Elacatinus puncticulatus

(Ginsburg, 1938)

Redhead Goby

Range: Eastern Central Pacific Ocean: Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) to Ecuador.

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow intertidal zones, and often found with only its head sticking out of small holes or crevices in the rocks. Usually found at depths between 3 – 20 feet (1 – 6 m) where it feeds upon benthic invertebrate/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, having a light tan body with red on the head and a broken lengthwise line of black blotches from the head 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.

Have often collected this species for my home aquariums in the Sea of Cortez.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Elacatinus

FYI: May jump out of uncovered aquariums.

Captive bred specimens available.

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 - 82°F (22 – 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5