Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Lythrypnus

Lythrypnus zebra

(Gilbert, 1890)

Zebra Goby

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean: Carmel Bay in central California to Clarion Island, Mexico, including Guadalupe Island.

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits crevices and holes in rocky reefs and also seen in tidepools along local shorelines and usually found at depths between 3 – 300 feet (1 – 90 m) where it feeds on benthic crustaceans/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a reddish body with narrow vertical blue lines.

Best maintained in somewhat cool water reef or fish-only aquariums where temperatures do not rise above mid seventies. These aquariums should have rocky crevices for hiding and peaceful tankmates

As to diet, requires a meaty diet of enriched brine shrimp, mysis, finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, and other various frozen carnivore foods, with one or two feedings per day.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Gobioidei

    Family: Gobiidae

    Genus: Lythrypnus

FYI: May withstand slightly higher temperatures in captivity than what is found in the wild, yet should not exceed 75°F (26°C).

Can be maintained in small groups.

Experience Level: Intermediate

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: 30 gallons

Temperature Range: 64 - 72°F (16 – 22°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5

 Lythrypnus zebra (Zebra Goby)
Photo © Daniel Gotshall
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Caribsea