Rainford's Goby

Rainford's goby is a small but very colorful goby with orange stripes, bordered by thin blue lines, running along its olive-green body. All day long it feeds by taking mouthfuls of algal film, diatoms and small organisms from rock and sand surfaces. It is difficult to keep: in a new aquarium or one with little rock it cannot find this food, and since it does not always accept prepared food, it slowly wastes away. Its former name is Amblygobius rainfordi.

• At least 100 liters; a mature aquarium at least 6 months old with plenty of live rock and sand.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• Allow a short algal film to remain on the rocks; completely scrubbed rocks are not suitable.
• A lid is recommended.

Omnivorous. In addition to natural algae and small organisms, offer frozen mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and fine foods containing algae. Check its belly regularly.

Peaceful and calm. It is territorial towards unfamiliar individuals of its own kind; in a small aquarium a single specimen is kept.

Good companions: Clownfish, cardinalfish, firefish, royal gramma, cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Aggressive damselfish, dottybacks, hawkfish; other small gobies and blennies competing for the same food.