Page 263 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

GOBIES 261

Nemateleotris magnifica Valenciennea strigata Valenciennea puellaris
Firefish Yellowhead Sleeper Goby Orange-Spotted Sleeper Goby

ORIGINS From East Africa eastward through the Indo- ORIGINS From East Africa eastward through the Indo- ORIGINS The western Pacific, north to the Ryukyu
Pacific region, north to Japan and south to Australia. Pacific region, north to Japan and south to Australia. Islands and south to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
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SIZE 2 ⁄4 in (7 cm). SIZE 7 in (18 cm). SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm).
DIET Small crustaceans. DIET Small invertebrates. DIET Small invertebrates.
WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline
(pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024. (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024.
TEMPERAMENT Social. TEMPERAMENT Social. TEMPERAMENT Reasonably social.
The most obvious feature of the Firefish is its long, Like other Prawn Gobies, this fish has formed a
narrow dorsal fin. The pelvic fins, which are not remarkable association with pistol shrimp (Alpheus
fused, are also long. A Firefish’s creamy-white body species), whose burrows it shares. When the goby
becomes yellower toward the rounded head and is looking out of the burrow, the shrimp knows
redder toward the tail. These fish usually occupy that it is safe to come out. Keep these gobies in
the middle layer of the aquarium. When danger pairs. The female lays up to 1,000 eggs in a cave.
threatens, they retreat into a burrow excavated in She stays with them, and when they are due to
the substrate, or sometimes into a rocky crevice. hatch, the male piles up the substrate and seals her
inside. She emerges with her brood when they are
free-swimming.
This goby is easily identified by the bluish streaks
on the sides of its yellow face. Yellowheads Females lack the long,
threadlike extensions
associate in small groups and communicate to the first
through movements of the mouth. Their tank dorsal fin
should have a dense layer of sand, which the fish
will excavate with their mouths in search of small
worms and other edible items. The debris passes
out through the gills and may cause harm if it
is deposited on corals and similar invertebrates.

Gobiodon citrinus
UNMOVED BY TURBULENCE
Citron Goby The orange-yellow coloration of the Citron Goby
Many gobies naturally inhabit turbulent is broken by light bluish stripes on the head and
areas of water, where strong currents ORIGINS Red Sea eastward to Samoa, north to the at the base of the anal and dorsal fins. Like other
could easily sweep them away. Some gobies Ryukyu Islands, and south to the Great Barrier Reef. gobies, it can be distinguished from blennies of a
have developed a unique mechanism that SIZE 2 ⁄2 in (6.25 cm). similar size by the fact that the dorsal fin is clearly
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enables them to thrive in such potentially DIET Marine flake and other small foods. divided into two parts. Citrons are more confident
troublesome surroundings. In these fish, the WATER Temperature 77–79°F (25–26°C); alkaline than other gobies, swimming freely, perhaps
pelvic fins—which are present on each side (pH 8.1–8.3) with SG 1.020–1.024. because they are protected by a foul-tasting body
of the body, just below the gill covers—have TEMPERAMENT Relatively tolerant. mucus that deters most predators.
become fused. This adaptation has created
a suckerlike device that allows the fish to
anchor itself firmly to rocks. The suction
provided by the fins is so powerful that the
fish can even cling to vertical surfaces.

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