Neon Goby

Elacatinus oceanops

A tiny cleaner with a glowing blue racing stripe. Big fish line up at its coral head to have their parasites picked off.

A peaceful saltwater fish that grows to 5 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 40 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

5 cm (2.0 in)

Aquarium

40 L or bigger (11 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Caribbean reefs & the Florida Keys

Good to know

• Cleaner. Picks parasites off other fish – lowers disease in the tank.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Coral Beauty, Green Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peppermint Angelfish, Royal Gramma, Seahorse, Six-Line Wrasse, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Psychedelic Frogfish, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish, Yellow Watchman Goby.

Eats the newborn fry of: Harlequin Shrimp.

Its fry are eaten by: Achilles Tang, Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue Tang, Clarion Angelfish, Emperor Angelfish, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Foxface Rabbitfish, Gem Tang, Green Chromis, Leafy Seadragon, Moorish Idol and 9 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.3 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.