Signal Goby

With the large, dark eyespots on its two dorsal fins, the signal goby resembles a crab when seen from the front; it moves along as if walking, opening and closing its fins. In the wild it lives in inseparable pairs on sand and rubble bottoms. It feeds on small organisms by taking sand into its mouth and sifting it. It is difficult to keep: most specimens are wild-caught, they are slow to accept prepared food and quickly waste away in a new aquarium.

• At least 150 liters for a pair; a large, mature, live sand bed.
• Salinity specific gravity 1.023–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, temperature 24–27°C.
• Reef-safe; it leaves corals and invertebrates alone.
• Fine sand substrate, gentle flow; set the rocks on the glass.
• A lid is recommended.

Carnivorous. In addition to the organisms in the sand, offer frozen copepods, brine shrimp and small mysis 2–3 times a day; make sure the food reaches the bottom.

Extremely peaceful and shy. It always moves around together with its mate; it should be bought as a pair. It loses the competition for food to fast, greedy fish.

Good companions: Cardinalfish, firefish, calm blennies, clownfish (in a large aquarium), cleaner shrimp.

Avoid: Aggressive damselfish, dottybacks, hawkfish, large sand-sifting gobies.