Stonogobiops yasha

Yoshino & Shimada, 2001

Red-stripped Goby

Range: Western Pacific Ocean

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits outer reef slope areas with sandy bottom areas, and usually seen in pairs with Alpheus randalli shrimps and usually found at depths between 50 to 130 feet (15 – 40 m) where it feeds on tiny benthic invertebrates and zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade having a whitish body with several lengthwise red lines and a very long white first ray on the front dorsal fin.

Can be maintained in reef or fish-only aquariums having some rocky crevices for hiding, a sandbed of at least two inches (5 cm) in depth to create its burrow and peaceful tankmates so it can feed without being interfered with when feeding time arrives.

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

Requires a meaty diet, i.e., enriched brine shrimp, mysis, finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, and other various frozen carnivore foods, and fed twice daily.

Small sinking enriched shrimp meal pellets may also help keep it well fed.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Gobioidei

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Stonogobiops

FYI: Spends most of its time resting on the substrate.

According to aquarist John Gibbin in the UK, his Stonogobiops yasha has paired up with Alpheus randalli, and males are easy to ID, as they have a black edge to their pectoral fins.

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: 20 gallons

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

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5