Yellow Clown Goby - in The Aquarium

In The Aquarium

The yellow clown goby is popular with aquarists and is generally considered to be reef safe. It is especially suited to nano reef tanks because of its small size, and the ability of the aquarist to closely monitor its health.

Because of territorial issues with their own kind in the small confines of a tank, they are best kept singly or as a breeding pair.

Given host corals in which to "roost", these fish are a colorful and entertaining addition to reef tanks. Many gobies become accustomed to their keepers, recognize their presence, and seem to beg for food. Additionally, when perching in a favorite location, they seem to do a "fish dance" where they wiggle back and forth in an undulating motion while waving their fins.

Many of these fish arrive at retailers in emaciated condition and are slow or finicky eaters. They often starve in the presence of more voracious feeders, such as wrasses. Care must be taken to ensure they start eating within one or two days of acquisition.

They are carnivorous and initially do not readily take flake or pellet foods, instead preferring live or frozen. Suggested foods include Cyclop-eeze, live brine shrimp fortified with phytoplankton to boost nutritional value, Sweetwaters Zooplankton, frozen or live mysis shrimp, and finely chopped silversides (a commonly available small fish sold fresh or frozen). This animal, like many other marine species, requires a varied diet to survive in long term captivity. Regular feeding of at least four kinds of foods is recommended.