Scientific
Name: Gobiosoma
oceanops
Family:
Gobiidae
Common Names: Neon Goby
Description:
The Neon Goby is a attractive small slim fish which is easily recognized by the iridescent
blue strips along the top half of their body which is black. The
belly is white in color. There are a yellow and black stripped
version as well. A similar looking goby called the Sharknose Goby
has a yellow face, though the rest of the body looks similar to the Neon
Goby.
Natural Environment:
Comes from the tropical Western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; predominant in
Florida reefs.
Care:
Reef Suitability: Neon Gobies are very good reef tank
inhabitants. They are cleaner fish and will readily service larger
fish in the tank by cleaning parasites from their skin. This can be seen in the picture
above where a neon goby is working over an Achilles Tang that is infected with an
ectoparasite.
Their small size can make them susceptible to being sucked through
overflows or eaten by other fish. Their cleaner status normally
prevents them from becoming a meal.
Disposition: Relatively
non-aggressive, except to their own kind. They will engage in high speed
chases around the tank, but these appear to be mostly harmless affairs. Each Neon Goby will stake out
their own territory if more than one is kept in a tank. They will
frequently setup a cleaning station where the larger fish will come when
they want the Neons attention. The larger fish will signal their
desire to be cleaned by assuming a tilted posture, spreading their fins or with a color change
as can be seen in the picture of the Achilles Tang being cleaned
above.
Feeding: Neon Gobies get some of their nutritional requirements
from cleaning other fish, but it is hard to make a living in a normal reef
tank. They will readily accept small meaty foods that are offered.
Their mouths are fairly small, so only small foods are given any attention.
Hardiness: Very hardy, but naturally short lived.
They may only live for about a year or two naturally. 3 years is the
longest I have kept them.
Temperature: Does well within normal reef tank temperature ranges of at
least 75-84°F. Due to natural habitat, they may tend to do best at the lower
range of temperature.
Size: Neon Gobies can get up to about 2.5" in length
in the wild. They are normally found at about 1"-2" in length in the
home aquarium Their size makes them suitable inhabitants for small reef tanks.
Breeding: Neon Gobies will readily pair up and breed in
the reef tank. Many store bought specimens are breed in captivity.
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