Hi-fin Goby

The hi-fin goby is a small, elegant goby with a bright yellow head, black bands crossing its white body diagonally and a filamentous extension on its first dorsal fin. In the wild it shares a burrow on sandy bottoms, mostly with the red-banded pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli); the pair is frequently sold together in stores. It is peaceful, small and hardy; a good choice for small reef aquariums.

• At least 50 liters for a single specimen or a pair.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• A substrate of mixed fine sand and small rubble; set the rocks on the glass.
• A lid is essential; it jumps when startled.

Carnivorous. Offer small frozen foods (mysis, brine shrimp, copepods) and fine granules; small meals twice a day are enough.

Peaceful and shy; it spends most of the day hovering upright at the entrance of its burrow. It is territorial around the burrow towards its own kind; a mated pair and one pistol shrimp is the best setup.

Good companions: Pistol shrimp, clownfish, neon goby, firefish, cardinalfish, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Hawkfish, dottybacks, aggressive damselfish, large and greedy bottom-dwelling fish.