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FAQs on Goby Identification
Related Articles: Gobies & their Relatives,
Amblygobius Gobies, Genus Gobiodon
Gobies,
Genus Coryphopterus, Neon/Cleaner
Gobies, Shrimp/Watchman Gobies,
Sifter/Sleeper Gobies/Valenciennea, Sleeper
Gobies/Eleotridae, Mudskippers,
Related FAQs: Gobies 1,
Gobies 2, Goby Behavior,
Goby Selection, Goby Compatibility,
Goby Feeding, Goby Systems,
Goby Disease, Goby Reproduction,
Amblygobius Gobies, Clown Gobies, Neon
Gobies, Genus Coryphopterus Gobies,
Mudskippers, Shrimp Gobies,
Sifter Gobies, |
My best... to refer you to the folks/site: www.gobiidae.com for
help. The description doesn't "ring a bell" right off... freshwater?
Please do send your note along to Naomi R. Eventual
Editor -
International Goby Society
Staff - Gobioid Research Institute |
|
Shrimp Goby ID 3/10/09
Hello, Crew
<Hi Karrie>
I was told this was a Dragon Goby by the LFS.
I have searched and come up with nothing under that name .Could you please
identify for me ?
<Your LFS is dead wrong, is not Gobioides broussonnetii
(Dragon Goby). What you have is Amblyeleotris fasciata, a Red Banded Prawn
Goby.>
Much appreciated
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Karrie
|
 |
Mystery Hitch Hiker!
7/26/08
Last
week I received a fairly large shipment of corals for my large (700
gallon) display tank. Three days ago I found this mystery hitchhiker
in the sump.
<You scored! Looks like a Priolepis nocturna>
All
corals are given a gentle bath in my tank water prior to placement.
I do have screens on my overflows but a I expect my trigger (I know!
but I like her and in a tank this size damage is minimal) was a bit
miffed by a new occupant and chased this lovely little thing up and
over. He was very happy and appeared to be thriving in the overflow.
I was greatly relieved to see that he.. whoever he is.. didn't
appear to be harboring any evident illnesses given no qt time!
He's now safely ensconced in a qt tank, but now not eating. I'm
wondering if he may need copepods.
<Will eat this and other
small meaty foodstuffs>
If I knew he was, I'd know how to feed.
I've looked through my Burgess Atlas from cover to cover twice. I'm
being thrown off by the eyes on the top of the head and large
pectoral wings!
<Do take a look on the Net with the sci. name
provided... is this your animal?>
Can you please help so I can
provide the right home for our new boarder. I have several tanks to
choose from so I'm certain I can meet his needs if I just knew what
they were.
You folks are absolutely the very best out there and I
greatly appreciate your site and services.
Thank you
Persis
Strong
<Welcome. Bob Fenner> |  
|
Re: Mystery Hitch Hiker!
7/27/08
Yeah!
He is indeed a Priolepis nocturna! Can I assume, though I didn't
note this anywhere on the web, that based on his name he's more
active at night?
<Mmm, I think you are likely correct>
Obviously I'll never see him again if I put him my large display
with several hundred pounds of live rock, several aggressive fish,
and a half dozen various sized anems. I'm not sure how long he'd
survive there either despite the amount of rock. I have a smaller,
400 gallon, fish only tank as well... but it looks like our new
friend needs the rock. I just might set up a small 20 or 30 gallon
reef just for him :) If I were to add one or two other companions
for him, who might that be?
<Mmm, something "easygoing"...>
Thanks very much, Bob. I feel special to have such a rare creature
and want to make him as comfortable as possible in his new home.
Persis Strong
<Sounds good. Cheers! BobF> |
Help Identifying a fish 5/17/08
Hi I was curious if any
of you guys could help me indentify this fish, its tank
requirements, and its availability. Any info at would help. I was
referred to you guys from someone on waterwolves.com. Any info at
all would help. Right now it is in brackish water, but nobody knows
if it is brackish, saltwater or fresh????? It appears to be a type
of goby to me. Thank you.
Erik
<Not seen this goby. I'd
recommend getting in touch with the excellent GobyGroup on Yahoo;
there are scientists who study gobies as well as aquarists and
wholesalers, and so the help offered is pretty reliable. Naomi
Delventhal, who wrote the goby chapter in my brackish book, is one
of the resident experts. In the meantime, maintain at SG 1.005; this
won't harm freshwater gobies, but will help brackish species to do
well. Ensure there's good water quality, particularly with regard to
oxygen - a lot of the gobies in the freshwater trade come from
fast-flowing streams of one sort or another. As for diet, most
gobies feed on small invertebrates, but some are algae-eaters, so
offer a variety of frozen invertebrates and green foods and see what
works. Cheers, Neale.> |
 |
Goby identification... no pic, no way -11/27/2007
I've been
reading your web site for several years. Thanks for all the help. My LFS
has a "gudgeon" goby that I am interested in, but I am unable to find
any information about. Looking at the WWM site and on the internet, the
fish look similar to the black tail goby. Can you tell me if this is the
same fish and if it, or several, would be appropriate for a 72 gallon
reef tank with a true Perc clown, scopas tang & a possum wrasse. Thanks,
Sarah
<... no pic? There are a few gobies, some non-gobies referred
to as "gudgeons"... some are brackish, freshwater... please look through
what Fishbase.org shows for this common name. Some said species get very
large... might eat a Wetmorella... Bob Fenner>
IDs please - Parasitic snail and goby - 10/11/07
Hello
<Hi
John.>
I posted the following on another website and was told to
send it to this email address for identification. Found this little
"parasitic snail" on my Turbo the other day. It appears to have
eaten a chunk of the Turbo's shell to fit. I have never seen it move
from this location. Appears to eat algae off the glass. Hard to get
clear pictures when it's out. Any ideas what it may be?
<There
are a number of parasitic and boring snails, that live in mollusks
and echinoderms and sometimes eventually kill them. Family
Pyramidellidae has some of these species. A more definite ID is
likely only possible (if possible at all), when you take the
parasitic snail out of the tank. I’d try to get rid of it anyway.>
Also if you could tell me the type of Goby this is it would be great
to.
<Most certainly a Amblyeleotris sp., probably Amblyeleotris
macronema, but there are several similar species. See Fishbase, e.g.
http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?ID=47043&what=species
and http://www.wetwebmedia.com/shrimpgobies.htm. Will need an
Alpheid prawn to be happy and share its home with.>
Thank you for
your time. John.
<You are welcome. Marco.> |  
|
Re: Ascension Goby 8/13/07
All I really know is that he
came from Ascension Island.
<Mmm, doubtful... nothing is purposely
collected, shipped from t/here>
Don't yet know the geography of
the region, as I have not researched yet.
<See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascension_Island>
He has a nice full
pink tummy and free swims a good bit. Really a great little goby. I will
attach a good pic of him in case y'all are interested.
[IMG]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa29/mitchcarter_album/Di
zzy4.jpg[/IMG]
Mitch
<Thank you for this. Bob Fenner>
Re: Ascension Goby 8/14/07
Thanks a million Bob,
<Welcome Mitch>
I guess from what I just read, the little guy must be
from somewhere else....
<Likely so... there are a whole bunch of very
similar species... and range extensions do occur... And folks do (very
inoccasionally) transit past this island... but don't collect
inexpensive fishes...>
I was even ignorant to the location of all
these islands, thinking that they were in the So Pacific! I guess I'm
never too old to learn.
<Am hoping we both continue on both counts!>
I have searched every corner of the Internet trying to learn more about
this sweet little goby, but to virtually no avail. Is he really as rare
an aquarium specimen as I am beginning to believe. Except for the
Meerwasser-lexicon site and Fishbase I have not found much of anything
about him (excepting pure scientific info). I only found one other
person who had the specific species, and it turned out that he was local
to me, and bought the LFS tank-mate of Dizzy (my P. ascensionis). No
other findings.
Mitch
<Perhaps you will be the one to proffer
observations... BobF>
Ascension Goby, again
05/19/09
Hi again Bob,
I am quite happy to still have my cool little Ascension goby (Priolepis
ascensionis). He has been with me for right about two years now. I moved
him from the original 29 gallon AllGlass reef into my peninsula 75
gallon display. He is no-longer very shy, nor is he very secretive...he
just
perches on the bottom of my frag rack most of the time, and sometimes on
the bottoms of rocks....He comes out and free swims around in the tank
and feeds like a little upside-down pig.
I believe he would hand-feed if I stood on my head! Dizzy is great and
gets along with 6 other fish, just about all of which are larger than
him, and a
couple who are pretty boisterous. Look forward to meeting you in
Orlando this July,
Mitch
<Real good... do you scuba? Want to haul out with a few of us for some
days before the ORCA event? BobF>
Ascension Goby, again
05/21/09
I do dive, and I would guess Josh is lining something up?
<Ah yes! He is indeed looking and I think is coming along...>
I would really enjoy that, but will have to check schedules because I
work for a relentless boss who doesn't believe in time off!
<Foolish... our time is about all we own... Important to "get away"
regularly... to find/be ourselves. B>
Mitch
Mystery Goby, Or Common Species in Disguise? 5/24/07
Hi Guys
<Scott F. your guy tonight!>
I've had a Goby for
years and I've always known it as a Chalk Goby. I've noticed a few
questions similar to my own but never an answer. What isn't clear on
the enclosed photo is the that it has a black dot on it's fin. Any
chance you can tell me the scientific name please.
Many thanks
Alison
<Well, Alison- this certainly is a cute little fish! I'll
go out on a limb and suggest that this is an Amblyeleotris species,
of which there are literally dozens. It could possibly be a regional
variation of a common, or at least, known species, or an aberrant
color morph. Or, it might even be an undescribed species. I'd break
out your favorite caffeinated beverage, a fresh batch of popcorn,
and spend a little quality time on fishbase.org looking at the
Amblyeleotris genus. Could possibly be a species from the genus
Valenciennea, but I'm leaning towards Amblyeleotris. Regardless, he
sure is a cool little guy...Hope that you enjoy him! regards, Scott
F.> | 
|
Stocking question, small reef, and
FYI, re: der. of Yasha haze... 4/24/07
Hello Crew,
<Eric>
Long time reader, first time writer here. (Actually, I wrote
about a week ago and didn't receive a response, so I'm trying again.)
<Good>
I have a 7 gallon (5 gallons of water) tank (30cm x 30cm x
30cm) with a little under 3kg of live rock, a Stonogobiops yasha and an
Alpheus randalli.
Lighting is 40W of compact fluorescent. All
filtration is biological via the live rock, and I have a power head and
a hang-on filter with the media removed which combine to circulate the
water 25 times per hour. Ammonia and nitrite are at zero and nitrate
is at 5ppm. SG is 1.024 and pH is steady at 8.3. Alkalinity is at 4
mEq/l. (All data is from Red Sea tests.)
Can you recommend a second
fish that will be comfortable in this size tank?
<Some of the very
small, easygoing Pomacentrids, Apogonids, Blennioids, Gobioids... many
possibilities>
The aquarium stores I've visited here in Japan have
made all sorts of suggestions, but I'm pretty doubtful about all of
them. I'd really like to find a compatible fish to add, preferably one
that is a free swimmer, because the tank seems lonely with the goby and
shrimp hiding almost all of the time.
Also, FYI, I see lots of
different spellings, variations on the common name for Stonogobiops
yasha, and I thought you might be interested to know that the fish's
common name in Japanese is "yasha haze" "Haze" is pronounced "hah-zeh"
and means goby, so the term "yasha haze goby"@is actually
redundant. "Yasha" is a female demonic warrior deity, and I assume that
the goby gets this name from its bright red stripes and spiky dorsal
fin.
<Thank you for this>
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Yours,
Eric Anderson
Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
<Bob
Fenner, Holualoa, Big Island, Hawaii>
Awaous flavus not a
blenny! 3/22/07 Hi Bob, It's a nice photo, but
Awaous flavus is a goby, not a blenny.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/blenniods.htm I bet
you're going to kick yourself for that mistake, huh? Now, I'll
confess to getting Mullidae and Mugilidae confused all the time.
Cheers, Neale <Man! Well... I make both mistakes... "and many
more....". B>
Fish I.D. (A. semipunctatus) 3/17/07
Hi,
<Hello.>
Thank you for all your information, you all provide a wonderful
site.
<We love to hear that! You are welcome.>
My son caught
this fish in a tide pool in Hawaii.
<This is a
hint...>
I saw the blue spots
<Another hint...>
and
thought it was a baby peacock grouper (Roi).
But now
that it is in our aquarium it looks too cheeky, and I've never seen
the filament like front fin <Dorsal.> on a Roi.
It is about two
inches long, and without the flash appears quite black.
<Tell me what you think of this:
http://www.hawaiisfishes.com/fishes/neatfish/asterropteryx_semipunctatus.htm
(Known as the "blue-spotted" or "half-spot" goby, Asterropteryx
semipunctatus)
Thanks, Amy
<You're welcome, Amy. (By the
way, in the future, please attach any pictures instead of inserting
them. Thanks, and this is a great pic, too!
-GrahamT> | |
Re: Fish I.D. (A. semipunctatus) update 3/19/07
<Hi
Amy.>
That is it!
<Excellent!>
Thanks so
much, and you are so fast to respond!
<...Blows
his smoking keyboard off.>
I'm glad to find that it'll be
staying small.
<Yup.>
It is already adjusted
and eating, within a day of capture....Should be fun to watch.
<I think you'll find that animals lucky enough to skip the whole
industry of fish-knapping and air-travel and box-travel, etc.
will be much healthier in the long run.>
Seems very
predatory. Also, thanks for the link to Hawaii fishes.
<Glad I could help! (I love doing Fish ID)
-GrahamT>
Amy | 
|
Might have a Gobi on my hands? Desert dilemma? 02/11/2007
Hello
Again,
<Howdy>
I have scoured your website, and now have myself
even more confused. After looking at dozens of photos I have decided
that I definitely have a goby, and the nearest match I can find is "
Ctenogobius shufeldti " . I found the picture at
http://gobiidae.com/FL_goby_project/FL_list.htm I have tried to get
a picture of my own, but the fish just blends in too well with my gravel
for a clear view. This is a very fast little fish, and he appears to be
very aware of his surroundings. He "walks" around on his pectoral fins
and sometimes "sits" on them to move his head around to watch the other
inhabitants of the tank: (1 ghost shrimp, 1 small crayfish, 6 guppies
unknown number of tiny snails). I have also noted that he seems to be
able to move his eyes individually.
<All generally
characteristics of this family... and a few others of size>
He
mainly keeps very still when the lights are on, so I do not know what
(if anything) he is eating. I have seen him nosing around an artificial
plant, but when I get close to watch he darts back down to the
gravel. I am feeding my guppies regular flake food, that has shrimp
listed as the main ingredient, but he has never shown any interest in
it. The crayfish has happily destroyed my java moss, duck weed and
water sprite as well as any snail she can pluck from its shell, and I
supplement her with frozen peas, and raw frozen cod. The little ghost
shrimp seems to eat a little bit of everything. But I have never seen
the goby eating. Any suggestions?
<Posted on WWM>
He is a
really neat little fish. I saved him from a feeder tank, but I am not
sure I am doing him any favors by starving him to death. Also, do you
have any idea why it is illegal to purchase gobies from a pet store in
the state of Maine?
<Check with the governing body re...
perhaps a fear they will be released to environments where they might
out-compete indigenous species>
None of the local pet stores have
any idea. Additionally we can not buy fresh water invertebrates
locally. Get this... I can buy live crayfish as bait, but I can't buy
them in a pet store, and I can legally purchase ghost shrimp through the
mail.
Thanks so much for a wonderful resource,
Doug
Alley
<"In a mature society "civil servant" translates as "civil
master" (Robert Anson Heinlein)... Stay tuned as the U.S. tumbles in the
predicable sea of too much government... NO lifetime civil servants.
BobF> I have two bar goby, reproducing? What species?
9/6/06
<http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/ComNames/CommonNameSearchList.php
Eviota?>
that have been digging holes in the bottom of my 75 gallon
aquarium for several months. They like to hide under a large hollow
rock. Today, inside a hollow castle, appeared a rather yellow netting,
that one goby seems to be protecting and constantly rubbing against. Is
this possibly an egg sack?
<Yes!>
I have found no information on
the mating of bar goby. Please help!
<Take a read per the link
above. Once you have the species name, look in turn with this... Bob
Fenner> Goby and wrasse
questions... Champagne livestock tastes, Bud tank 8/23/06
Hi.
<Hey there!>
I have a 45 gallon tank with the
following critters - a clownfish (currently residing in an anemone),
Firefish goby, pajama cardinal, diamond sand goby, scarlet cleaner
shrimp, some Christmas tree rocks, some coral frags, some snails and a
scarlet legged cleaner crab.
I saw a beautiful
fish the other day, the store rep said it was an African Aurora Goby
which I think is called Amblyeleotris aurora?)
<Maybe>
and he
priced it at $80.
<Man! I got out of the fish collection biz much
too soon!>
I looked on an internet site and saw something very
similar but it was called a Pinkbar goby (for $30), and it was listed as
originating from either Indo Pacific or Maldives, aka Cryptocentrus
aurora. They look so similar to me, is there any difference?
<Mmm,
nope... try putting both names into fishbase.org...:
http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12694&genusname=Amblyeleotris&speciesname=aurora
is the same species... is an Amblyeleotris>
And is there a
difference between the Indo Pacific one and the Maldives one?
<Mmm,
maybe slight geographic variation in color, markings... and likely
cost... the further away... the higher>
Also, are they hard to keep,
and will there be any compatibility problems with my current fish?
<Your 45 may be too small to provide sufficient habitat for this shy
species to "feel comfortable"... Do you intend to supply an appropriate
Alpheid symbiont?
I also saw a lovely leopard wrasse; again, would
there be any compatibility or feeding problems with this fish?
Thanks for your time,
Ak
<I would not encourage
someone to try a genus Macropharyngodon Labrid in such a setting. Bob
Fenner>
Elacatinus multifasciatus 8/19/06
Hi I was wondering if you
wonderful people could identify this goby for me, I purchased two
little guys from LFS who said they were Christmas nano gobies.
<Okay...>
I cannot find any reference to such fish they are
approx 1 inch long and have not really grown in length since I got
them which was approx 5 months ago (they have however got fatter)
They live in my sump tank and seem very content I just wish I had a
name for them. Thank you for your time in this matter.
Rache
Hill (England)
<A beauty. Please see here:
http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12444&genusname=Elacatinus&speciesname=multifasciatus
and elsewhere on the Net with this scientific name.
Bob Fenner> | 
|
Fish ID 2/22/06
Greetings and salutations ye knowers of all
fishy things... Hopefully you can help ID a fish that one of the local
club member picked up recently. Unfortunately, he didn't do any
research before buying, (cardinal sin in the hobby) and only got the
dubious common name of "Feather fin goby " here's a pic of it.
http://www.whodah.com/albums/BoomerD/apw.jpg
<Neat...>
He
says "Its a cool little fish that buries its self in the sand it has
eyes that rotate all the backwards and is kinda shaped like a
pipefish, kinda. "
The fish is currently in quarantine, and he'd
like to know what it is, what to feed it properly, and if it's
reef-safe.
Thanks,
Neil
<Don't know what this is... do send
along some other images... Bob Fenner>
<<Mmm, now... 6/09... looks like a Sand Diver maybe. RMF>> | 
|
Unidentified goby species ... and no pic 2/6/06
I acquired this
beauty three years ago from a NJ pet store where I was employed.
She's now almost 2" long always swimming and clinging upside down on
rock in my
reef. Look close, she is not a Valenciennea wardii or
Amblyeleotris randalli. Thanks for any info, links, or photos to help me
give her a name.
Maybe I'll name it.............after me!
Sorry
about photo quality <David, sure looks like a Full Moon Reef Goby
(Priolepis nocturna). James (Salty Dog)> <<James... did you save this
email to "with images?". RMF> |
Re:
Unidentified goby species 2/7/06
Thanks a lot Crew! <You're
welcome> Now she has a name, an a beautiful one at that. Quick
search on Priolepis nocturna resulted in finding this great photo.
How rare are they to find for sale? <Don't see them too often, at
least I don't.>
Thanks again! <You're welcome. James (Salty
Dog)> | 
|
Circus or Nocturn or Full Moon Reef Goby 12/28/05
Hello All,
I know I just sent in one question and here I am with
another but... I have a little goby which I have been unable to find any
real information on.
It is a small goby, up to 1.5 inches. The name
is Priolepis nocturna or Ctenogobius nocturnus and is commonly called
Nocturn Goby, Circus Goby or Full Moon Reef Goby. It is found in
coastal areas of either or both - Eastern Pacific: Kodiak I., Alaska to
southern Baja California, Mexico; rare north of Point Conception in
California, USA. (fishindex.com) or Indo-Pacific Ocean: Aldabra and
Assumption Islands, Seychelles, Marquesas, and Maldives
(saltcorner.com). Supposedly will eat all types of food including flakes
and should be kept one to a tank as they will fight each other.
These 2 sites also had a picture of the little fish, it is very pretty.
I don't see it very often so when I do it is a real treat.
So, can
anyone tell me more about this little jewel? I would really appreciate
it.
Thanks bunches.
Agnes
<Priolepis is the correct
genus/name... have rarely seen this fish in the industry, never in the
wild... I would try the large/r BB's dealing with reef aquariums
(Central, Org) re hobbyists with direct experience here. Cheers, Bob
Fenner>
Goby
larvae 12/21/05
Bob- can't recall if I asked you this
before- but I am preparing to look at the otoliths of most of
the shallow-water genera of Caribbean gobies for estimates of
pelagic larval duration and for that I need to subtract the size
of the otolith at hatching. Do you have any ideas on how I can get
some samples of newly-hatched Caribbean gobies to look at the
otoliths?
Ben
Benjamin Victor
Coralreeffish.com
http://www.coralreeffish.com <http://www.coralreeffish.com/>
check out the guide to the late-stage fish
<http://www.coralreeffish.com/larvae.htm> larvae
of the Caribbean
<Mmm, definitely the few Gobiosoma/Elacatinus
that are cultured... I'd contact the folks at ORA (Ft. Pierce)
http://www.hboi.edu/aqua/aqua_home.html
There are a few
others in FLA... BobF, out the door> | 
|
Fish ID Please 9/21/05
Hi Bob or whoever is lucky (or unlucky
enough to get this) <James is the lucky one>
I recently bought a
juvenal fish it was sold to me as a sort of goby. The person
selling him was not sure and I am not sure either but I thought I
would o to the experts.
The fish when I got him or her was around a
half inch. It has grown to its present size of around one inch. Its
body to me looks more like the wrasse family but again I do not
know. And on the other hand I do not see him swimming a lot so it
could be a goby?
Here is a Photo
So my question is what kind of
little fellow do I have here and also when or at what size should I
be able to introduce him into general population (I do not want him
to get eaten) currently he is in a small breeder with some macro for
him to hide in. The thank he will be going into is a reef ready
(drilled) 75 gallon whose current inhabitants are as follows:
Yellow
Tang 3.5 -4"
Flame Angel 2.5"
Coral Beauty 2.5"
Scooter
Blenny 1.5"
Lawnmower Blenny 3.5"
Electric Blue Damsel 1"
Orchid Dotty 1"
Various crabs and shrimp and a few clams.
All 3
photos are of the same fish FYI.
Thanks in advance and I also threw
in a shot of my tank. Kindest Regards Bruce
<Bruce, this looks an
awful lot like the red headed goby, except yours is all read. I'll run
this by Bob, I'm sure he has seen one of these. James (Salty Dog)>
<<Mmm, doesn't look like an Elacatinus species to me... I would take the
long look/see here:
http://www.gobiidae.com/ . Bob Fenner> |  
|
Panda Clown Goby? 7/26/05
Hey crew!
<Hey, Mike G with you
this afternoon.>
How's everything this fine Saturday evening? Me and
my wet friends are doing great.
<Good to hear.>
Anyway, on to
the question:
I found this goby (Paragobius lacunicolus) at Live
Aquaria. They state it as a clown goby though I'm not so sure it is.
They list it as a difficult specimen, though most clown gobies seem
hardy. They don't list why it is supposedly difficult and I can't find
any information on WWM or fishbase.org. Has anyone there had any
experience with this fish or know it's true identity? Thanks for the
help with this peculiar fish.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2230
<Well, LiveAquaria lists the creature as a Paragobius species, whereas
the Clown Gobies we know of are Gobiodon species. So, it is not
technically a Clown Goby, just a fish that looks like one.>
As
always, thanks for any help,
<No problem, Mike G>
Nick
Saltwater Goby ID Please (7-11-05)
Dear WetWebMedia Crew,
<Hi there, Leslie here for the crew this evening.>
I recently
acquired an extremely ADORABLE goby, that I would like help identifying.
<Sure, will be happy to see what I can do.>
I will send you a
picture post haste. But in the meanwhile.. here is a description.
<A
photo would be most helpful.>
The Goby in question is under 1 inch
long and looks physically exactly like the Yellow Clown Goby except
white. It has small black freckly like spots on the tail and face, and a
few thin horizontal stripes on each side the body.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2...wn_goby_3SM.jpg.
<Thanks
for the link but there is no image displayed, just the Reef Central
logo.>
Like the Yellow goby, the it has a suction cup under it’s
belly and swims in the same manner. Personality wise, they seem exactly
the same.
<Well it certainly sounds like they could at least be
closely related from the same genus, but it is really impossible to tell
without a good photo. In the mean time you could give www.fishbase.org a
shot. Have a look through the photos of the genus Gobiodon.>
Your
help is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Ivy
Sorry I could not be
more helpful, Leslie 
|
Re: Panda coral goby
Here is a link to a picture of one
http://www.atlantisaquarium.net/images/goby3.jpg.JPG . It has
the same body shape as a yellow clown goby but is very small. The
adult size is only around an 1" long. Thanks for your help I will
try and find info on this
fish and if I do I will share it with
you.
<A nice pic... is very similar to Gobiodon spp... am
wondering if this is actually a valid species or a "painted" one...
don't see on fishbase.org, Google pix... Bob Fenner> | |
Re: Panda coral goby
Thanks for your help! Your link to
fishbase.org allowed me to find some info on this fish. The
common name for this fish is Blackfin coral goby or Paragobiodon
lacunicolus. Here is a link to this fish
http://fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Paragobiodon&speciesname=lacunicolus
<Ahh, thank you for this. A gorgeous little fish. Glad to see it
in the hobby interest. Bob Fenner> |
Identity of "dwarf neon gobies"
Hello Fish people
I was going
through the goby FAQs and came upon one which mentioned an unknown goby
of Indian origin with blue spots going by the name of "dwarf neon
goby". I too have seen fish of that name and origin, and some months
ago sent several formalin preserved specimens to Helen Larson, an expert
geobiologist at the museum in Darwin, Australia.
The following is
what she told me:
"They are Amoya, as I suspected - a convenient
catch-all genus for things that look like Acentrogobius but
aren't.
There's at least 27 nominal species and nobody has ever reviewed the
genus. These look like griseus/gracilis type things but I can't put a
name to them for sure. They're not A. moloanus or A. gracilis. I won't
be able to identify them without first sorting out what all the species
in the genus really are. I've seen most of the type specimens but a
number were destroyed in WWII and so we have to guess from
the
original description what Herre had. First we need to properly define
Acentrogobius, Amoya,
Arenigobius, Yoga, Yongeichthys and Aulopareia,
then we'll be able to solve this problem!"
So at this time no one can
say exactly what they are (and this kind of problem is by no means
unusual in Gobiidae taxonomy!) However, they seem to be good brackish
aquarium fish - easy to feed, although somewhat vulnerable to bacterial
infection after shipping. Mine have not yet spawned.
Cheers,
Naomi Eventual
Editor - International Goby Society
Staff - Gobioid
Research Institute
<Thank you for this information. Will be posting.
Bob Fenner> You say Potatoe Goby
Bobster...
What's the diff between Stonogobiops Stonogobius? Are they two
different genera or is one misspelled/dated?
<Mmm, well...
Stonogobiops is a valid genus (of gobies), but there is no Stonogobius
(there is a Stenogobius)... perhaps a misspelling (looks easy to do!).
Bob F>
Thanks bub A Goby by Another
Name? 3/2/03
Sorry to bother you again Phil<No problem!> but I
know what fish you are talking about
by description only I am lacking
their scientific or common specie name?
Care to throw me a bone
;)<Sure, here's the scoop. There are two "Orangespotted" Gobies. One
is Amblyeleotris guttata. A fine marine animal to 3.5 inches requiring
a 20 gallon tank. It should have a Alpheid shrimp in the same tank. As
they will pair together and share the same cave together. This goby is
tan w/ orange spots along it's body. The other goby is the
"Orangespotted Sleeper Goby". A not so fine animal to 5.5 inches
requiring a 55 gallon tank full of live rock and live sand. It is
difficult to keep, most starve to death. It is also tan but has more
oval shaped orange spots on it's upper body. From it's lower mouth to
it's lower tail it has a orange line . Near it's mouth are a few oval
shaped neon blue spots. Hope this info helps! Phil>
New
Gobies?
>To the best crew in the Northern Hemisphere:
>>Now
*that's* a compliment to write Mom about!
>I was visiting my LFS
tonight and saw a few gobies of interest that I cannot find information
about. One they called a "lime stripe", which has light green stripes
going vertically and was about 0.5" long. The other they called "Yashi"
or "Yashu" or something (I usually bring my pen and paper into the
store), also very small. I didn't speak to any employees because I was
in a rush, but every time I pass the store I have to pop my head in! I
was hoping you guys/gals can shed some light. One of them was referred
to as "rare", but I don't remember which one. Thanks, Rich.
>>Ah,
the bane of common names. Part of the problem is that many blennies are
confused for gobies, and vice versa. If there is *any* way you can get
them to give you the actual taxonomical names of these fish, then I can
further help you. Personally, I've heard of no fish going by those
common names. Pics, perhaps, may be of some help, but that taxonomical
name is the ticket, truth be told. If the shop has a marine I.D. bible,
they should let you peruse it (assuming that it's a good shop,
eh?). Let us know! Marina Chalk Face Goby - I Can't Really Help
>Hi
>>Hello.
>I have 45 gallon marine tank with about 20 Kg of
live rock. Livestock consists of a Yellow Tang, 2 Regal Tangs, 2 Clowns,
a Mandarin and a Chalk Face Goby. There are several Turbo snails and
about half a dozen red and blue legged hermits.
These have all been
living happily together for the last 15 months with no significant
problems however, the Goby appears to be getting very thin and I am
worried for his health.
>>I wish I could help, but my searches are
finding nothing for "chalk goby" (I need a genus and species name, here)
nor "chalk face goby". I will toss out a link to a chalk bass, but I've
not heard of these being particularly difficult in their husbandry.
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Serranus&speciesname=tortugarum
>I am not currently feeding him anything other than the frozen food that
goes into the tank. This hasn't been an issue before.
>>So, you're
saying the animal has been fat and healthy the whole time you've had
him? If so, over what period of time would you guess this weight
loss has occurred?
>I have taken the precaution of moving him to a
qt to remove the competition for the food but would value any help you
could offer.
Thanks, Darren Coughlan
>>Well, that was your best
move. I will caution you to provide good cover for him, gobies tend to
be happier with some cover (whether or not they use it). You haven't
mentioned whether or not he's actually taking the food offered. If he
IS, then I suspect an internal parasite. In that case, please use our
site's Google bar on such - there are a couple of us who have dealt with
these and have offered treatments to others in similar situations. If
NOT, then I suggest offering him more meaty foods (all soaked in Selcon)
- Mysis shrimp, bloodworms, small bits of krill, other shrimp, etc.
(These may require a trip through a blender to get small enough bits for
him - since I don't know exactly what you have, I cannot be more
specific.) Be sure to watch water quality during this time. I'm very
sorry I can't be of more help here, but if you can lead me in the right
direction, also with a bit more information, maybe we can find a
solution. Marina
Neon Pink Goby
Dear Sir,
<Myles... interesting spelling... is this (like Miles Standish) derived
from the Latin, miles, miletis?>
I wonder whether you could help
identify a 1" bright pink/fuchsia goby with silver swimbladder/main
organ sac.
<Yikes!>
I have no other information other than he is
marine tropical and charismatic.
<Well, that's a start>
I
realize this isn't much help, but I've gone through all the families on
your excellent site and I cannot for the life of me find any creature
that resembles it/he/she!
I would greatly appreciate any help.
P.S. I can try and image it if that helps.
<Please do... the gobies
are the largest family of fishes... take a look on fishbase.org, and if
you have LOTs of time, start scanning their pix... There are some
Japanese books on gobies and their relatives that are fantastic in their
scope, photography, but I don't recall ever seeing a pink goby... It
might have been purposely dyed (this happens) as a "novelty"... to
enhance its sale. Bob Fenner>
Many thanks,
M. Oakes (BSc.
Env.St.) Re: Neon Pink Goby
Thanks for your reply,
<Welcome>
I'm pretty sure its not dyed, mainly because it hasn't
died, yet!
<Heee! Like those homonyms>
Its obviously a sponge
dweller and now its settled in its more orange than pink, although
I'm still having trouble fathoming out what it is.
<Me too>
I
need to send you a picture, I'm trying but the little blighters so
small! I have a blue-spot cave goby that's been eyeing him up for
days now, it could only be a matter of time!
<Maybe make a
digital pic, enlarge, crop...>
many thanks for your reply and I'll
try and image him/her,
Myles Oakes
<Real good. Bob Fenner>
What kind of goby?
Just got a 4 inch goby that has beautiful
coloration: salmon-colored top fins with black spots on them; body
is yellowish-green with brown bands; sprinkling of neon blue
"freckles" around head/neck and near tail; tail is pink/salmon with
some lavender in it; "foot" fin is large and totally black.
What kind of goby is this and what part of the world does it come from?
Glenda Schill
<The true gobies are the largest family of marine
fishes... some 1875 nominal species, with many more to be found, named.
You might have some luck looking through fishbase's listing:
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.cfm?ID=405
Left
click "show species", but I can't discern your species from the
description. Do you have a photo to send along? Bob Fenner>
Re:
what kind of goby?
Thanks so much for the link -- I'll see if I
can find something.
Appreciate your help.
<Real good... and as
stated, do send an image along if you have one. Bob Fenner>
Glenda
Schill Brackish to fresh (goby id)
thanks so much
for the help. Her fish is a Goby I found out but Fishbase has about a
hundred Goby types so she'll have to look there and identify. Thanks
again.
<Ah, you're welcome my friend. Bob Fenner>
Dan
Green
banded goby
Thanks about the advice on the green water, I found
it was a phosphate problem. That has been sorted out and the water has
started to clear. I've started to think to think about a sand sifter,
and in a local shop, there is a green banded goby for sale, but I can't
find any information on it. Could you tell me about it and what size it
grows to? Are there any special requirements for it? My tank is 180l.
<Yikes... any chance of a scientific name here? There are many fishes
that fit the common name offered. Please take a look through our Gobies
sections: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gobioidmars.htm
and Sand Sifter
FAQs: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marsiftfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>
Thanks in advance,
James Matthams Mostly gobies
Hi
again... :-)
I don't know what the "butterfly gobies" really are,
but they definitely aren't true gobies. They look sort of like
miniaturized dwarf lionfish, mottled brown and beige and about
1" long, and nothing like the marine butterfly goby,
Amblygobius albimaculatus. Do you know if this fish is a Sculpin, or a Scorpaenidae, or is it something else entirely?
<Beige mostly? Maybe Stigmatogobius:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brgobioids.htm>
Believe me, this was one
of the first places I looked! It isn't a Stigmatogobius sadanundio;
these guys don't look like knight gobies at all.
<Well, thought
I'd try an easy choice!>
Saying they're an inch long is being
generous... one of them is a half inch long plus tail, and they
haven't gotten bigger in the months I've had them. They're smaller
than my bumblebee gobies in the same tank.
The pelvic fins are
separate, not fused into a cup shape. The front dorsal fin has three
spines; the back dorsal fin is similar in shape to an Apistogramma's
dorsal fin.
<Mmm, many possibilities... including (likely) hundreds
of as-yet undescribed species>>
A bit more research later, and I'm
inclined to believe this is a Sculpin or sea robin of some sort.
<Really!? And this small (at this point)?>
It looks quite a bit like
the "leopard sea robin" on
http://www.awod.com/gallery/probono/isi/fieldgid.htm, but they don't
show a good side view of the fish.... (fishbase.org isn't helping
much, since a lot of their Searobin entries don't have illustrations).
<Yes... they rely on "collaborators" to supply images (for gratis, I am
gladly one)>
- - -
Meanwhile, I'm trying to mix up some soil like
you suggested: peat, African violet mix, and laterite. The African
violet mix has some white floating particles -- vermiculite?
<Yes,
likely... or perlite>
-- and I'm wondering: should I take the
floating bits out, or leave them in?
<I'd take them out>
The tank
that needs the plants the most (it has the most brown algae) is the
one with the sand substrate. I'd like to keep the sand, since the
gobies are sand-sifters and love to bury themselves in the sand. How
should I set up the soil and substrate in this tank?
<Either make the
sand deep enough over the substrate and soil bed, or better, place a
screen mesh (plastic, like sold in large hardware store outlets) betwixt
the two layers. Bob Fenner>
many thanks,
Ananda
Goby Id -
Black Prawn
I am designing a website and I can the correct
identification of the attached goby photo. Common name and Scientific
name
<Looks to be a Cryptocentrus cinctus. Please see here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/shrimpgobies.htm
Bob Fenner>
Goby Id -Peach Goby?
I am designing a website and I can the
correct identification of the attached goby photo. Common name and
Scientific name
<Another color variety of the one just sent... see
the same section of our site:
http://wetwebmedia.com/shrimpgobies.htm
Bob Fenner>
Thank You
Goby ID - White Stripped Prawn Goby????
I am designing a website
and I can the correct identification of the attached goby photo. Common
name and Scientific name
<Mmm, please peruse the references listed
where you were sent, and fishbase.org for the genera of shrimp gobies
listed on WWM. Bob Fenner>
Thank You Goby ID - Spotted Prawn
Goby???
I am designing a website and I can the correct
identification of the attached goby photo.
Common name and Scientific
name
<Please peruse the surrounding/linked articles on WWM here. Bob
Fenner>
Thank You Purple spot goby???
I work at a
fish store and someone recently dropped off what they called a "purple
spot goby". I have been trying to find more information on this fish but
I can't seem to find any. No one I know knows what other name, if any,
this goby might be called. Someone suggested purple cheeked goby but I
ran into a dead in there as well. I have been dealing with fish for
years but have never seen this before. Do you think you can help me?
Thank you, Carlena Frith
<Well... neither I nor www.FishBase.org
recognize either common names. You might try looking through our Gobioid
materials: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gobioidmars.htm and if you can
narrow down the possibility to the genus level, go to Fishbase, input it
and sort through the couple of thousand species... they have pix of
many, Google links to many more. As they say in the biz, good luck. Bob
Fenner> Goby
hi
my name is Marshall Hill
I
have a yasha hashe goby can you give me a site I can visit to get
more info or do you have any pages I can view thanks Marshall hill
<Please read through our root web: www.WetWebMedia.com or use the search
feature there. Bob Fenner> Unidentified Goby
Good
Morning,
I have recently set up a 30 gallon brackish water fish tank.
I live in south Florida and have a canal that runs through my backyard.
There are many types of invasive tropical fish species in these canals
and they are my main source of fish. There are a number of small fish
which I believe to be some sort of goby. The fin underneath there body
is fused together to form one large fin which they do use to hold
themselves along the bottom or on rocks or clay pots. I have searched
many WebPages and have been unable to find the type that we have. The
fish has a large crest on its head and are a tan and black spotted
pattern. They occasionally show small blue spots on the fins parts of
body. The distinguishing feature that these fish have is the head crest,
this I have not seen on any other goby p photos that I have viewed. Any
advice you can provide would be fantastic.
Thanks,
Jess
<Mmm, I
would guess you may be looking at a Gobiesocidae, a Clingfish... maybe
Gobiosox punctulatus. Go to fishbase.org and take a look see at their
description, pix. Bob Fenner> Unidentified Goby - Lophogobius
cyprinoides (Note: post link to Mar. Links and family files)
Hi Mr. Fenner,
Your site is well designed. I happened to be scanning
the "Today's Questions and Answers Page" and a questioned titled
"Unidentified Goby" caught my attention. Judging by the description
of the fish (head crest) as well as the origin (brackish canal in
Florida) I am fairly certain that the species in question is
Lophogobius cyprinoides.
<Thank you for your kind, and quick (!)
identification. Will post (and the link to your academic association).
Bob Fenner>
Cheers,
Naomi R. Eventual
Editor - International
Goby Society
Staff - Gobioid Research Institute
www.gobiidae.com
Freshwater gobies
Hi, I hope you can help identify some
freshwater gobies that I recently bought.
<I'll try>
They are
typical gobies, with sucker pelvic fins, about 2.5 inches long, with
snaky cylindrical bodies. Olive green with yellowish transverse bands.
So far pretty ordinary, except that they are algae eaters, scraping away
at the bog wood in the tank. They also attempted to breed (or
possibly just wrestling) though with no success in a community tank.
I have searched the web at length and checked through all my
textbooks for more information, but no success,. Naturally the dealer
had no idea where they come from!
Any ideas?
<My best... to refer
you to the folks/site: www.gobiidae.com for help. The description
doesn't "ring a bell" right off... freshwater? Please do send your note
along to Naomi R. Eventual
Editor - International Goby Society
Staff - Gobioid Research Institute
Bob Fenner>
Brian Ward
Imperial Goby
Dear Mr. Fenner:
My friend has a 125 gallon tank
with a new addition of what the pet store owner called an "imperial
goby." It digs tunnels in the coral and seems to sift the sand and
pop its head up to say "hello." It is really beautiful and resembles
a bamboo shark in a kind of khaki with black pattern. I can't seem to
find any information on this type and I am wondering if there is another
name, perhaps scientific, you may suggest for me to search with or if
you have any personal advice regarding the care of this goby?
<Don't see such a descriptor on fishbase.org, nor my files. Do take a
look on WWM starting here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gobies.htm and the
links beyond to see if you can come up with the genus... then off to
www.fishbase.org for possibly identifying the species.>
Thanks so
much for your time and patience,
Kelli
<You're welcome. Bob
Fenner> Gobies
I have been importing a small tan goby
from India that has iridescent blue spot on its sides. Any idea what
they are?
<I would search on http://www.fishbase.org/search.cfm for
your fish's identity.>
They are sold as dwarf neon gobies.
Pete
Mang, The Fish Place, New York
<Happy hunting! -Steven Pro>
Engineer Gobies <Mis-ID'ed... Pholodichthys. RMF>
<<Greetings,
JasonC here...>>
I wanted to ask a ? about engineer gobies but didn't
really know where to post it. Most info I've found about them say they
get 7-9" and pretty peaceful in a reef tank but I've seen a couple of
posts where they can get up to a foot long and nasty and you have to
worry about them eating other fish, shrimp, and crabs in the aquarium.
But more posts saying how docile they are. I'm trying to find correct
information on these fish and hoping maybe you could shed some light on
this or send me to some sites with good info on them. I do know they dig
and build. A LFS I go to has some young ones (tank raised) and was
curious about them. She's very good when it comes to fish and corals and
pushes tank raised animals but I like to back up my info just incase.
Thanks a lot, Karla Steves
<<Karla, I think with these fish their
proclivity for eating other things you'd rather they not eat comes with
size/age, but I not sure any of them get much larger than six inches or
so, most around three or four max. Have you checked out Bob's article on
these gobies? http://www.wetwebmedia.com/shrimpgobies.htm - do read this
and the FAQs beyond. Cheers, J -- >> Engineer Blennies
Hi All,
<cheers, dear>
When I was browsing through the Daily FAQs
I came across the email regarding this fish. Jason commented that most
don't get larger than 6". In my experience, right when engineer gobies
reach 5-6" they start changing from their juvenile pattern to their more
blotchy adult pattern.
<agreed>
The first one I had grew to
almost 9" in a 30 gallon tank (no lies, I measured him).
<I believe
it and have seen the same... most aquarists never get to see this
amazing color change and size>
Currently, my two (that I have hoped
have paired up) are almost at 8" and they have only been mature for a
about 6 months. As for reports of eating crabs and shrimp, mine seem to
have a hard time eating whole krill, and they haven't ever bothered my
hermits (I can't keep shrimp with my Hawkfish). Plus they really hate to
leave their home completely, if they can't reach food that is in the
water column they won't chase it. Is there any other sites that have
information regarding this species since from what I have seen is very
limited? Kim
<much appreciation for the clarification... indeed not a
lot of info out there on them. Do keyword searched for "Worm Goby",
"Convict Goby", "Convict Blenny" (listed as a blenny in Burgess). Best
regards>
* |
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