Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Vanderhorstia

Vanderhorstia ornatissima

Smith, 1959

Ornate Shrimp Goby

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: East Africa to Samoa, and north to Southern Japan.

Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits lagoon sandy and muddy bottom areas is found in the burrow of Alpheus spp. shrimp and usually seen at depths between 3 - 10 feet (1 - 3 m) where it feeds on zooplankton and small crustaceans.

General Husbandry: Not normally collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Gobioidei

    Family: Gobiidae

    Genus: Vanderhorstia

FYI: Shown here for identification only.

Difficult to identify because they come from a wide range, i.e., East Africa to the Indo-West Pacific and have amazing geographical color variations.

(Note, the blue edged orange spots on this species are often arranged in groups of four, five, or six, as well as individually along the sides - pers com w/Vincent Hargreaves)

 Vanderhorstia ornatissima (Ornate Shrimp Goby)
Photo © Tristan Lougher
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