bluish body with a bright blue lengthwise band from the eye to the tail.

Best maintained in fish-only or reef aquariums with rocky caves and crevices where it can hide if feeling threatened and a deep sand bed that can provide it some minute crustaceans.

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 once daily.

If difficult to get feeding, try live adult fortified brine shrimp.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Elacatinus

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

They are a cleaner fish, and will pick parasites off larger fishes.

Captive bred specimens available.

Normal life span is extremely short compared to other marine fishes, usually about two years.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: 10 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 79°F (22 – 26°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5